Recreation & Parks Department

THORN CREEK NATURE CENTER & PRESERVE

NATURE CENTER
247 Monee Road
708-747-6320

Open Friday - Sunday, noon - 4pm
Trails open daily year-round, dawn to dusk.
Programs require a minimum of 5 persons unless otherwise noted.

The nature center will be closed on:
Saturday, September 4th - Sunday, September 5th: Labor Day
Friday, November 26th – Sunday, November 28th: Thanksgiving
Friday, December 24th – Sunday, December 26th: Christmas
Friday, December 31st – Saturday, January 1st: New Years

WEDNESDAY MORNING WALKERS
Wednesdays, Sept. 1st-Nov. 17th, 7:30-8:30am, age 11-adult, $2/week.  Enjoy light exercise as you meander through Thorn Creek Woods. Experience the arrival of fall first hand as you walk the 1 ½ mile loop
through woodlands and ravines. Trails can be wet or muddy, please wear sturdy shoes. Terrain is moderate.
Registration not required.

LITTLE TWIGS NATURE PLAYTIMES
Thursdays, Sept. 2nd-Nov. 18th, 10-11:30am, age 2-4, $5 per child (parents free). This hands-on exploratory
program teaches young children about the environment through hikes, stories and crafts. Bring your child or
grandchild out for this wonderful program. Snacks provided. Registration not required

ROOTS AND SHOOTS
First Saturday of each month, 10am-noon, age 5-10, $5 per child per month. Children are encouraged to
explore the environment, their community and the world around them in this monthly program.

*The September meeting is cancelled due to the holiday.The January meeting has been moved to Saturday, January 8th
due to holiday.

JUNIOR ECOLOGIST CLUB
Third Saturday of each month, 9am–noon, age 11–15, $5 per child per month. Discover the woods in a new way
and join naturalists to explore the woods and track seasonal changes. *Please note time change.

OWL PROWL NIGHT HIKES
Adults Only: Friday, September 10th, 6:30-8:30pm, $5 per person.   All ages: Saturday, September 11th, 6:30-8:30pm,
$5 per person; family rates apply. Three owl species call Thorn Creek Nature Preserve home. Join us for this popular
program and learn the habits and calls of the Barred Owl, Screech Owl and Great-horned Owl. Register early for this
popular program! Scout troops are encouraged to call and arrange a program designed specifically for youth groups.
Terrain is moderate. Registration required; limited space available.

FALL CLEAN-UP DAY
Saturday, September 25th, 9am-2pm, all ages. Lend a helping hand as we prepare the nature center for the fall.
Help prepare the building and grounds for Harvest Fest in October.   Fall Clean-up Day is a great way to fulfill
community service obligations.  Children under 15 must be accompanied by an adult. Please call ahead if you
are in need of community service hours.

HARVEST FEST
Saturday, October 2nd 11am-3pm, $5 per car, $1 per bicycle. Discover the world of locally grown food during
Harvest Fest! Harvest Fest will help you to learn about the benefits of organically grown food and composting
as well as discovering the world of sustainability and what it means to you and your family. Sample tasty fall
vegetables in the cooking demonstrations, purchase organic vegetables from local farmers as well as the extremely
popular organic garlic grown on the Hornicek farm. Bring the entire family out for a day of fun!

FRIENDS OF THORN CREEK ANNUAL MEETING
Saturday, October 9th, 11am-2pm. Join the Friends of Thorn Creek Board and members for their
annual meeting.  Discover upcoming projects at the nature center and what you can do to help Thorn Creek Woods.
Bring a dish to share for the potluck lunch. Enjoy a fall hike with a naturalist at the end of the meeting. Be sure to
bring a friend!

THORN CREEK BENEFIT CONCERT
Saturday, October 16th, 5pm, $10 per adult, $5 per child, please call for family rates. Join folksinger Anna Stange
for an upbeat performance designed to benefit Thorn Creek Nature Center. From ballads to sing-along’s, Anna’s
songs range from old favorites from the American folk tradition to newer songs she has written herself. Anna’s
performances are always fun for the whole family. Purchase your tickets today!

SECRETS OF THE WOODS   NEW
Saturday, November 13th, 1:00-3:00pm, $5 per person or $15 for the entire family! What do animals do when it’s
cold outside? Why have all the trees lost their leaves? Do insects hibernate? Join a naturalist for a hike through
Thorn Creek Woods and unravel the mysteries of life in the woods. This program is fun for the entire family.
Registration required.

WOODLAND CAROLS:
2nd Annual Food Drive 
Saturday, December 11th, 2:00-5:00pm, $10 per person or 1 bag of groceries per person. Help feed those
in need this holiday season during Thorn Creek Nature Center’s second annual food drive. Last years food
drive was a huge success with a total of 11 boxes of food delivered to the Rich Township Food Pantry.
This year’s goal is 20 boxes! Savor all-you-can-eat homemade soup while listening to a variety of winter
carols sung by popular area performers. Bring a bag of groceries and fee to program will be waived!
Additionally, everyone who brings a minimum of a bag of groceries will receive a handmade soup bowl
created by local artists. All proceeds to this program will be donated to the Rich Township Food Pantry.

DIRECTIONS TO THORN CREEK NATURE CENTER

From the Western Suburbs:
I-355 south to I-80; I-80 east to I-57; I-57 south to Sauk Trail exit; turn right onto Sauk Trail;
east on Sauk Trail to Cicero Avenue (Rt. 50) – note big stone church on corner; turn right onto
Cicero Avenue; south on Cicero Avenue to first blinking stop light (Stuenkel Road); turn left onto
Stuenkel Road; east on Stuenkel Road past railroad tracks, Governors State University and golf
course to dead end where Stuenkel Road makes a “T” with Monee Road; left on Monee Road
to the nature center (about ¼ mile on the right side).

From the North Suburbs:
I-294 south to I-80; I-80 west to I-57; I-57 south to Sauk Trail exit; turn right onto Sauk Trail;
east on Sauk Trail to Cicero Avenue (Rt. 50) – note big stone church on corner; turn right onto
Cicero Avenue; south on Cicero Avenue to first blinking stop light (Stuenkel Road); turn left onto
Stuenkel Road; east on Stuenkel Road past railroad tracks, Governors State University and golf
course to dead end where Stuenkel Road makes a “T” with Monee Road; left on Monee Road to
the nature center (about ¼ mile on the right side).

From Chicago:
I-57 south to Sauk Trail exit; turn right onto Sauk Trail; east on Sauk Trail to
Cicero Avenue (Rt. 50) – note big stone church on corner; turn right onto Cicero Avenue;
south on Cicero Avenue to first blinking stop light (Stuenkel Road); turn left onto Stuenkel Road;
east on Stuenkel Road past railroad tracks, Governors State University and golf course to dead
end where Stuenkel Road makes a “T” with Monee Road; left on Monee Road to the
nature center (about ¼ mile on the right side).

From Indiana (near I-80):
I-80 west to I-394; I-394 south to Sauk Trail; turn right onto Sauk Trail; west on Sauk Trail to Western
Avenue; turn left onto Western Avenue; south on Western Avenue to next stoplight (only about 100 yards),
Monee Road; turn right (you can only turn right) onto Monee Road; follow Monee Road about 2 miles to
nature center (on your left side).