2024 Upcoming Events

We have so much planned for the 2024 year! Here are just a few dates that are set for some of our upcoming events/programs.

If you are interested in sponsoring, donating or joining the planning committee for the 2024 All Wheels Show on September 22nd, please reach out to cherylsmith@camptontownship.com.

We can not wait to see you all at these events this year!

How to Co-exist With Coyotes

It is that time of year again. We would like to share any information that will help you and our local coyote friends to be able to co-exist with each other. Over the years alot of information has been misinterpreted through the media. Here are some facts/ideas that hopefully will help you!

• Mating season is January - February (you may hear coyotes more this time of year due to them searching for their mate)
• Coyotes do not become more aggressive this time of year but will protect themselves and their family if threatened
• They do not intentionally lure dogs to the pack
• Keep an eye on all animals large or small when outside
• Keep dogs on a leash

Winter Critter Camp

Learning about wildlife & nature all while making new memories and friendships!

Winter Critter Camp was such a blast!

As always Camp week goes by way too fast. Winter Critter Camp was full of fun, education, crafts, hikes and all around great memories that will last a lifetime. We would like to extend a HUGE THANK YOU! to all of our amazing guest speakers (humans and animals) and all of our wonderful volunteers that made our first Winter Critter Camp a camp that these kids will never forget. We could not do it without you!

Keep an eye out on our social media for early registration for the Summer Critter Camp!

Land Acquisition News!

Campton Township is one of eight Illinois Communities to acquire a grant for local outdoor recreational opportunities from IDNR. Recently, Campton Township began an acquisition of a 130-acre site known as the Goldenstein Farm. This property will be a great space for our community for future trails through woodland, prairie and wetland habitats.

Winter Activities you can do at home!

We want to encourage everyone to get out and enjoy the great outdoors! Not everyone can make it to our parks and open spaces so we're here to help bring those fun adventures to your own back yard!

Nest Boxes -

Want to attract screech owls and kestrels to your backyard?

Follow these steps to provide the perfect habitat for them!

• Provide a birdbath for drinking and bathing, especially if there is not much water nearby
• These raptors prefer higher and drier locations
• Get your nest boxes ready to go by February as this is when they begin to nest (could be as late as July)
• Hang box 10-30 feet off the ground, underneath a tree limb
• Hang along a woodland edge
• One nest box per a minimum of 100 feet area
• Position box East or South, this is where these raptors like to sit to soak up sunlight

For directions on how to build your step by step nest box, please click the link below.

Plant your own prairie -

Now is the time to start planting your native seed/prairie! Get your seeds ready to go, about a day before the next snow/rain storm place any seeds you wish to plant. This is to prepare the seeds for germination in the Spring. Anytime between Late November and Mid-March is the perfect time to do this.

This process is called Cold Stratification. Cold Stratification allows the seed to break down and germinate before it can sprout into a plant.

Create your own seed bombs, fun for the whole family!

1. Mix together 1 cup of seeds, 5 cups of compost and 2-3 cups of clay powder or clay soil
2. Slowly mix in water with your hands until everything begins to stick together
3. Roll into balls
4. Let seed bombs dry
5. Once they are ready to go throw your seed bombs wherever you would like the seeds planted in your yard!

Create your own bird feeder -

There are so many different types of bird feeders you can make with stuff you can easily find within your home. The two in the pictures are just two of our most popular bird feeders we make with our campers.

Fruit feeder -

Take some apples and oranges and slice them up. You may have to make some holes in the fruit, then you put it on a heavy duty string. If you would like to add shelled peanuts, thats always a big hit with the birds as well! Then you hang on some branches and watch all the birds (and maybe other wildlife) visit your yard!

Pine Cone feeder -

Once you have your pine cone go ahead and put any kind of peanut butter, sun butter (for peanut allergies) you can find and apply all over the pine cone. Once you have covered your pine cone in peanut butter, roll the pine cone in bird seed. Tie a piece of string on to the pine cone and hang on a tree in your yard.

Other Bird feeder ideas

• Toilet paper roll/paper towel roll
• Water bottle, gatorade bottles, etc
• Milk carton
• Cookie cutter shaped feeders

What can You do at Our Parks & Open Spaces?

This time of year can be a little more difficult to visit our parks and open spaces. There is more to do at our parks and open spaces than you think! We hope you all can enjoy our locations year round. Here are a few ideas you can do at any of our parks and open spaces that are open in the Winter,

• Snowshoeing
• Cross-Country Skiing
• Search for animal tracks
• Photography (beautiful shots of wildlife and scenery in the Winter time)
• Create your own scavenger hunt hike
• Winter Birding
• Tree identifying
• Outdoor exercise
• and many more ideas!!

