New Nature Play Space Opens At LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve In Kane County

Press release from Batavia Chamber of Commerce:

BATAVIA, IL — The Forest Preserve District of Kane County and the Kane Forest Preserve Foundation invite the community to celebrate the new Nature Play Space at LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve, during a ribbon-cutting and grand opening Monday, Nov. 9, at 2 p.m.

All are welcome to attend the celebration, then stay to explore and play. Designed for unstructured, child directed play with nature, the space encourages children to use their imagination and senses to build, create and discover.

A trail connects five themed outdoor “rooms,” each offering a different way to engage with the natural world:

• Shelter-Building Room: Children can build their own shelters using sticks, twigs, and other
  natural objects, taking inspiration from the homes constructed by local wildlife.
• Excavation Room: Budding explorers can dig for hidden bones, models and artifacts,
  discovering how scientists look for clues about plants and animals from long ago.
• Mud Kitchen Room: Children can mix up imaginative creations using cooking utensils and natural materials such as soil, fallen leaves and sticks. Water from a nearby pump adds to the muddy fun.
• Soundscape Room: Visitors can pause to hear the sounds of nature, then use musical instruments to create a symphony of their own.
• Contemplation Room: A quiet space invites visitors to slow down, reflect on their experiences and enjoy their surroundings.

Families are encouraged to return throughout the year to discover how seasonal changes shape the space and inspire new ways to play.

LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve is located at 37W700 Dean St., St. Charles. The Nature Play Space is across from the red barn, next to the Durant House Museum.

The project was made possible by the Kane Forest Preserve Foundation, the Grand Victoria Riverboat Foundation, Ball Horticultural and the Forest Preserve District of Kane County. For more information, visit www.kaneforest.com, or find us on social by searching @forestpreserve.

This press release was produced by Batavia Chamber of Commerce. The views expressed here are the author’s own.