Forest Preserves of Winnebago County

Join Severson Dells Nature Center, FPWC Natural Resources Manager Mike Groves, and FPWC Natural Resources Technician Sandra Vaughn-Pottorff for an evening at birding and wildflower hotspot Colored Sands Forest Preserve! Known for its sandy soil, Colored Sands is a great spot to see wild lupines and a variety of milkweed species. Located on Haas Road in Shirland Illinois. Easy hiking.

Join Severson Dells Nature Center, FPWC Natural Resources Manager Mike Groves, and FPWC Natural Resources Technician Sandra Vaughn-Pottorff for an evening at Deer Run Forest Preserve. We will be on the lookout for Virginia bluebells, trout lilies, red trillium, spring beauties, rue anemones, wild ginger, May apples and more as we enjoy the forest and wetland at Deer Run. Located 3 miles southeast of Rockford city limits on River Road. Easy hiking.

Join us on Wednesday, April 22 for our Community Science Bat Monitor Training! During this training, Liza Lehrer, the assistant director of the Urban Wildlife Institute at the Lincoln Park Zoo, will discuss the impact monitoring has on local bat populations, as well as the process of monitoring and the equipment used. Great for new and returning volunteers!

Make sense of what climate change means for our state today and what we can do together to prepare for tomorrow during this 90‑minute interactive workshop with University of Illinois Extension Climate Resilience Specialist, Jessica Rudnick, PhD. This session will explore how climate change is already shaping daily life in Illinois communities, and participants will learn practical steps that individuals, organizations, and local leaders can take to strengthen resilience across the state. Learn about key insights from the Illinois Climate Vulnerability Assessment, localized climate risks for Northern Illinois, Illinois communities taking action, and practical strategies for building resiliency where we live, work, and play. This program is free to attend, and pre-registration is requested. If you need reasonable accommodations to attend, please contact Erin Garner, ering@illinois.edu or (815) 986-4357

Introduce your kiddos to the outdoor fun of fishing at the Hooked on Fun Kids' Fishing Derby! Young anglers will learn how to fish under the guidance of Forest Preserve staff and Muskies, Inc. volunteers while competing for the biggest fish! Four Lakes Forest Preserve provides several shallow, small lakes which are easily accessible and provide an ideal setting to teach kids about fishing. In 2026, FPWC is excited to again partner with Muskies, Inc. - Flatlanders Chapter to continue to bring even more fishing fun to the Hooked on Fun Kids' Fishing Derby! Highlights include: 🎣 The first 100 kids receive a free rod and reel courtesy of Muskies, Inc. - Flatlanders Chapter! 👕 Free t-shirt for participating kids! 🏆 Raffle drawings! 🏆 Big fish trophy! 🌭 Grilled hotdog lunch & s'mores provided by Winnebago County Sheriff's Office! All bait provided. Limited loaner poles are also available​ (please bring your own if you can.) If you or your child require accessibility assistance, please contact Forest Preserve Headquarters at 815-877-6100 in advance to arrange assistance or please let someone know at your time of arrival.

Enjoy an educational hike about the spring ephemerals found at Deer Run Forest Preserve before helping collect bluebell seeds for our greenhouse! Participants are welcome to take some seeds home with them at the end of the program! Participants should plan to hike 1-1.5 miles on mowed trails (some incline/decline). This program is free to attend, and pre-registration is requested. Photo credit: @Moonlit Meadow

Join a global team of citizen scientists and help document the diverse flora and fauna found at Kilbuck Bluffs Forest Preserve! The group will search for spring ephemerals like spring beauties, mayapples, and bloodroot, as well as migratory birds, early insects, and signs of life in Kilbuck Creek. All data collected during this free guided hike will join the observations recorded during the 2026 Rock Valley City Nature Challenge! Visit https://sites.google.com/seversondells.org/rrvcnc/events to find even more City Nature Challenge events!

Help shape the future of your forest preserves! 🌱 The Forest Preserves of Winnebago County is conducting a Community Survey to learn more about the wants, needs, and values of the community we serve before we go into Strategic Planning later this year. Add your voice today and share your vision for the Forest Preserves of Winnebago County’s future growth and development! 🌱 The Community Survey is available online in both English and Spanish and takes less than 10 minutes to complete. 🌱 Take the survey at https://go.winnebagoforest.org/CommunitySurvey.