Forest Preserves of Cook County 2024 Summer Brochure

Longtime Lynwood resident Aidia Jackson never went camping as a child and had been hesitant to try the experience. But she, her daughter and two grandchildren put their stakes in the ground and learned a great deal from experienced Forest Preserves staff by participating in a Family Campout program last May, at Camp Shabbona Woods in South Holland. That program, geared to camping beginners, provides staff-led instruction in setting up tents and other equipment, along with cooking and building campfires. “It was a good experience—a good introduction,” says Jackson. “You’re afraid of what you don’t know. I felt like being able to do it under somebody’s guidance, and talk freely to somebody, and knowing that other people were in the same boat—we encouraged each other to be able to do it. I didn’t know what to expect. I wanted to see if I liked it, and be equipped, and gain as much knowledge as I could, so I could start doing it.” During the May 2023 event, Jackson brought her own tents and sleeping bags, which the Forest Preserves provides for those who need them. “I wish I had used their sleeping bags,” she says. “I did not realize that not all sleeping bags are created equal, and I was very cold that night. I wasn’t prepared for how quickly the temperature drops outside. 14 First Timers Learn the Fun of Camping with the Forest Preserves of Cook County Continued on page 36 Longtime Lynwood resident Aidia Jackson never went camping as a child and had been hesitant to try the experience. But she, her daughter and two grandchildren put their stakes in the ground and learned a great deal from experienced Forest Preserves staff by participating in a Family Campout program last May, at Camp Shabbona Woods in South Holland. That program, geared to camping beginners, provides staff-led instruction in setting up tents and other equipment, along with cooking and building campfires. “It was a good experience—a good introduction,” says Jackson. “You’re afraid of what you don’t know. I felt like being able to do it under somebody’s guidance, and talk freely to somebody, and knowing that other people were in the same boat—we encouraged each other to be able to do it. I didn’t know what to expect. I wanted to see if I liked it, and be equipped, and gain as much knowledge as I could, so I could start doing it.” During the May 2023 event, Jackson brought her own tents and sleeping bags, which the Forest Preserves provides for those who need them. “I wish I had used their sleeping bags,” she says. “I did not realize that not all sleeping bags are created equal, and I was very cold that night. I wasn’t prepared for how quickly the temperature drops outside. 14 irst Timers Learn e F f pi with the Forest Preserves of Cook County Continued on page 36 Image by John D. Sather, Sandhill crane-adjusted. 14 Spark a Life-Long Hobby Spring Skies Shimmer with Birds Just as a single spark can start a fire, for many individuals a single bird sighting can ignite a passion. or Jessica Becker, a program specialist with the Forest Preserves’ Conservation & Experiential Programming Department, her “spark bird”—a term used by birders to describe that special bird sighting—is the sandhill crane. During a trip to see a sandhill crane migration stop-over, Jessica describes the feeling of witnessing tens of thousands f sandhill cranes with one word: spectacular. “It kind of felt like you were just part of a much larger world, but it was outside of your human experience,” she says. “Here, you’re just existing as a part of the environment because this is happening without any human intervention. To me, seeing these thousands of sandhill cranes was a good connection back to the natural world.” A premiere birding destination in the Midwest, the Forest Preserves of Cook County play host to hundreds f diff rent bird species throughout the year—which means there are hundreds of opportunities to sp t your spark bird. Although each season welcomes unique bird species, the spring and fall migrations bring a remarkable array of birds to our 70,000 acres of gre nspace. Today, Jessica uses her passion for birding to help spark others’ love for birdwatching and the natural world. This season, consider joining us for a guided e i a o e e e da e o e ie d Fo s s ve aff by r p po t p am t W n o h pm al o n i s o rai do . g nc o e o w n t r pe r a — s i i s d, l u er w e t e l e p eat d t p e i t r