Junior Rangers Learn About Wildlife and Preservation at Waterfall Glen

It’s been said that the lessons we learn outside the classroom are just as important as the ones we learn inside.

For the children at Wednesday’s junior ranger trek at , this idea rang true.

Led by ranger Ray Soszynski, six children participated in the hike, trekking a half-mile to explore the habitat, look for signs of wildlife and learn about the animals and plants found there.

“I wanted to give the kids an idea of what a ranger does out in the field,” Soszynski said.

Since the start of the program five years ago, Soszynski has led teams of children younger than 10 through Waterfall Glen’s winding trails and obstacles, before taking them to the creek. However, he says every trek is a different experience.

“You never know what you’re going to come across,” he said.

The children, Soszynski said, are most often interested in spotting wildlife and learning about the ways they can track animals explore around their neighborhoods.

On Wednesday's trek, the children spotted insects such as millipedes and ants, as well as plants, including ragweed and a downed tree from last week’s storm. They also paused during the hike to listen to a bird call.

Soszynski also used samples of pelts and skulls to provide a hands-on approach to nature and keep the children engaged.

Waterfall Glen is home to a variety of wildlife, from rabbits, squirrels, skunks, foxes and deer, but it’s uncommon for the children to encounter all of them on the way, so Soszynski uses handouts to let the children try to find footprints or scat left behind by the animals.

“We got to find out more about these animals that we didn’t have before,” participant Lauren Martin said.

Though the trek is geared towards children, adults like Sandy Martin can tag along and participate as well.

“It’s fun to see the kids engaged with nature and discovering things,” she said. “When they were running around in the rocks, you could see that they were excited about that.”

At the end of the trek, the children learned the importance of keeping the land clean and free of litter. Soszynski presented photos of hurt animals taken to the Willowbrook Wildlife Center.

The Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve offers many outdoor activities for adults and children year-round. A ranger for 12 years, Soszynski said programs like the junior ranger trek are the best part of his job.

“I love the opportunity to provide programs like this, to share my knowledge with adults and kids,” he said.

The next ranger trek will be held Aug. 21. Call (630) 933-7248 to register. The activity is free and all children younger than 10 are invited to participate. For more details, visit the DuPage County Forest Preserve's Calendar of Events.