March 17: MapleFest at Red Oak Nature Center

NORTH AURORA – Red Oak Nature Center will be offering an early, sweet taste of spring on Saturday, March 17, when the annual MapleFest takes place.

The event is free to the public, with no registration required.

Tours will run every half hour beginning at 9 a.m. (final tour at 1 p.m.), with naturalists from Red Oak leading visitors to various stations in the woods to view demonstrations of how maple sap is harvested and turned into delicious maple syrup. Each group will tap a maple tree, then witness the process of how sap is boiled and converted into syrup. Group taste-tests will follow.

“Early spring is the perfect time to collect maple sap because the days are getting warmer but the nights are still cold,” said Margaret Gazdacka, facility supervisor at Red Oak. “Visitors will get to witness this age-old practice of taking sap from a tree and turning it into the syrup you use on your pancakes.”

Maple-themed treats and hot beverages will be available for a small fee. A new feature this year will include items for sale from Vermont – the maple syrup-producing capital of the world – that include small bottles of maple syrup, maple-flavored cotton candy and maple lollipops.

Red Oak Nature Center is located on Route 25 in North Aurora, one mile north of Route 56. For more information, contact Red Oak at 630-897-1808 or visit the District’s website at www.foxvalleyparkdistrict.org.

April 16: Earth Day at Red Oak

Red Oak Nature Center will celebrate Earth Day on Saturday, April 16, with an afternoon of fun and games designed to raise awareness on how to keep the planet healthy.

From 1 to 3 p.m., visitors are invited to take part in a variety of fun and educational activities that promote reusing and recycling to make for a more Earth-friendly household.

Admission is free to all, with one condition – each child is required to bring six rinsed plastic bottles or a gently used children’s book as their entry “ticket.” The bottles will be used for various games and the books become part of a library to be used for a book swap.

Interactive games and crafts for children will be played inside and outside the nature center. Stations will be set up for games such as bottle bowling, container stacking, musical tubes and yogurt planters, among other games. An “unnatural” scavenger hunt also will take place.

Families are encouraged to attend and discover how each family member can make an impact that helps preserve a better Earth for tomorrow. All children must be accompanied by an adult. The event also serves as a great service project for Scout groups.


The Fox Valley Park District’s Red Oak Nature Center is located on Route 25, one mile north of Route 56 (Butterfield Road). The park stretches for 40 scenic acres along the east bank of the Fox River and features a central museum with hands-on displays. Admission is always free. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Call (630) 897-1808 for more information. For information on Fox Valley Park District programs and facilities, visit www.foxvalleyparkdistrict.org

Sept.: Free fall! Fox Valley Park District and beyond...

Fall into fitness at the park district! Commit to get fit this season and beyond. FVPD makes it easy with a free, 7-day pass to any fitness center this month. You can test out the equipment and attend group exercises classes for free. Learn how beneficial it can be to have a first-class facility to call home for your workouts! But hurry - the promotion ends Sept. 30.

First-time visitors who take advantage of the free week-long trial will learn about the many health benefits that result from being a fitness club member. The offer is available to guests age 16 and over.

A free seven-day pass can be redeemed at the Eola Community Center (555 S. Eola Road), Prisco Community Center (150 W. Illinois Ave.) and the Vaughan Athletic Center (2121 W. Indian Trail).

For more information, call any fitness center or visit the Park District website at www.foxvalleyparkdistrict.org.

It's always free to explore the park district trails by foot or bike! Take a trip to Red Oak Nature Center and collect leaves to identify or turn into craft projects with your children. Nature and imagination - always free! The Gilman trail is a great place to enjoy a fall bike ride. Or visit Phillips Park on Aurora's East Side. Free zoo, free fun!