The University of Illinois Extension will be hosting their annual Winterfest this Saturday, January 21st at the Natural Resource Center in Russell Woods Forest Preserve in DeKalb County, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Each year people gather at the Natural Resource Center to meet up with friends old and new to share the joys of winter. Come for one activity or come for the day.
“This is an opportunity to serve our counties with a family friendly winter event to break up the season,” said Peggy Doty, Extension Educator. “Winter is a season not a precipitation so we will be there whether we have snow or not,” Doty continued. Winterfest includes many fun and educational activities for all ages.
Mr. Phil Neilson, of Waterman, will be in the park from 11a.m. to 2 p.m. giving horse drawn wagon rides. If you love big horses and scenic rides through beautiful places Winterfest is the place to be. Mr Roger Watson will be volunteering his time to teach pioneer rope making from 11a.m. to 2 p.m. Roger is fantastic with children and truly loves to share his rope making skills. Children will get to take home the rope they make with him.
Make and take crafts and a face painter will be available all day as well as a story time at 2 p.m. for the children. Candle dipping will be offered from 10 a.m. to noon. Anyone interested in making their own candle using a pioneer method is welcome to participate.
A native skills presenter will be available throughout the day to give instruction on a variety of native skills used by past inhabitants of Illinois. At 11 a.m. the art of cordage making will be taught for older children and adults. Cordage is string or rope made from natural plant materials. The materials were harvested last fall so it is ready for you to make.
At both 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. they will have interpretive hikes through the forest. These hikes are geared toward all ages and everyone needs to be dressed for the weather. There is more to see than you realize in a winter woodland and your guide will share many things you may not have thought about before.
The Prairie Gems 4-H Club will be offering snacks and lunch items for reasonable cost. Come and support the local 4-H and enjoy a meal with your family or new friends. They have room to eat indoors so you can relax and socialize. There is no fee for the activities but donations are graciously accepted to support the cost of materials.
Russell Woods Forest Preserve, 11750 State Rt. 72 Genoa, IL 60135, is located 1 mile west of Genoa, Illinois on Route 72. For more information you can call 815-784-2000 or on the web at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/bdo for event details. Join them once again, or for the first time, for a day in the woods.
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