2024 Community Garden

Get ready, the Community Gardens are getting ready to open and will be here before we know it! The important dates for the gardens are...

Returning Gardeners from 2023 season may reserve their same plot beginning

February 5th (Email will be sent out soon).

New gardeners may sign up for a plot beginning

February 26th.

Garden plots open April 15th (weather permitting).

There are many benefits to be involved with your communities garden, such as,

• Gardening is a physical activity, helps keep you in shape
• Fresh produce, all around healthier for you
• Brings neighbors together, chance to meet new people
• Gardening helps reduce stress and anxiety
• Helps to teach important life skills
• Helps you to know where your food is coming from

Keep an eye on our social media to register your spot!!

Preschool Pals

Preschool Pals will meet the third Tuesday of every month from 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM and will be for ages 3-5 years old. This club will meet at Historic Corron Farm.

We will explore the outdoors, have a story times, play games, we will do some nature based crafts and have a great time enjoying nature while learning all about the animals and plants that live in our area. Each month has a different theme.

A parent or guardian must accompany the child.

Preschool Pals will meet February 20th from 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM.

Registration is required, click registration button below:

Nature & Wildlife Detectives Club

Nature and Wildlife Detectives Club will meet the third Wednesday of every month. This club is for ages 5-10 and will meet at Historic Corron Farm.

Nature and Wildlife Detectives Club will meet February 21st from 4:30 PM - 6:00 PM.

January's Nature and Wildlife Detectives was rescheduled to January 31st due to the extreme cold weather.

At our December Nature and Wildlife Detective Club, we dove deep into animal tracks. We went over how important tracking is and all that you can understand about one particular animal just based on their tracks. After our discussion we went out for a night hike and looked for tracks. The kids got to see alot of different animal tracks and we discussed what each animal was possibly doing. After our hike we came back inside and worked on track ornaments/magnets to take home! We had so much fun all while learning something new!

Both clubs will be a great time encouraging kids to bring out their inner detective skills to see what creatures and different parts of nature we can discover. For instance, "what animal walked here last night and what were they doing?" Each month will be a different topic with different activities and crafts.

Registration is required!

Sign your child/children up today at the link below:

Volunteer Opportunities

If you are looking for a great way to help out and would like to be added to our contact list, we will send out emails as opportunities become available announcing all of the details. Email us at programs@camptontownship.com to be added to our list.

We have a lot of fun volunteer opportunities coming up in both our Natural Resources and Program/Event Departments!

Program/Events:

• Preschool Pals
• Nature and Wildlife Detective Club
• Critter Camps (Summer, Fall & Winter
• Special Events

Natural Resources Volunteer Opportunities:

• Brush Clearing
• Prescribed Burns
• Weed Pulling
• Seed Harvesting
• And much more!

If you are available and wish to help out with our Brush Clearing that is coming up very soon, please reach out to carterdell@camptontownship.com

Be on the look out for volunteer opportunities on our Facebook page, Campton Township Parks & Open Space. Click here--> Our Facebook Page

If you are interested in volunteering for any upcoming programs or events, please email us at programs@camptontownship.com. Let us know which events or programs you are interested in and we will find the perfect opportunity for you to help out!

Thank You!

We would like to extend a big thank you to the Campton Township Open Space Foundation and the wonderful volunteers they got to organize a clean up day at our Natural Resources office. They cleared all the scrap/junk that has been collected around the building and relocated to their proper spots. We are very grateful for the hard work that was put into this project! The Natural Resources office looks great!!

Campton Township Open Space Foundation Donation

The Campton Township Open Space Foundation's mission is to provide charitable donations and advocacy that will enhance and improve the open space facilities, and amenities for the passive and active parks and recreation sites owned and managed by Campton Township.

Help us enhance and preserve the over 1500 acres of Campton Township Open Space for the benefit of our community. 

The Open Space program began in 2001 and continues to expand and benefit all of the residents in Campton Township. Please visit the link below to make your donation!

Your CTOSF donations are tax-deductible, CTOSF is a 501 (c) 3 non profit organization.

Campton Township Open Space Foundation Upcoming Dates

Mark your calendars for these upcoming fundraisers through the Campton Township Open Space Foundation, you will not want to miss out!

Become a Citizen Scientist!

For more information about Campton Township Parks and Open Space contact us at:

Programs@CamptonTownship.com

Or Call: 630.332.5747