Summertime Family Adventures in Illinois and Just Over the Border Submitted by The Nature Conservancy in Illinois CHICAGO - Looking to get your children away from screens this summer? Or maybe you want to create some happy family memories. You don't have to travel far or spend a lot of money. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and our partners offer a wide variety of family- oriented activities within or near Illinois. Step Back in Time to See Bison Millions of bison used to roam the grasslands between the Appalachian and Rocky Mountains. By the late 1800s, only a few hundred remained. Until recently, you had to travel to Wyoming or other western states to see wild bison roaming. Today, you can see these giant mammals-which weigh 1,000 to 2,000 pounds-at two nearby TNC preserves: Nachusa Grasslands (nature.org/Nachusa) and Kankakee Sands- Indiana (nature.org/Kankakeesands). Are bison the same as buffalo? Yes. "Bison" is the animal's scientific name. Learn more about bison at nature.org/Nachusa before you head out to see them. Let Kids Play with Nature's Building Materials Traditional playgrounds mostly consist of static metal structures, such as slides and swings. What if your children had a chance to build their own outdoor play space, using logs, sticks and other natural materials? Fishing at Emiquon Preserve in Lewiston, Illinois. O Jason Whalen/Big Foot Media They can do just that at one of Chicago's Nature Play Spaces created by The Chicago Park District (ChicagoParkDistrict.com/nature). Children can build teepees, spaceships, forts or other structures that strike their imagination. The newest nature play space, created in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, is at Jackie Robinson Park, next to Mount Vernon Elementary School on Chicago's Southside. Bison with a calf in Nachusa Grasslands Preserve, linois. © Charles Larry Catch Some Fish Together TNC's Emiquon Preserve was once a farm field. Today, it is one of the largest floodplain restoration projects in the Midwest and offers public boating and fishing on Bald Cypress trees and duckweed on the water in Heron Pond at the Cache River Wetands Preserve, linos Ralph Erlandson the preserve's Thompson Lake. Catches of more than 100 bass a day have been reported. Other fish in the lake include bowfin, crappie and channel catfish. Thompson Lake has a concrete boat launch as well as a canoe launch. No gasoline motors or shore fishing. All boaters and anglers must obtain a free permit. A complete listing of boating and fishing rules is posted at nature.org/Emiquon. You can find remnant prairies across and near Illinois. Examples include Indian Boundary Prairies (nature. Prairie (nature.org/kaufmannprairie). Wisconsin's org/indianboundaryprairies), lowa's Kaufmann Avenue Chiwaukee Prairie (nature.org/chiwaukee), Emiquon and Nachusa Grasslands. Before you go, consider checking out a book on prairie wildflowers from the library. Read up on midsummer blooms, such as swamp milkweed, purple prairie clover and blue vervain. Then play a game of "I Spy a Wildflower" as you walk the prairie trails. Go Kayaking or Canoeing Paddle among 1,000-year old gnarled cypress trees in the swamps of Cache River Wetlands (nature.org/ cacheriver) in Southern Illinois. At once spooky and beautiful, the wetlands will intrigue the entire family, Volunteer as a Family even eye-rolling teenagers. A wide range of wildlife Taking good care of the green spaces across Illinois live in or visit the wetlands, including bald eagles, requires the help of many dedicated volunteers. You'll beavers and lots of chirping frogs and toads. find opportunities for all ages, ranging from cutting The Friends of the Cache River Watershed provide down invasive plants to tending community gardens. details on public boat ramps as well as canoe and Another possibility: Help with community science kayak rentals. projects. Families can walk through natural areas and record data on the plants, insects, birds or animals that See a Native Prairie in Full Bloom A number of TNC preserves provide a glimpse into you see. what the region looked like before most of the prairie Visit nature.org/volunteeril to find your next volunteer was replaced by farms, industry and human dwellings. opportunity. Summertime Family Adventures in