Isle a la Cache Museum/Preserve

09/02/2024

The river, which cuts along both the east and west sides of the preserves, is what make Isle a la Cache an island, and it’s been the lifeblood of what has happened on the land in the area for centuries.

Visitors can learn about the area’s cultural and natural history, with a focus on what life was like in the region in the 1750s.

08/31/2024

How did people in the 1750s have fun in their free time? Learn how music and dance shaped the lives of the people who lived here centuries ago in this program from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 8. No registration is required for this drop-in program.

9/8/2024: Come out to Isle a la Cache to learn how people would have fun in 1750 with music and dancing.

08/30/2024

And they are adorable!

River otters once nearly disappeared from Illinois, but these playful creatures have rebounded, thanks to a successful conservation program.

08/29/2024

Girl Scouts are invited to visit Isle a la Cache Museum from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 7, to experience life in 1750 while meeting the requirements for the Playing the Past badge. Make sure to register soon. Only a few spots remain.

9/7/2024: Step into the past at Isle a la Cache and experience life in 1750 while meeting the requirements for the Junior Girl Scout Playing the Past badge. 

08/27/2024

Did you know Isle a la Cache is a popular spot for water recreation? Visitors can use the preserve’s canoe and kayak launch to access the Des Plaines River, and shoreline fishing is permitted for anglers who adhere to state and Forest Preserve fishing regulations. Isle a la Cache is often overlooked as a fishing hotspot compared to other preserves, but the river provides great opportunities for fishing. One spot we recommend is at the northern end of the island, where the river cuts around it. The river is naturally a little deeper there, and anglers can catch northern pike, smallmouth bass and largemouth bass among other fish.

08/21/2024

Have you joined our Take It Outside challenge yet? There’s a world of exciting missions waiting for you! Whether you’re spending a day at the museum, trying on 18th-century hats, taking a fun selfie at the shelter or exploring our pollinator garden, there’s always something new to discover out here. Plus, with new missions released every week, there’s always a reason to come back for more. Top point earners will win amazing prizes, and we’ll also be giving away hundreds of dollars in bonus prizes at random. Don’t miss out on the fun — join the challenge today >>> https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/take-it-outside-campaign/.

08/19/2024

While box turtles are adept at life on land, they do still spend time in the water. That's part of what makes them turtles instead of tortoises. They will enter shallow waters during hot, dry weather, and they hunt for food in water.

Not all turtles prefer life in the water. Box turtles live most of their lives on land. 

08/19/2024

Slime molds are fascinating organisms. They aren't a plant, they aren't an animal, they aren't a fungus, they aren't even a mold. Learn more about them and the unusual-looking forms they can take in this story from Willy's Wilderness, our nature website for kids.

What do chocolate, scrambled eggs, raspberries and dog vomit have in common? They are all common names for slime mold!Slime mold is uniquely beautiful, smart, weird and strange looking. The part we see is the fruiting body of the mold. There is a lot going on underground that we don't see. Mushrooms...

08/19/2024

Every month Isle a la Cache Museum hosts a Museum Campus Day so visitors can learn more about our local history. Join us from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, to tour the museum and also the Traders Cabin and longhouse. Learn more our connections to our past as you explore. Admission to the museum is always free!

8/24/2024: If you’ve never visited Isle a la Cache Museum, take advantage of this opportunity to see what’s going on in our 18th-century Traders Cabin and peek inside the Native American longhouse.

08/13/2024

Like all baby marsupials, baby opossums are called joeys. Joeys will stay in their mother's fur-lined pouch for about two months, but even afterward they stick close to their moms for awhile. Between the ages of two months and four months, the joeys will not be in the pouch full time, but they are still dependent on their mothers for food and shelter. It's during this time when you may see the young opossums engaging in that all-too-cute behavior of riding around on their mother's back. After about 100 days, the joeys are able to survive on their own.

08/09/2024

Trees do so much for us, and if you spend some time outdoors pretending to be a tree you'll find even more reasons to appreciate them. Learn how in this story from Willy's Wilderness, our nature website for kids.

We talk about trees a lot, whether it’s about the new buds, the changing colors or who is living inside. But what is it like being a tree? Let’s try it out! Go outside and find a nice spot, wherever you prefer. Do you like sun or a little bit of shade? Some trees grow by themselves. But just lik...

08/06/2024

Planning your next adventure before school starts? Check out all the fun awaiting you at the museum!

📸: Glenn P. Knoblock

08/04/2024

It's not too late to add some native plants to your yard and on Sunday, you can get some at a discounted price at the final day of The Nature Foundation of Will County's Summer Blooms native plants sale here at Isle a la Cache.

All plants, regardless of the quantity or species are only $2.25, plus sales tax. This exclusive offer runs only on Sunday, August 4, from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Don't miss it!

Purchases can be made with cash, check, and credit card for a seamless transaction. All sales are final. These special prices are exclusive to plants bought on Sunday, excluding previous purchases.

Not only do your new native plants create healthy habitat for butterflies, birds, bees and other wildlife, your purchase will help to restore thousands of acres of natural areas in our Will County forest preserves.

08/02/2024

Looking for something to do this Saturday and Sunday? Shop The Nature Foundation of Will County's Summer Blooms Popup Native Plant Sale out here! The sale features more than 60 species of late-blooming native plants that are much-needed sources of nutrition for pollinators, especially bees and butterflies, as they prepare for the change of seasons.

08/01/2024

The soundtrack of summer includes the songs and calls of many insects, and you can learn more about who is adding to this summertime melody from 7:30 to 8:45 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8. Enjoy a hike around Isle a la Cache while listening for these sounds and see if you can ID them. Registration is required.

