The Nature Foundation of Will County is celebrating 10 years of being a fundraising arm for conservation, education and recreation programs that benefit the Forest Preserve District of Will County.
“For a foundation, we are still in our infancy, but we are prepared to grow and expand,” said Tara Neff, the foundation’s executive director.
In the last decade, the foundation has raised more than $1.85 million that’s supported the district’s programs, preserve and trail amenities, visitor center exhibitions and other efforts to help protect and enhance the county’s natural resources.
The group has helped sponsor popular programs such as the Woods Walk Challenge, which encourages residents to view the fall splendor on various county trails, and the Take it Outside Challenge, which gives participants a chance to win prizes for completing nature-themed missions.
The Nature Foundation recently presented a check for $393,450 to the Forest Preserve District’s board of commissioners, which included a $375,000 donation from the Dollinger family, for improvements to the Lake Chaminwood Preserve in Channahon.
While the Forest Preserve District of Will County is a taxing body, the foundation allows corporations and individuals to donate funds that will in turn support the district’s programs, Neff said. Together, they form a great partnership, she said.
The foundation is a not-for-profit organization, she said. Corporations can receive tax incentives to donate, and many nature lovers have put the foundation in their wills, Neff said. A growing number of individuals have donated to the foundation. The foundation also applies for grants that will help benefit the preserves.
With more than 23,000 acres of protected land throughout Will County, there is always more to do, Neff said.
Having the foundation as a funding mechanism provides for greater flexibility when allocating money, Neff said. When new or innovative ideas for a program or initiative pop up, the Nature Foundation can help pay for it instead of waiting until the forest district’s next budget cycle, she said.
Their goal is to increase awareness and appreciation for being among nature, which in turn benefits one’s physical and mental well-being, Neff said.
“In the preserves, you have the ability to be surrounded by nature, have that chance encounter with a bird, a beaver or a butterfly, find solace and create memories in a space that is protected,” Neff said. “The next generation can have that same experience.”
Neff said the Forest Preserve District and the Nature Foundation work to connect individuals to nature.
There’s something for everyone, she said.
The Birds in Art exhibit at the Plum Creek Nature Center in Crete Township earlier this year attracted residents from throughout the Chicago area. Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville this year hosted an exhibit dedicated to Will County’s agricultural roots by highlighting the history of the Riverview Farmstead Preserve in Naperville. Residents who have participated in the Take it Outside Challenge said it contributed to better physical health, increased mobility and a loss of weight, Neff said.
The foundation also sponsors the Willy’s Wilderness website with animal facts, science experiments and other educational information for children and their parents.
“They engage people from all walks of life,” said Julie Berkowicz, of Naperville, who serves on the Will County Board, the Forest Preserve District board and the Nature Foundation’s board. “All activities and events we have are geared towards touching every generation and opening up their vision of what life is away from the computer, away from the daily routine.”
Berkowicz said she has enjoyed participating in habitat restoration days where volunteers remove invasive species and clean up various preserves. Seeing native plants emerge after the volunteer efforts is a testament to their hard work, she said.
Berkowicz said she also enjoys the native plant sales sponsored by the foundation which both raise money and are educational.
The Pelican Party in Channahon, which highlights the migrating American white pelican through live bird presentations and other activities, is another example that shows Will County has something for everyone, Berkowicz said.
Having the foundation helps save taxpayer money while providing an array of educational programs and events, she said.
“It’s amazing to me what is available to our residents,” she said.
Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
