Lara Vander Ploeg

Will County

Andrea Earnest

Chicago Metropolitan Area

Frankfort

Illinois

Lauren Traut

Mokena

Cook County

Tinley Park

Orland Park

New Lenox

Oak Forest

Manhattan

Homewood-Flossmoor

Chicago Heights

Lorraine Swanson

Palos

Homer Glen-Lockport

Forest Preserve District of Will County, Sugar Creek Administration Center

The Forest Preserve District of Will County's fall <a href="https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/be-a-trailblazer-campaign" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Be a Trailblazer</a> experience is underway!
The first mission drop landed on Wednesday, Sept. 23, and the second will come during the week of Nov. 1.
Each drop includes a combination of GPS-based missions in preserves, photo missions and trivia questions. Some photo missions must be completed at specific locations, while others can be done anywhere outdoors.
Missions will be sprinkled across more than a dozen locations.
The fall session of Be a Trailblazer runs through Saturday, Dec. 12. To join, download the free Goosechase app to your smartphone and search for 2026 Be a Trailblazer or enter the code JYBKK4.
Prize pool
Participants are randomly selected to receive prizes funded by <a href="https://www.willcountynature.org/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">The Nature Foundation of Will County</a> and donated by more than 30 local businesses. Nearly 200 prizes worth more than $15,000 will be awarded during the 2026 challenge.
Foundation-funded items include a Fitbit Charge 6, Yeti Roadie 48 cooler and Bonfire 19-inch Solo Stove. 
Donated items include bird-feeding prize packs from Wild Birds Unlimited in Joliet, gift cards from West52 BBQ in Shorewood, wine from Goat &amp; Vine Restaurant and Winery, and golf passes from Prairie Bluff Golf Club in Crest Hill and X-Golf in Shorewood.
For more information, visit <a href="https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">ReconnectWithNature.org</a>.

Local Event: Explore Nature: Join the Be a Trailblazer Experience

Joliet

Explore Nature: Join the Be a Trailblazer...

The Forest Preserve District of Will County's fall Be a Trailblazer experience is underway!
The first mission drop landed on...

Explore Nature: Join the Be a Trailblazer Experience

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Explore Nature: Join the Be a Trailblazer Experience