Calendar of Events
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Archery Instruction – Youth
Archery Instruction – Youth
Come out for an archery class led by a certified archery instructor. All necessary equipment and targets will be provided. You’ll have the opportunity to learn the basics of archery along with safety measures, while shooting arrows at several targets […]
2 events,
Active Adult Hikes – Aeraland
Active Adult Hikes – Aeraland
This is the third of four hikes that the Hancock Park District will be providing for active adults this summer. Our hike will take us around Goose Lake and through the meadow. The hike will take place on gravel and […]
Full Sturgeon Moon Hike
Full Sturgeon Moon Hike
See what the forest and prairie look like by the light of the first full moon of August. For those who bring along a flashlight, we’ll have red cellophane to cover up the end so we don’t ruin our night […]
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1 event,
The World Up Close
The World Up Close
View a variety of nature objects up close using magnifying glasses, microscopes, and other magnification tools. Take a close look at things you have never seen before, such as the scales on a butterfly’s wing, the Velcro-like barbs that hold […]
1 event,
Sidewalk Chalk Art
Sidewalk Chalk Art
Create art using sidewalk chalk around the Discovery Center. Draw an animal, something out in nature, or anything you can think of. We will provide the chalk and you will provide the imagination. Oakwoods Nature Preserve Discovery Center Porch 10 […]
1 event,
Sunrise Hike
Sunrise Hike
Sunrise is a peaceful time to observe wildlife in the wetlands. We will hike the natural unpaved trail hoping to see wood frogs, mallards, dragonflies, and other animals that make the wetland their home. Oakwoods Nature Preserve Discovery Center Porch […]
1 event,
National Kids Day
National Kids Day
Bring the kids to the park and enjoy National Kids Day with some fresh air and sunshine. There will be games to play for kids of all ages. We will have a wood cookie path to follow in the Nature […]
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1 event,
Archery Instruction – Adult
Archery Instruction – Adult
Come out for an archery class led by a certified archery instructor. All necessary equipment and targets will be provided. You’ll have the opportunity to learn the basics of archery along with safety measures, while shooting arrows at several targets […]
0 events,
0 events,
2 events,
Richard S. “Doc” Phillips Discovery Center Open House
Richard S. “Doc” Phillips Discovery Center Open House
The Discovery Center will be open for visitation. Visitors can choose to participate in unstructured and/or structured activities. Activities and attractions include bird watching via the Windows on Wildlife, mounted animals and live animals on display, nature videos, field guides […]
The Perseid Meteor Shower
The Perseid Meteor Shower
Steve Rice from the Millstream Astronomy Club will present a program about the Perseid Meteor Shower. Afterwards, you’ll be able to view the heavens with hopefully a lot of meteors. Come look through their telescopes or bring your own. Club […]
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4 events,
Wee Ones: Box Crawl
Wee Ones: Box Crawl
The best toy ever is a simple cardboard box. Bring the little ones out to enjoy a fun day in the Nature Play Area and let them crawl from box to box. Each box will represent a nature habitat for […]
Spectroscopes
Spectroscopes
Create your own spectroscope, which is a tool that breaks up light into its component colors. We will learn about light and then create our spectroscopes using a paper towel tube and an old CD. Then we will use our […]
Planetarium: The Argo Navis
Planetarium: The Argo Navis
The constellation Argo Navis, or the Ship Argo, was once the largest constellation in the night sky. However, you will not find the Argo Navis in the list of 88 modern-day constellations. In our indoor portable planetarium, learn about the […]
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2 events,
Monarch Hunt
Monarch Hunt
Come along on a hike as we search for Monarch caterpillars, chrysalises, and butterflies on Common Milkweed plants throughout the park. As we search, learn more about the life cycle of these cool butterflies and the plant they depend on. […]
Family Fishing
Family Fishing
Get out in the parks and go fishing as a family. Learn about the basics of fishing as we try to catch some fish that live in Giertz Lake. All skill levels are welcome. A fishing pole will be provided […]
1 event,
What’s the Weather
What’s the Weather
Explore the weather with hands-on experiments and observations. Kids will determine air temperature, soil temperature, wind speed, and cloud coverage using kid-friendly weather equipment and some non-traditional ones like pinwheels and wind socks. We’ll also make a giant sundial and […]
1 event,
Archery Instruction – Youth
Archery Instruction – Youth
A Leisure Education Initiative Come out for an archery class led by a certified archery instructor. All necessary equipment and targets will be provided. You’ll have the opportunity to learn the basics of archery along with safety measures, while shooting […]
1 event,
Prairies: Open House
Prairies: Open House
Learn what flowers and grasses grow in Oakwoods’ 2-acre prairie and what animals call it home. Discover how these plants adapted to a tree-free habitat and how Native Americans and pioneers would have used them. A hike to the prairie […]
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2 events,
Little Hands Nature Club: Animal Habitat Creations
Little Hands Nature Club: Animal Habitat Creations
Children will get to choose an animal and then build a habitat out of a big box that will be provided. Children will draw, color, and collect things from nature to make the habitat a nice cozy place for the […]
Active Adult Hikes – Oakwoods’ Prairie
Active Adult Hikes – Oakwoods’ Prairie
The last of our four hikes for active adults will take us through the woods, ending up by the prairie. Wildflowers such as prairie coneflower, prairie dock, and Ironweed should be blooming. We’ll also watch for butterflies and seed loving […]
1 event,
Naturalist-led Morning Kayak Float
Naturalist-led Morning Kayak Float
See the Blanchard River in the early morning light via kayak and learn about the plants and animals found along the riverbank. The float trip will start at Zonta Landing. Paddlers will travel up river to the bridge at Bright […]
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2 events,
Day at the Sandbox
Day at the Sandbox
Enjoy the outdoors by playing in the Nature Playscape. Create sand castle, holes, or other creations using our sandbox toys or bring your own shovel and pail. If you are lucky, you may be able to find a treasure buried […]
Archery Open Shoot
Archery Open Shoot
Have you taken one of the Hancock Park District’s introductory archery courses? If so, and if you want more archery practice, then here’s your chance. A certified archery instructor will supervise the archery practice session. All necessary equipment and targets […]
2 events,
Photography Hike
Photography Hike
If you have a passion for photography or if you want to learn, come along on a hike with fellow photographers to capture the beauty of our parks through the lens of the camera. We will hike the trails taking […]
Richard S. “Doc” Phillips Discovery Center Open House
Richard S. “Doc” Phillips Discovery Center Open House
The Discovery Center will be open for visitation. Visitors can choose to participate in unstructured and/or structured activities. Activities and attractions include bird watching via the Windows on Wildlife, mounted animals and live animals on display, nature videos, field guides […]
0 events,
2 events,
Make a Water Bottle Diver
Make a Water Bottle Diver
Create your own cartesian diver. This fun toy is an experiment that demonstrates the principle of buoyancy. You will create a diver that will look like a fish, an otter, or a turtle and then place it in a bottle […]
Poison vs Venom
Poison vs Venom
These toxins, which are produced by living things, are often confused with one another. Learn about the differences between poison and venom and learn about plants and animals that use these toxins. Then we will explore the park in search […]
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Photos may be taken during Hancock Park District’s programs & activities. These photos might be used on Social Media as well as for advertising purposes.