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Working Together
Jr. Forest Ranger Kickoff Open House
Special thanks to MidIA
Jr. Forest Ranger program is now offered at Midewin NTP!
See the front desk for the activities task book to become a Jr. Forest Ranger.
Midewin for Kids Summer Programs
All Camp Sparrow and Camp Sandpiper programs take place at the Midewin Welcome Center.
Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie
30239 S. State Route 53
Wilmington, IL 60481
Phone: (815) 423 - 6370
Ages 5-7
Tuesdays from 10:00-11:00am
Midewin Welcome Center
Only 20 campers per session
June
Fun with Fossils – June 11
Learn about fossils in a fun and interactive way. Discover how they were formed and where you might find some. You might even leave with your own fossil!
Down Under the Duckweed - June 18
Uncover the critters that live underwater. Learn about the insects, amphibians, and mammals that call the pond their home. See if you can catch a crayfish during this pond study program!
Bird's the Word – June 25
Learn about birds that live at Midewin with hands-on activities. Use binoculars and take a short birding hike!
July
Croakin' Around - July 9
Become an expert on frogs & toads! Discover how to tell the difference between these amazing amphibians.
Bison on the Horizon - July 16
We’re all familiar with squirrels and rabbits, but bison are one of America’s original backyard friends. Come learn all about these incredible mammals. Touch real bison artifacts, including pelts, a skull, bones, and hooves!
Pollinator Party - July 23
Did you know butterflies smell with their antennae? Or that most native bees nest underground? Learn more fun facts and discover the fascinating way butterflies & bees pollinate in an interactive (and tasty) way!
Coyote Call - July 30
We see these canines living around us. Learn how to spot the signs coyotes leave behind, what they like to eat, how coyotes communicate, and when we might see them.
August
Something to Hoot About – August 6
Uncover fact about owls. Find out how they sound, when owls are awake, what they eat, and which owls live around Midewin. Touch the soft feathers of a taxidermized great horned owl!
Ages 8-11
Thursdays from 10:00-11:30am **with the exception of Tuesday, July 2nd**
Midewin Welcome Center
Only 25 campers per session
June
Fun with Fossils – June 13
Learn about fossils in a fun and interactive way. Discover how they were formed and where you might find some. You might even leave with your own fossil!
Down Under the Duckweed – June 20
Uncover the critters that live underwater. Learn about the insects, amphibians, and mammals that call the pond their home. See if you can catch a crayfish during this pond study program!
Bird's the Word – June 27
Learn about birds that live at Midewin with hands-on activities. Use binoculars and take a short birding hike!
July
Track Detectives – *Tuesday*, July 2
Learn the 6 steps to decipher animal tracks and figure out what “clues” animals leave behind. Create your own “track scene” and see if other camper’s can detect what happened in your habitat!
Croakin' Around - July 11
Become an expert on frogs & toads! Discover how to tell the difference between these amazing amphibians.
Bison on the Horizon - July 18
We’re all familiar with squirrels and rabbits, but bison are one of America’s original backyard friends. Come learn all about these incredible mammals. Touch real bison artifacts, including pelts, a skull, bones, and hooves!
Pollinator Party - July 25
Did you know butterflies smell with their antennae? Or that most native bees nest underground? Learn more fun facts and discover the fascinating way butterflies & bees pollinate in an interactive (and tasty) way!
August
Coyote Call – August 1
We see these canines living around us. Learn how to spot the signs coyotes leave behind, what they like to eat, how coyotes communicate, and when we might see them.
Something to Hoot About – August 8
Uncover fact about owls. Find out how they sound, when owls are awake, what they eat, and which owls live around Midewin. Touch the soft feathers of a taxidermized great horned owl!
A Very Batty Evening
All Ages
Location: Iron Bridge Trailhead
Monday, June 10th 7:00 - 9:00pm & Monday July 15th 7:30 – 9:30pm
Learn all about bats at this outdoors program located at Iron Bridge Trailhead. Decorate your very own bat house to take home! Go on a short hike to look for bats. Shoes & pants suggested.
Prairie Picassos
Family Fun
Location: Visitor Center
Everyone can participate in finding art in the prairie at this engaging program! Check out the different themes for each month!
- Fun With the Sun – Wednesday, June 26th, 2:00 – 3:30pm
- Nature Journaling – Wednesday, July 31st, 2:00 – 3:30pm
- Pressed Flower Art – Wednesday, August 14th, 2:00 – 3:30pm
Can You Dig It?
Ages 7 – 11
Location: Visitor Center
Saturday, August 24th, 10:00 – 12:00pm
Join “Archaeologist Joe” to make maps, learn about the tools an archaeologist uses, and get in the field to investigate a site from the 1800s. Do you like to dig in the dirt and solve mysteries? Maybe you’re an archaeologist, too!
Prairie Evening Strolls
All Ages
Location: River Road Trailhead
Thursday, August 15th, 5:00 – 6:30pm & Tuesday, August 27th, 5:00 – 6:30pm
Enjoy the hidden splendor of the prairie as it settles in for the night. Experience the sights and sounds of plants and animals as evening approaches. Come stroll and feel the essence of an evening on the prairie at Midewin.
What's Available At Midewin?
Welcome Center
Come check out the Welcome Center! See our display explaining how glaciers formed the landscape here at Midewin or check out our displays on wetland, prairie and other habitats and the wildlife that inhabitat them. Check out our timeline of Midewin's history going back to the 1600s or participate in one of our many programs or tours! Visit the Welcome Center site page for more information.
The Bison Project
Come learn about bison at Midewin! Take a hike around and see if you can find the bison on the prairie or stop in at the welcome center and check out one of the bison boxes.
Activities at Midewin
- Learn more about what kinds of birds live at Midewin and where they like to live in our Bird section.
- What kind of amphibians and reptiles live at Midewin? Find out in our Amphibian and Reptile section.
- Find out more about the native plant seedbeds.
- Did you know that Midewin used to be the Joliet Army Ammunition plant? Did you know that some of the aresnal bunkers are still here? And did you know that the land of Midewin has been home to people for over a thousand years! Read more about what happened at Midewin in the History and Culture section and then walk around the bunkers and check out the bunker graffitti!
US Forest Service Kids Activities
Interactive
- NatureWatch!
- FS Nature Watch!
- NatureLIVE!
- Discover the Forest
- Celebrate Wildflowers
- Natural Inquirer
- Pollinator Partnership
- Mister G
- Into the Outdoors
- Discover the Forest
- Project EduBat
Get Outside!
Spotlights
Plants of Concern Partnership
The partnership between the Chicago Botanic Garden and the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie engages citizens in monitoring the health of a variety of sensitive plants.
Volunteer with Us!
Find an opportunity by reviewing the position descriptions under Volunteer Opportunities. If any of them spark your curiosity complete the steps under Volunteer Information to get signed up.