Nature doesn’t close because it’s winter. Neither do nature centers.
Get out of the house and up close with wildlife, including snakes, insects, bunnies and an owl, and learn a thing or two about surviving outdoors, or just relax on a hayride Saturday when Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanical Gardens in Palos Heights hosts its annual Winterfest.
“Winterfest is a good way of getting people outside in the winter and provides an opportunity to remind people that even though we’re in some of the darkest months there are still things to do outside and ways to be active,” said Gareth Blakesley, operations manager of the 85-acre park at 7402 W. Lake Katherine Drive, near Route 83 and Harlem Avenue. “We as a nature center are still open. Winter can be harder times, but it also can be quite fun.”
Outside festivities include snowshoe rentals, children’s ice sculpting and an ice rescue demonstration by the Palos Heights Fire Protection District.
An owl from Little Red Schoolhouse and the Insect Zoo will be among the guest creatures joining the resident animals for the day. Lake Katherine’s Wildlife Discovery Center is home to bunnies, snakes, turtles, toads, salamanders and fish, all of which are available for sponsorship.
Inside, visitors also can enjoy a free cookie celebrating Lake Katherine’s 25th anniversary, while supplies last, in the clubhouse and check out an igloo recently constructed of milk jugs in the nature center.
New for Winterfest this year is a presentation by Blakesley on outdoor survival tips, such as getting off the ground and insulating yourself, making and directing fire and packing proper hiking supplies.
“A lot of times it’s based around three things animals need: food, water and shelter,” he said, adding tips will include using natural things from the environment, such as spark-friendly seeds of cattails and resin-containing birch bark.
Fest admission is $5, free for kids under 4. Proceeds benefit the nonprofit park, from day-to-day operations to ongoing restoration projects and education programs.
“Our mission is to connect people with nature and we wouldn’t be able to do things to the same level if we didn’t have people supporting our mission,” he said. “Lake Katherine was man made and we’ve really tried to turn it around and make it as natural as possible and improve the quality of the land as we go forward.”
In 2015, Lake Katherine was linked with the extended Cal Sag Trail, completed its children’s play area and entranceway bridge, and planted 75 trees.
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“Not only did we get some capital improvements, but we also improved the quality of our grounds,” he said. “It was a good year.”
Vickie Jurkowski is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
Winterfest
When: Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday
Where: Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens, 7402 W. Lake Katherine Drive, Palos Heights
Admission: $5, free for children 3 and under
Information: 708-361-1873 or www.lakekatherine.org
Schedule:
12 p.m. – Owl from Little Red Schoolhouse
12:30 p.m. – Insect Zoo
1 p.m. – Ice rescue demonstration by Palos Heights Fire Protection District
1:30 p.m. – Native species housed at Lake Katherine
2 and 3 p.m. – Winter pruning tips from the University of Illinois Extension Service
2:30 p.m. – Outdoor survival tips from Lake Katherine Operations Manager Gareth Blakesley
3:30 p.m. – Photo opportunity with Waddles the Penguin, mascot for the Palos Heights Parks and Recreation Department