8/8/2024: The natural world comes alive with a chorus of sounds on summer evenings, and here is your chance to learn some of the most common sounds.

07/30/2024

Snakes are a vital part of the ecosystem, and you can learn to appreciate them more in our Discovery Isle series from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7. Drop by to learn some interesting facts about these creatures. No registration required.

8/7/2024: Come out to Isle a la Cache and get a new appreciation for our slithery friends at our Discovery Isle program

07/29/2024

The new Bugs, Birds, By the River and Tree backpacks can be checked out for free at Isle a la Cache Museum and they are chock full of fun ways for children ages 5 or older to investigate nature, said Jenna Krukowski, an interpretive naturalist at the museum.

Isle a la Cache Museum has four new colorful backpacks chock full of activities and helpful nature information that will guide outdoor exploration. The Bugs, Birds, By the River and Tree backpacks are free to use during museum hours on a first come, first served basis. 

07/24/2024

What has six legs and antennae? Bugs, of course. Junior naturalists are invited to celebrate the wide world of bugs with us with a game, a craft and a bug hunt in this program from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 1. Registration is required.

8/1/2024: Calling all kids curious about nature! Join us as we learn about the big, beautiful world of bugs.

07/24/2024

We are thrilled to partner with the Romeoville Art Society to present "Art a la Cache: Art in Nature," a captivating exhibit that celebrates the beauty of the natural world through the eyes of local artists. Join us at Isle a la Cache Museum to explore 60 stunning artworks across a variety of mediums, including digital art, photography, oil painting, and sculpture.

Adding a touch of whimsy to the exhibit is the Art Society's Traveling Miniature Art Gallery. This interactive display invites artists and makers of all ages to create, share, and trade their miniature masterpieces. It's a delightful opportunity to engage with art on a personal level and spark your creativity!

📸: Anthony Schalk

07/20/2024

Isle a la Cache Museum immerses visitors in the cultural heritage and natural history of the region, and you can explore the museum as well as the Traders Cabin and Native American longhouse in our Museum Campus Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 27. Plan a visit to learn more about Will County's roots and how they have guided us to what we are today. No registration required. Museum admission is always free.

7/27/2024: If you’ve never visited Isle a la Cache Museum, take advantage of this opportunity to see what’s going on in our 18th-century Traders Cabin and peek inside the Native American longhouse.

07/16/2024

Clearwing hummingbird moths are a remarkable group of moths that are often mistaken for hummingbirds due to their unique appearance and behavior. Here are some interesting facts about them:

✔️ These moths are named for their resemblance to hummingbirds. They have a similar size and hovering flight pattern.

✔️ They feed on nectar from a variety of flowers, favoring tubular flowers that are also preferred by hummingbirds.

✔️ Their wings beat incredibly fast, similar to hummingbirds, which helps them hover in front of flowers to feed on nectar. This rapid wing movement also produces a humming sound, adding to their resemblance to hummingbirds.

07/12/2024

Across the world, many of our favorite foods and drinks are dependent on pollinators for their continued availability. In North America, 99 percent of pollinators are insects, mainly bees. In Will County and across Illinois, insects are the primary pollinators, along with some species of birds.

Here's how planting native species provides huge benefits.

07/08/2024

Meet our ambassador Blanding's turtles and find out more about these creatures in this program from 2 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, July 16. Learn why Blanding's turtles are endangered in Illinois and what kind of habitat you might expect to find them in the wild. No registration required.

7/16/2024: Meet some of our ambassador Blanding's turtles up close and learn the story of their journey as an endangered species.

07/08/2024

The luna moth is named for the signature spots on its wings. These spots — four in all, one on each forewing and one on each hindwing — look like moons and, since "luna" means moon, it led to the name luna moth. It is sometimes mistakenly called the lunar moth.

07/03/2024

Get an introductory lesson on birding and how to identify birds by size, shape and even flying pattern in this program from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 11. Registration is required.

7/11/2024: Increase your birding skills with this introductory class focusing on using size, shape, habitat and flight patterns to make bird identifications. 

07/02/2024

What critters big and small live in our rivers? You can find out at our Discovery Isle program from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, July 10. Participants can dip nets in the river to see if they can find any river critters for themselves.

7/10/2024: Come out to Isle a la Cache and explore which species call our river habitat home.

07/01/2024

Both male and female rose-breasted grosbeaks sing, which is not common among songbirds, and they are one of the few birds that will sing from their nests. They can be identified by their song if you have a good ear. Their song is said to sound similar to that of a robin, but more melodious and sweet sounding. The birds also have a call that might sound familiar. Their "eek" call is said to sound like the squeak of a gym shoe on a gym floor

06/28/2024

Ruby-throated hummingbirds are particularly attracted to orange and red — that's why nearly all hummingbird feeders are red — and they also like wildflowers that have long, tubular blooms.

Both hummingbird feeders and wildflowers can help attract ruby-throated hummingbirds to your yard, but don't forget about including plants that host insects, another important food source for these tiny beauties.

06/25/2024

Don't do it!

Isle a la Cache features the Isle a la Cache Museum, which offers historical education opportunities.

06/25/2024

Have a turtle-y awesome time learning about our resident Blanding's turtles in our drop-in Turtle Tuesday program from 2 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, July 2. Get an up-close look at these state-endangered turtles while learning more about them. No registration required.

7/2/2024: Meet some of our ambassador Blanding's turtles up close and learn the story of their journey as an endangered species.