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Community Corner

Patch Passport: Kid-Friendly Fun with Nature

Take advantage of time with your kids and get out and enjoy these hot spots. Your Patch Passport gives you options for great local spots for kid-friendly fun.

If you are looking for an educational and fun outing in nature for people of all ages, look no further than the .  Located at 3 Stover Road in Barrington, the center is a part of the Cook County Forest Preserve.  It features over a thousand acres of glacier formed terrain with a list of over 260 species observed on the property.

Crabtree is home to many different types of birds and thus, makes it a popular bird-watching spot.  There is also an abundance of summer flowers blossoming in the meadows and prairies.  Several miles of self-guided trails snake around the preserve, allowing kids and adults to explore at their leisure and connect with the land.

If you are looking for inside exploration, there is a center with exhibits geared toward children.  Some exhibits feature turtles and frogs, snakes, fish and beavers.  Many include hands-on activities such as building a beaver dam or tracing leaves.  Summer hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

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