Champaign County Forest Preserve District

This August, discover something new, connect with your community, and explore the stories behind your local natural areas. From their rich history to the ways we care for them today, there's always something new to learn.

Register for programs at champaignforests.org

Doris Hoskins was a devout Catholic and an active member of the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Champaign, Illinois. This devotional badge was a handmade reminder of religious devotion.

Devotional badges signify spiritual protection and are traditionally worn with one piece hanging on the chest, one piece on the back, draped over the shoulders.

This handmade scapular is decorated with colorful religious prints secured to black wool felt, following traditional composition for Catholic devotional badges.

To learn more about community, faith, and its role in handicraft, visit the museum to see our new exhibit, The Art of Making: Tools and Traditions of Handiwork!

Dogleg Loop at River Bend Forest Preserve will be closed for maintenance for the rest of today (Thursday, Jul. 30) and will re-open tomorrow (Friday, Jul.31).

Before July wraps up, we wanted to recognize Park and Recreation Month and celebrate the power of the places and experiences that bring us together.
The Forest Preserves are more than places to spend time outdoors. They are places where connections are made, discoveries happen, communities come together, and people find opportunities to enjoy the benefits of nature.
Thank you to everyone who visits, participates, and helps make these experiences possible.

National Recreation and Park Association

This woven watch chain features an intricately woven design with brass engravings marking the year 1907 and a loved one’s initials surrounded by a heart. Can you guess what it is woven from? Hint: it is human hair!

Jewelry, accessories, and artwork made from human hair were meant to express adoration to friends, family, and significant others. As the craft popularized, markets grew, and folks would send in locks of hair to be made into keepsakes.

Fun Fact: Creating hair jewelry became so popular, instruction books were written to weave hair at home!

Would you give making your own hair jewelry a try? Visit the museum to see our new exhibit, The Art of Making: Tools and Traditions of Handiwork, to see more human hair on display, and plenty of other handmade crafts!

What a day of discovery! Thank you to everyone who joined us on the Peninsula at Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve for Summer Splash on Saturday, July 25!

From casting a line and paddling the lake to Critter Encounters, the Traveling Science Center, live music, food trucks, and the dunk tank — our community showed up ready to explore.

Days like this remind us why we love what we do — connecting our community with the natural world, one adventure at a time. None of it would be possible without our dedicated staff, volunteers, vendors, and community partners, and we're grateful for every hand that helped bring Summer Splash to life.

See you soon at Champaign County Forest Preserves!

There's a lot of fun to be had over here at Summer Splash! Come out to the Peninsula at Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve today (Saturday, July 25)!

Check out the full schedule of activities:

9 AM - 2 PM Fishing for Beginners, Traveling Science Center- INHS, Kayak/Canoe, Pedal Boats, Critter Encounter (Live Fish, Invertebrate Display)

10 AM - 2 PM Inflatable waterslide, Dunk Tank

11 AM Food Trucks Open

12 - 2 PM Live Music: Ian Shepherd & Friends

❗BIKE PATH CLOSURE THIS WEEKEND: Friday, July 24 - Sunday, July 26 at Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve❗

🚧The section of bike path, south of Rayburn Purnell Woods and Maybery Gelvin Botanical Garden, is closed between Trillium Drive and Rt. 47 as the hot asphalt mix that has recently been applied needs 24-48 hours to dry and firm before foot traffic is allowed. 🚧Please follow closed path signs and other indications that the path is closed.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to maintain the bike path.

Please note the updated hours for the Interpretive Center at Middle Fork River Forest Preserve for this weekend (July 24 - July 26).