Be a Trailblazer In 2025 With Forest Preserve's New Challenge

Be a Trailblazer in 2025 by joining the Forest Preserve District of Will County’s new nature-themed, outdoor experience.

Participants in the Be a Trailblazer challenge will complete missions at their own pace and qualify to win $10,000 in randomly awarded prizes.

The challenge starts at 9 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, and features four seasonal sessions and a wide range of missions including snapping selfies and photos of flora and fauna, visiting Forest Preserve sites and events and taking part in recreational activities offered by the District.

The prize pool for Be a Trailblazer features recreational equipment funded by experience sponsor, The Nature Foundation of Will County, and dozens of gift cards and gift baskets etc. donated by local businesses and organizations (see below).

Get started

To become a Trailblazer, download the free Goosechase app to your smartphone. To find the experience, search for Be a Trailblazer on the app or enter the code PQNL75. Please be sure to read the rules, which are posted online at ReconnectWithNature.org.

The Be a Trailblazer campaign is divided into four seasonal sessions: Winter, Thursday, Jan. 16, to Saturday, March 1; Spring, Thursday, April 10, to Saturday, May 24; Summer, Thursday, June 5, to Saturday, Aug. 9; and Fall, Thursday, Sept. 25, to Saturday, Nov. 8.

Ten points will be awarded for each completed mission, and there will be a leaderboard for those whose competitive juices run strong. But no one will win a prize based on points.

While random prizes will be tied to specific missions, not every mission will have a prize. Participants can win multiple prizes. Also, every mission a participant completes each week during the seasonal experiences will count as an entry in weekly giveaways for a Be a Trailblazer T-shirt.

"This is a fun and leisurely way to get people out on the trails, whether it's a neighborhood path or trails farther away that they haven't visited before," said Chad Merda, head of digital marketing strategy/engagement.

"Some people may routinely walk a trail near their house, or only kayak or fish in one of the many lakes we have. But if we can open them up to other types of recreation and in different locations, it can help expand their healthy outdoor habits while also gaining a greater appreciation for the tens of thousands of acres of open space in the county."

Plentiful prize pool

Prizes funded by the Nature Foundation include kayaks, snow tubes, Fitbits, a Yeti cooler, tent and sleeping bag packs, fishing equipment, hiking poles and picnic packs and more. And these generous local businesses also have provided items for the 2025 campaign:

Arrowhead Ales, New Lenox; Aurelio's Pizza, Joliet; Big Apple Café , Joliet; Channahon Lanes, Channahon; Country Charm, New Lenox; Craft’d, Plainfield; Hamburgerseria, Joliet; Heroes West Sports Grill, Joliet/Lemont; Home Cut Donuts, Joliet; Jack’s Car Wash, Joliet; Joliet Area Historical Museum, Joliet; KidsWork Children’s Museum, New Lenox; Ken Woody Sports & More, Joliet; Labas, Latte & Vino, Monee; Mr. Submarine, Joliet; Old Fashioned Pancake House, Joliet; Pet Supplies Plus in Plainfield; Possibility Place Nursery, Monee; Prairie Bluff Golf Club, Crest Hill; Ruby’s Burritos, Romeoville; Gina's Teardrop Café, New Lenox; The Forge: Lemont Quarries, Lemont; Town and Country Lanes, Joliet; Waffles Kafé, New Lenox; and Wild Birds Unlimited Joliet.

Restaurants and shops are donating gift cards, Wild Birds Unlimited is donating gift baskets and Ken Woody Sports is donating quarter zip pullovers embroidered with the Be a Trailblazer logo and museums are donating passes. Forest Preserve prizes include: three half-day boat rentals and three family packs at Monee Reservoir.

“We are extremely grateful for the support and generosity shown by local businesses as well as The Nature Foundation of Will County, and we hope challenge participants patronize these businesses because they support our mission and make initiatives like this possible," said Laura Kiran, Forest Preserve director of marketing and communications.