Welcome Center

Day Hiking

Trails meander around the Welcome Center, and surrounding buildings, through display gardens, wetland ponds, and native seed bed.

Viewing Wildlife

The Welcome Center provides a variety of habitat for wildlife. The ponds provide habitat for wetland dwelling species while the native seedbed and display gardens offer desired conditions for pollinators and arachnids. The pasture surrounding the Welcome Center is used as grazing habitat for cattle and hunting grounds for raptors.

Those coming to learn about or view the Bison will want to start here to find out more about the Bison Project and explore the bison boxes.

The public are welcome to view the bison. However, due to the vast size of the pasture system and rolling topography, spotting bison depends on where they choose to spend their time. Visitors may, or may not, see the animals on any given day because of the herd's location.

For more information about the Bison, and a link to our live viewing camera, visit the Bison Project Area of the website.

Viewing Plants

Three seedbeds, at the Supervisor’s Office, River Road and Chicago Road, provide the native plant seeds from over 100 species of prairie plants to help restore Midewin with native plants.

The Supervisor's Office seedbeds are the smallest of the three native plant seedbeds, with only four rows of native forbs and grasses. The seedbeds were planted in 1997, a year after Midewin was created, and, in addition to providing visitors easier access to view the seedbeds, are also used for seed harvest to support restoration efforts.

These seedbeds are directly across the driveway from the Midewin Supervisor’s Office and Welcome Center and can be visited anytime the office is open.

To learn more about the native plant seedbeds visit our section on Native Seed Production.

Viewing Scenery

The area around Welcome Center and the nearby seedbeds are one of the most convenient locations to see the native plants that occupy Midewin's lands.

Visitor Programs

The Welcome Center provides the main starting point for programs held at Midewin. Programs include various outdoor education and interpretive programs for school groups throughout the year as well as a variety of tours conducted throughout the summer.

Event Schedule - April to October (pdf)

Program and Volunteer Days - April to June (pdf)

Winter Lecuture Series - January to April (pdf)

Interpretive Areas

The Welcome Center is surrounded by display gardens and prairies providing interpretive areas for groups or individuals. There is also a small Native Seedbed with an interpretive display sign. An indoor interpretive display can be found inside the Welcome Center.

Visitor Centers

Vistors have access to indoor interpretive displays as well as outdoor displays. At the Welcome Center visitors can sign up for a variety of Midewin tours and view a calender of upcoming events.