KANE COUNTY, IL — The Great Orb Hunt is underway across Kane County, with 150 handcrafted glass and ceramic orbs being hidden throughout three local locations through Sept. 30.
The annual hunt, a partnership between the Forest Preserve District of Kane County and Fine Line Creative Arts Center, runs Sept. 10-30. The orbs are being hidden at LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve, Burnidge Forest Preserve and on the grounds of Fine Line Creative Arts Center.
Unlike a traditional scavenger hunt, hunters won't find all 150 orbs waiting for them on the first day. Organizers are placing the orbs in small batches throughout the event, typically hiding four to five at each location each day.
"We don't want them all potentially found on day 1," said Laurie Metanchuk, director of community engagement for the Forest Preserve District of Kane County.
The staggered approach also means that hunters may have good reason to return several times during the three-week event.
The orbs are generally hidden along the edges of wooded or prairie areas, and hunters should look both high and low. They may be tucked into trees or bushes, but they are not placed in mowed, open areas.
Metanchuk recommends hunting early in the morning, before the preserves and Fine Line become crowded. She also encourages participants to be patient.
"The forest preserves are huge properties," she said. "Finding one of 50 orbs may seem easy, but I promise it isn't. That's part of what makes finding one so special."
Participants can also visit multiple times during the hunt, since new orbs are being placed throughout the event and there is no announcement each time a batch is hidden.
One of the mysteries of the Great Orb Hunt is that organizers never know exactly how many orbs remain in the wild.
Some orbs go unreported after being found, while others may genuinely remain hidden. The Forest Preserve District has also heard from people who discover orbs from previous years or stumble upon one during the offseason.
This year, one participant found and reported an orb from the 2025 hunt. The orb had spent the winter outdoors and was showing some wear, but Metanchuk said it was still beautiful.
"Orbs that go undiscovered remain that way, until they're found," she said.
Hunters who find an orb are encouraged to register their discovery. Reporting the find helps the organizers keep track of claimed orbs and also gives them a chance to see photos from participants.
Those photos have become one of the enjoyable parts of the event, Metanchuk said, with many participants sharing pictures of their discoveries — including plenty of photos of orb hunters accompanied by their dogs.
Maps for the hunt are available through the Forest Preserve District of Kane County's website and social media channels, as well as Fine Line Creative Arts Center's website.
The Forest Preserve District has also shared guidance on where hunters should look. Orbs are placed near designated trails and are not hidden in waterways or mowed areas.
The district's social media pages provide updates when registered orbs are found, giving participants another way to follow the hunt.
The Forest Preserve District's official information and maps are available online, via the forest preserve district's social media page, and on the Fine Line Creative Arts' website.
The Great Orb Hunt would not be possible without Fine Line Creative Arts Center, which works with the Forest Preserve District to create and manage the event.
Fine Line artists create the individual glass and ceramic orbs, each with its own unique design. The organization also manages the orb registration process.
Metanchuk said the Forest Preserve District is "incredibly grateful" to Fine Line for running the program at no charge to the district.
"It takes time to pull it all together, for their artists to create the various, unique orbs, and to manage the orb registration page," she said. "We couldn't do this without them."
The partnership has helped turn a nature walk into an annual community tradition that combines art, outdoor recreation and a little bit of treasure hunting.
And judging by the crowds, plenty of people are taking part.
Metanchuk said the district does not have a way to determine exactly how many people have participated, but the preserves have been busy.
When she visited LeRoy Oakes recently to hide a batch of orbs, she said it was difficult to find a section of trail without other hunters nearby.
"It was nearly impossible to find a section of trail where someone wasn't in front of or behind me," she said.
For hunters hoping to add an orb to their collection before the hunt ends Sept. 30, the advice is simple: start early, look carefully, be patient and don't assume you've already missed your chance.
With new orbs continuing to be hidden throughout the event, another trip to the trails could reveal a colorful piece of handmade art hiding just off the path.
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