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Boost your fitness and reduce your stress while recapturing this beloved childhood mini-adventure
It is a little-known fact that the modern-day field trip was the inspiration of none other than my favorite author, Henry David Thoreau. For a short time, Henry and his brother, John, ran a school in their hometown of Concord, Massachusetts. In fact, Louisa May Alcott, famed author of Little Women, was once one of their pupils! In her latter years, she had nothing but fond memories to relate of the experience, though she did echo the common sentiment that John was the more jovial of the two brothers. I have often wondered if the grumpy schoolmaster in the story was inspired by Henry, because he was said to be a bit more reserved...nothing like the exaggerated, cantankerous character in the story, but definitely not as gregarious as John. In any event, part of the curriculum designed by the Thoreau brothers was that of taking regular "field trips" outdoors, the logic being that education could be made far more interesting through experience, rather than classroom study alone. Indeed,
past students of this school would speak extremely highly of this--at the time--innovative concept, at how much more enjoyable school was for them when Henry or John would lead them on these nature excursions, and share their vast knowledge and passion for both nature and Native American cultures.
Jump forward to the 1970's: Evamarie and fellow classmates are off on a field trip to the nature center--one of Evamarie's favorite outings. At the center, they bundle up and don snowshoes, aided by parent chaperones (quite often Mrs. or Mr. Pilipuf), then stroll (make that "tromp") through the woods to search for signs of nature life. Afterward, Evamarie and her classmates are led back to the nature center's observation building, where they check out the cool exhibits, watch a naturalist talk about tracks in the snow, and sip hot cocoa.
Needless to say, we couldn't wait for the next field trip to come along; little did any of us know that we owed a dept of gratitude to Henry and John Thoreau for pioneering these adventurous school outings lo so many years ago!
The shame is that we ever stop engaging ourselves in such field trips. I hardly think the excitement of doing something different, disrupting the normal routine, and escaping our stresses for the simplicity of a trip to the nature center is only useful to kids. If anything, the compounding of stress experienced by us adults leaves us that much more in need of these welcome mini-adventures. First of all, these trips can go a long way in momentarily disrupting our stress cycle, in which our bodies remain in a chronic state of excitement and adrenaline. Secondly, the field trip can provide a nice variety to our exercise program, where taking a walk in nature is a blissful alternative to the treadmill. Thirdly, a nature center field trip can help reaffirm our sense of wonder with the natural world around us, which in turn can have an effect on kids, whose lives are typically high in technology and low in physical activity. And what better way to help refugees of physical education class
see that not all exercise is humiliating? You can take in the trails, check out interesting ecosystems, and then peruse the interpretive building to gaze at all of the interesting exhibits or browse the center's library of nature books. Better yet, you can participate in any number of naturalist-guided programs, hikes, and special events. And you need not consume more than a single lunch hour to do all of this!
What follows is a directory of selected nature centers in the Chicago and northern Illinois areas, each of which features trails for walking and an interpretive center for exhibit enjoyment (and winter warming!). If you are outside the Chicago area, you can typically find a nature center near your home or work by doing a search online using the words "nature center" or "nature sanctuary," plus the name of your state.
Crabtree Nature Center
Entrance on Palatine Road, west of Barrington Road and East of Algonquin Road in South Barrington
(847) 381-6592
Link to Crabtree Nature Center map: http://www.outdoors.chicago.il.us/CCFPD/NatureCenters
Spring Valley Nature Sanctuary
1111 E Schaumburg Road
Schaumburg IL 60194
(847) 985-2115
Email: Schpkdst2@aol.com
Website: http://www.parkfun.com/spgvlly.html
Crystal Lake Park District - Nature Center
330 North Main Street
Crystal Lake, IL 60014
815-455-1763
Fullersburg Woods Environmental Education Center
3609 Spring Road
Oak Brook, IL 60523
630-850-8110
Website: http://www.dupageforest.com/EDUCATION/fullersburg.html
Winnebago County Forest Preserve District
5500 Northrock Drive
Rockford, IL 61103
815-877-6100
http://www.wcfpd.org
wcfpd@wcfpd.org
Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area
5010 N. Jugtown Rd.
Morris, IL 60450
815-942-2899
Website: http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/parks/i%26m/east/goose/home.htm
Willowbrook Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
2S101 Park Boulevard
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
630-942-6200
Website: http://www.dupageforest.com/EDUCATION/willowbrook.html
The Grove
1421 Milwaukee Avenue
Glenview, Illinois
847/299-6096
North Park Village Nature Center
5801 North Pulaski, between Peterson and Bryn Mawr
Chicago, IL
773/744-5472
Volo Bog State Natural Area, near Volo, IL
Where: From Volo at Highways 12/59 and 120, take Highway 12 north about 2 miles to Brandenburg Rd.; turn left and go about 1-¼ miles to the park entrance (on left).
815/344-1294
Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield
1st Ave. and 31st St.
Brookfield, IL
Phone: 708/485-0263
Lake View Nature Center
17 W. 063 Hodges Rd.
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
630-941-8747
Red Oak Nature Center
2343 S. River Street
Batavia, IL 60510
(630) 897-1808
River Trail Nature Center
West side, Milwaukee Ave., 3/4 mile southeast of River Rd., Northbrook. 824-8360
Link to River Trail Nature Center map: http://www.outdoors.chicago.il.us/CCFPD/NatureCenters
Walter Heller Nature Center
2821 Ridge Road
Highland Park, IL 60035
847-433-6901
So the next time you're in need of a quick and fun getaway, take an hour or two and make tracks for your local nature center, where you can then follow the tracks of other species! -ep
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