National Trails Day Celebration Set for Funk’s Grove June 7

[May 15, 2014]  FUNK'S GROVE - The Illinois Grand Prairie Master Naturalists are planning their second trails day celebration to be held June 7, as part of National Trails Day. The event will take place at Funks Grove between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Headquarters for the event check-in will be at Sugar Grove Nature Center in Funks Grove. The Grove has over seven miles of hiking trails where participants can enjoy the diversity of plants and animals that live in prairie, woodland and savanna habitats.

Guided hikes will take hikers along creeks and streams where birds and butterflies fly, toads hop, fish swim, herons hunt and beavers are busy building dams. Maps are also available for self-guided hikes.


Many Nature Activities Planned For Adults and Children

Many nature-related activities are planned focusing on hiking, geocaching, photography, first aid, trail safety and other outdoor learning activities for adults and children. Special activities for Boy and Girl Scouts will also be available.

Sugar Grove Nature Center provides a great opportunity to see and learn about some amphibians and reptiles up close within the center’s building and to watch songbirds at feeders through special one-way observation windows.

Participants are encouraged to pack a picnic lunch and stay all day to take advantage of as many activities as possible.

For more information about this event or its location, go to [e-mail]  or call 309-874-2174.

The Illinois Grand Prairie Master Naturalist certification is a University of Illinois extension program.

[Text received; JANET RASMUSSEN, SUGAR GROVE NATURE CENTER]