Zombies have taken over the Plum Creek Nature Center in Crete Township, but visitors need not worry. The undead are there for a good cause.
The Forest Preserve District of Will County teamed up with the Purdue University College of Agriculture Exhibit Design Center to bring the “Don’t be a Zombie! Be Prepared” exhibit to the nature center. The exhibit, which focuses on emergency preparedness, is up until Nov. 28.
Kate Caldwell, an interpretive naturalist for the forest preserve district, said Purdue is a frequent partner. The university extension, in particular, has a design department that creates exhibits and themes to support community, family and environment, she said.
“When we saw their zombie maze exhibit, we wanted to have it,” Caldwell said. “It sends a well-rounded message about how precious our planet is and how connected and dependent upon nature we are when an emergency or disaster strikes.”
The Nature Foundation of Will County provided funding for the zombie exhibit, a first-time attraction for the district. The exhibit features cartoon zombies and uses a maze challenge to ask visitors if they are prepared. The maze introduces concepts of emergency shelter, getting babies, seniors and pets ready, emergency kits, the difference between storm warnings and watches and different types of disasters.
“Zombies serve as a metaphor for disasters and emergencies,” Caldwell said. “Both can sneak up on you. The difference between an emergency and a disaster is that both are sudden and unexpected, like zombies, but a disaster means that resources are not available. That’s why it is so important to be prepared. Zombies are the entertaining distraction that represents the idea of something moving slowly and then catches you by surprise.
“Using the zombie maze as an exhibit turns a necessary but not-so-exciting message into something fun. If it’s fun, then people connect to it.”
Caldwell added that emergency preparedness and nature also go hand in hand, because nature is prepared to respond to emergencies. The aim is to make sure people are prepared, too, the next time a tornado, snowstorm, flood or power outage strikes.
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“Nature troubleshoots and has built-in strategies to respond to emergencies and disasters — for example, extremes for hot, cold, wet, dry and diseases,” she said. “A good animal example that is used by many vocalizing species: If danger approaches for singing frogs, they will send out a vocalized signal within the group and they all go silent. They stop singing and remain still until a signal goes out that the danger has passed.”
Caldwell said Plum Creek was chosen for the exhibit because it is a good spot for families to interact with nature and meet interpretive naturalists. Despite the typically horrific nature of zombies, Caldwell said the exhibit is good for all but young children.
“Zombies are definitely scary,” she said. “But Purdue worked hard to turn the zombies into comical figures. This exhibit targets kids 10 and older. But, we have a ‘zombie-free zone’ in our multipurpose room, where kids’ crafts and activities await.”
The exhibit also features a scratch-off game asking people to make smart choices when thinking about what to take from each room in a house. There is a video game available that asks players to pack an emergency preparedness kit before zombies get them. And there is a tunnel to crawl through and photos with a zombie.
“The exhibit emphasizes that we stop and think and be ready,” Caldwell said. “Being prepared for emergencies means using the resources that we have in a sustainable way, in a way that will conserve what we have. … Being prepared for emergencies reveals to us how important it is to protect our natural world. We protect it, and it will protect us. Being prepared for emergencies means thinking ahead of time and empowering us to move toward recovery.”
The exhibit is complemented by the “Zombies! Emergency Preparedness Challenge!” People can pick up a zombie challenge sheet and take to the Snapper Pond Trail at Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve. Zombies will challenge them with preparedness questions. Those who answer all questions can claim a prize at the nature center.
An Eat a Bug Challenge is also planned for November, with edible insects also available for sale at the nature center. Caldwell said the protein-filled bugs are another lesson in being prepared.
“The Forest Preserve’s mission is to protect, enhance and conserve our natural and cultural heritage by connecting people to nature,” Caldwell said. “Being connected to nature will help us to appreciate what survival means when we are affected by a disaster or an emergency. When we are more connected to nature, we can become more resourceful.”
The Plum Creek Nature Center is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, and noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays. Registration is not required for the free exhibit. The center is located at 27064 S. Dutton Road. More information is at ReconnectWithNature.org.
Bill Jones is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.