Kish Kids Outside

09/21/2025

Pop-Up Nature: Stream Ecosystem
This week discover the hidden world beneath the water’s surface! 🐟

📅 Thursday, September 25
🕙 Stop by anytime between 10 AM – 1:30 PM
📍 Kishwaukee Forest Preserve, Kingston

Join DeKalb County Forest Preserve staff to explore the fascinating interdependence of aquatic life. From tiny insects to fish and plants, streams are alive with connections waiting to be discovered.

Bring your curiosity and enjoy a morning of nature exploration—perfect for all ages! 🦋

09/20/2025

09/20/2025

Introducing Sun Day – September 21! 🌞

Move over, Earth Day—there’s a new day of action for our planet!
This year marks the very first Sun Day, a global celebration of clean energy and the power of the sun.

This Sunday, people across the U.S. and the world will:
🚲 Host e-bike parades
🏡 Give solar tours
✊ Rally for a cleaner, brighter future

Visit sunday.earth to design your own sun logo and learn more about the movement.

09/19/2025

Lend a hand in caring for local wildlife habitat with stewardship 🦉

📅 Saturday, September 20
🕘 Meet at 9 AM
📍 Oaken Acres, Sycamore

Ages 12+ welcome.
✅ RSVP to ann.shult@gmail.com

Come connect with nature, give back to the land, and be part of something meaningful.
💚

09/18/2025

This Saturday, Sept. 20, head to NIU for STEMfest, one of the largest free family events in northern Illinois! 🔬🚀

👩‍🔬 Explore 100+ exhibits & demos
🤖 Hands-on activities with robots, circuits, music & more
🎤 Live science shows & inspiring speakers
🎨 Fun for all ages — from building blocks to rovers

Celebrate the wonder of science, technology, engineering, and math with a day full of discovery and excitement.

Don't miss the 10:30 a.m. the annual weather balloon launch, outdoors on MLK Commons.

📍 NIU Central Campus
💲 Free & open to everyone

Check out the schedule ➡️ niusteam.niu.edu/programs-events/stem-fest/plan-your-day/

08/20/2025

August Pop-Up Nature: The Wondrous World of Dragonflies & Damselflies ✨

Join staff to discover the fascinating lives of dragonflies and damselflies—nature’s aerial acrobats! Bring your binoculars and get an up-close look at these incredible insectivores in action.

📍 Afton Forest Preserve
🗓️ Thursday, August 28
⏰ Stop by anytime 10:00 AM – 1:30 PM
Perfect for all ages—drop by when you can.

08/16/2025

🎉 A big congratulations to the winners of our Ultimate Outdoor Recreation Gift Basket from the Kish Kids Outside Nature Needs Assessment survey! 🌿🏕️

Thank you to everyone who took the time to share your thoughts. Your feedback will help us connect more kids and families in DeKalb County to the outdoors—through play, exploration, and a love for nature. 💛

08/15/2025

Volunteers needed this Saturday, August 16, from 9 AM – Noon for a hands-on stewardship morning at Oaken Acres Wildlife Center in Sycamore!

This month, they are removing invasive species or planting depending on the day’s needs.

RSVP please, email ann.shult@gmail.com if you’ll be joining!

Come lend a hand, get a little dirt under your nails, and help keep this beautiful habitat thriving. 💚

08/08/2025

Wonder about the lavender-blue blooms dancing along roadsides and trails—chicory!
This hardy flower isn’t just a pretty face. It has roots in history as a coffee substitute and tea ingredient.

🌞 Fun Fact: Chicory flowers open in the morning sun and close by the afternoon.
🌸 Try This: Can you spot five different wildflowers on your next walk?

08/06/2025

We love our partner organizations — and .works provides incredible opportunities to our community!

🧘‍♀️ Namaste Adventure Works – A Yoga FUNdraiser
📅 Saturday, August 9 | 🕝 2:30–3:30 PM | 📍1211 Sycamore Rd, DeKalb
Join Cindy Coleman of Cindyji Yoga for a gentle, beginner-friendly outdoor yoga class. All donations support Adventure Works’ mission of transforming lives through adventure therapy and experiential learning. Ages 13+. BYO mat and good vibes!
🔗eventbrite.com/e/namaste-adventure-works-a-yoga-fundraiser-tickets-1409643905869

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Adventures in Parenting
Back-to-school transitions can be challenging for families — Adventure Works offers therapy with no waitlist, plus a supportive parenting membership led by Executive Director Lynette Spencer, LCSW.
Connect with other parents, learn helpful strategies, and build confidence heading into the new school year.
🔗training.adventureworksdekalb.org or call 815-517-0825

Thank you, Adventure Works, for all you do to support families and mental health in our community!