Van Patten Woods Forest Preserve features oak forest, 86-acre Sterling Lake and the Des Plaines River. Van Patten Woods is located in northeast Lake County near Wadsworth. The entrance and parking area are located on Route 173, east of Route 41 and west of Green Bay Road.
What do playing dead and cheek pouches have in common? Both are adaptations animals use for survival. Students search for camouflaged animals during an outdoor walk. A variety of animal skins show how well wildlife is suited for its habitat. Outdoor activities illustrate unique behavioral adaptations.
Save 25% on this program between December and February.
This program is primarily offered at Ryerson Woods and Greenbelt. It is also offered at the following locations on the dates specified:
Field Trip
4-8
Sept-Feb, Apr-early Jun at Ryerson Woods. For availability at other sites, see listings above.
Learn what makes a bird a bird, take a close-up look at feathers and discover what types of beaks are best for eating different foods. Students take a look at bird study skins, and then head outdoors to listen and look.
Save 25% on this program between December and February.
This program is primarily offered at Ryerson Woods and Greenbelt. It is also offered at the following locations on the dates specified:
Field Trip
Age 3-Grade 12
Sept-Feb, Apr-early Jun at Ryerson Woods. For availability at other sites, see listings above.
If you’re on your way to the Boundary Waters, gear up for fun. Learn how to paddle the big water, how to portage a canoe, and how to pack and carry a Duluth pack.
Take a hands-on look at different animals’ homes and learn that like people – animals use homes to provide shelter, safety and a good place to raise a family. Then it’s into the woods to search for burrows, nests, holes and more.
Save 25% on this program between December and February.
This program is primarily offered at Ryerson Woods and Greenbelt. It is also offered at the following locations on the dates specified:
Field Trip
Age 3-Grade 2
Sept-Feb, Apr-early Jun at Ryerson Woods. For availability at other sites, see listings above.
There are more insects on Earth than all other animals combined. Look at the world through an insect’s eyes and discover the differences and similarities between insects and spiders. Netting and close-up observation allows students to explore a variety of local insects and spiders.
This program is primarily offered at Ryerson Woods and Greenbelt. It is also offered at the following locations on the dates specified:
Field Trip
1-8
Sept-early Oct, late May-early Jun at Ryerson Woods. For availability at other sites, see listings above.
Paddle our 34-foot canoe and use specialized tools to collect water samples and do chemical tests. Examine soil around the lake, analyze how water moves through it and learn the implications for water quality. Next, visit our Enviroscape and learn the connection between land use and water quality. Students work as a research team to determine the health of the lake for plants and animals. Once you have taken Lake Ecology, learn how animals relate to the lake environment by taking Fish or Pond Study.
Go back to early Lake County as 18th-century French voyageurs lead activities on land and water. Discover why voyageurs traveled to Illinois in the 1740s and learn their effect on natural and cultural development. Weather permitting, paddle our 34-foot canoe across the lake and back in time.
We’re mammals, but what does that mean? We’ll look at pelts and skulls to learn similarities and differences between everything from bats to beavers. Then we’ll go outside to look for animal tracks and signs of how mammals survive the coldest winters.
Save 25% on this program between December and February.
This program is primarily offered at Ryerson Woods and Greenbelt. It is also offered at the following locations on the dates specified:
Field Trip
Age 3-Grade 12
Sept-Feb, Apr-early June at Ryerson Woods. For availability at other sites, see listings above.
Enter the world of canoeing or kayaking. Learn about boat types and parts as well as navigating your craft on the lake and rescue techniques. Be prepared for a day on the lake.
Learn food chain basics with an outdoor simulation of predator and prey interactions. Dissect owl pellets to determine what happens to prey. A face-to-face meeting with a live predator reveals its special role in nature.
Save 25% on this program between December and February.
This program is primarily offered at Ryerson Woods and Greenbelt. It is also offered at the following locations on the dates specified:
Field Trip
3-12
Sept-Feb, Apr-early Jun at Ryerson Woods. For availability at other sites, see listings above.