Illinois and Just Over the Border Submitted by The Nature Conservancy in Illinois CHICAGO - Looking to get your children away from screens this summer ? Or maybe you want to create some happy family memories . You don't have to travel far or spend a lot of money . The Nature Conservancy ( TNC ) and our partners offer a wide variety of family oriented activities within or near Illinois . Step Back in Time to See Bison Millions of bison used to roam the grasslands between the Appalachian and Rocky Mountains . By the late 1800s , only a few hundred remained . Until recently , you had to travel to Wyoming or other western states to see wild bison roaming . Today , you can see these giant mammals - which weigh 1,000 to 2,000 pounds - at two nearby TNC preserves : Nachusa Grasslands ( nature.org/Nachusa ) and Kankakee Sands Indiana ( nature.org/Kankakeesands ) . Are bison the same as buffalo ? Yes . " Bison " is the animal's scientific name . Learn more about bison at nature.org/Nachusa before you head out to see them . Let Kids Play with Nature's Building Materials Traditional playgrounds mostly consist of static metal structures , such as slides and swings . What if your children had a chance to build their own outdoor play space , using logs , sticks and other natural materials ? Fishing at Emiquon Preserve in Lewiston , Illinois . O Jason Whalen / Big Foot Media They can do just that at one of Chicago's Nature Play Spaces created by The Chicago Park District ( ChicagoParkDistrict.com/nature ) . Children can build teepees , spaceships , forts or other structures that strike their imagination . The newest nature play space , created in partnership with The Nature Conservancy , is at Jackie Robinson Park , next to Mount Vernon Elementary School on Chicago's Southside . Bison with a calf in Nachusa Grasslands Preserve , linois . © Charles Larry Catch Some Fish Together TNC's Emiquon Preserve was once a farm field . Today , it is one of the largest floodplain restoration projects in the Midwest and offers public boating and fishing on Bald Cypress trees and duckweed on the water in Heron Pond at the Cache River Wetands Preserve , linos Ralph Erlandson the preserve's Thompson Lake . Catches of more than 100 bass a day have been reported . Other fish in the lake include bowfin , crappie and channel catfish . Thompson Lake has a concrete boat launch as well as a canoe launch . No gasoline motors or shore fishing . All boaters and anglers must obtain a free permit . A complete listing of boating and fishing rules is posted at nature.org/Emiquon . You can find remnant prairies across and near Illinois . Examples include Indian Boundary Prairies ( nature . Prairie ( nature.org/kaufmannprairie ) . Wisconsin's org / indianboundaryprairies ) , lowa's Kaufmann Avenue Chiwaukee Prairie ( nature.org/chiwaukee ) , Emiquon and Nachusa Grasslands . Before you go , consider checking out a book on prairie wildflowers from the library . Read up on midsummer blooms , such as swamp milkweed , purple prairie clover and blue vervain . Then play a game of " I Spy a Wildflower " as you walk the prairie trails . Go Kayaking or Canoeing Paddle among 1,000 - year old gnarled cypress trees in the swamps of Cache River Wetlands ( nature.org/ cacheriver ) in Southern Illinois . At once spooky and beautiful , the wetlands will intrigue the entire family , Volunteer as a Family even eye - rolling teenagers . A wide range of wildlife Taking good care of the green spaces across Illinois live in or visit the wetlands , including bald eagles , requires the help of many dedicated volunteers . You'll beavers and lots of chirping frogs and toads . find opportunities for all ages , ranging from cutting The Friends of the Cache River Watershed provide down invasive plants to tending community gardens . details on public boat ramps as well as canoe and Another possibility : Help with community science kayak rentals . projects . Families can walk through natural areas and record data on the plants , insects , birds or animals that See a Native Prairie in Full Bloom A number of TNC preserves provide a glimpse into you see . what the region looked like before most of the prairie Visit nature.org/volunteeril to find your next volunteer was replaced by farms , industry and human dwellings . opportunity .