Isle a la Cache Museum/Preserve

11/27/2025

Get crafty with us! Create a keepsake ornament to take home while also learning fascinating facts about milkweed and its vital role in the life cycle of the monarch butterfly. All materials are provided for this hands-on program.

Deck Your Halls with Milkweed Pods
When: 1:30 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6
Where: Isle a la Cache Museum

12/6/2025: Learn some fun and interesting facts about the plant and its importance to the monarch butterfly then get artsy while turning a milkweed pod into a festive ornament. 

11/26/2025

Its call sounds like "klee klee klee" or "killy killy killy" and is used to defend territory or warn of danger.

If you think about large, imposing birds that we see soaring above or perched on high while scanning for a meal, raptors like hawks and eagles probably come to mind. Maybe even owls. But there's another kind of raptor we see that can be just as imposing — falcons, three species of which can be se...

11/25/2025

Grab a seat and learn about the history of the conservation movement. A naturalist will provide an overview of how human trade, travel and settlement and later preservation acts have impacted our environment. Light refreshments will be served.

Armchair Historians: The Conservation Movement
When: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4
Where: Isle a la Cache Museum

12/4/2025: Make yourself comfortable while taking a journey through time from the fur trade era to the roots of the conservation movement to today.

11/24/2025

Good news — there’s going to be a sequel. The award-winning Be a Trailblazer will be back in 2026 with more ways to get people moving in the great outdoors at their own pace. And because prizes are awarded randomly, there’s no pressure to “win,” only to have fun.

Be a Trailblazer’s first year drew thousands into the preserves with fun missions and more than $10,000 in prizes. The program returns in 2026 with more ways to explore.

11/21/2025

Like sandhill cranes and whooping cranes, white-naped cranes are wetland birds, preferring to inhabit lakes, marshes, swamps and wet meadows along river valleys. The wetlands where you will find these birds are far from Illinois, however.

The white-naped crane lives only in parts of Asia and Russia, but these elegant birds might remind you of the cranes we see closer to home. 

11/17/2025

Want to learn about wild turkeys so you can share fun facts at Thanksgiving dinner? Have an especially ugly Christmas sweater you’re eager to show off? Love decorating your home with unique, nature-inspired touches?

If so, the Forest Preserve has a program for you.

The Forest Preserve District is celebrating the season with a lineup of festive, nature-themed programs for all ages. From turkey talks to holiday crafts and cozy winter hikes, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this holiday season.

11/14/2025

Fruit from trees and shrubs is mostly gone, and insects are not as abundant as they were during the warmer months. The birds still need to eat, though, and keeping your bird feeders stocked during late fall and winter can be a big help.

The days have become noticeably colder and shorter, and food supplies have become more scarce for many birds. But you can keep birds visiting your yard all year long by providing the right foods.

11/10/2025

“In order for me to grow personally and professionally, I feel like I have to step on the edge of what scares me,” she said. “And so, this race is the one thing that frightens me in a weird way. But I crave it so much because I want to grow into being a better human, a better friend, better family member and coworker, and I’m just so fortunate that this trail can provide that for me.”

What began as a casual walk on a Forest Preserve trail turned into a journey of strength and self-discovery. Jenny Dinelli of Braidwood is now training at Kankakee Sands Preserve for a 125-mile trail race inspired by the place she calls her “gift.”

11/08/2025

During the Silurian Period, large parts of the Earth were covered by shallow, tropical seas. Known as the Silurian Sea, these waters were home to rich marine ecosystems and some of the earliest known coral reef structures in the geologic record.

Bonus tidbit: Fossils of ancient sea life such as corals, crinoids, and brachiopods can still be found today in regions like the Midwest, where these warm seas once flowed.

Don't miss this fascinating exhibit — on display now >>> https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/news-events/news/fossil-exhibit-transports-visitors-to-prehistoric-will-county.

(Photos by Anthony Schalk)

11/07/2025

In Illinois, they can be found in the northern part of the state year-round, and some of these owls from the northern edges of the territory may also winter in the southern half of the state. They are thought to be more common than known because of their secretive nature.

Northern saw-whet owls are a little different than the prototypical owl. For starters, they're only about the size of a robin, making them one of the smallest owl species in the world.

11/05/2025

Log in virtually via Zoom for a deep dive into the world of the fossils left behind by the Silurian Sea with paleontologist Donald G. Mikulic. Intrigued? Make a plan to visit the "Souvenirs of the Silurian Sea" exhibit on display at Isle a la Cache Museum through Nov. 30.

Silurian Trilobite Souvenirs
When: 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13
Where: Online via Zoom. Link sent upon registration

11/13/2025: Join us virtually for a fascinating look at the fossils left behind by the Silurian Sea that was once right here in Will County.

11/03/2025

These plants pose serious threats to Illinois' natural areas because they don't occur here naturally and can spread rapidly once introduced, causing harm to ecosystems.

Nine new plant species have been added to Illinois' Exotic Weeds Act.