We’ll learn the basics of water colors, and make several small paintings to take home. After some practice, we’ll move on to a larger piece following an easy tutorial. All materials and supplies included. Call 815-234-8535 to register for this program, all ages are welcome.   

Join us for a winter hike on the prairie as the sun gets low—we hope to see deer and other wildlife, and will be hiking near the coyote dens. This one mile trail has some elevation changes, but nothing too difficult. Dress for the weather! All are welcome for this program Please call 815-234-8535 to […]

Learn how to make a vase, bowl, or other decorative object using wool and a wet felting technique. You may make one or more projects to keep during this workshop. All materials and equipment are provided. Call 815-234-8535 to register for this program, all ages are welcome. 

The moon will be (nearly) full for this hike on the south trails of the Jarrett Prairie. We’ll have a great view of the night sky, and of course our Weiskopf Observatory will also be open, so you can visit before or after the hike. All are welcome for this program. Please call 815-234-8535 to […]

Snow and temperature permitting, we’ll get fitted for cross country skis and head out! We’ll decide on a direction and ski one or more trails at the Jarrett Prairie. Beginners welcome! Fee $5 per person, includes skis, polls and boots Ages :  8 years and up Call 815-234-8535 to register or email us at info@byronforestpreserve.com  

Registration for our 2023-2024 school year. February 6-10 - Current Students and Siblings February 13-17 - Byron Residents February 21 - Open PRESCHOOL RATES: M/W/F $1,350/9 months ($150/month) T/Th $1,125/9 months ($125/month) Call 815-234-8535 for more info!

Snow and temperature permitting, we’ll get fitted for cross country skis and head out! We’ll decide on a direction and ski one or more trails at the Jarrett Prairie. Beginners welcome! Fee $5 per person, includes skis, polls and boots Ages :  8 years and up Call 815-234-8535 to register or email us at info@byronforestpreserve.com  

Join us for an early morning winter hike at one of our beautiful preserves. Bald Hill will be gorgeous in the morning light, and we are likely to spot a lot of wildlife. We will NOT walk to the Big Tree Champion, but up and along the “bald” ridge to some amazing views of the […]

Snow and temperature permitting, we’ll get fitted for cross country skis and head out! We’ll decide on a direction and ski one or more trails at the Jarrett Prairie. Beginners welcome! Fee $5 per person, includes skis, polls and boots Ages :  8 years and up Call 815-234-8535 to register or email us at info@byronforestpreserve.com  

Snow and temperature permitting, we’ll get fitted for cross country skis and head out! We’ll decide on a direction and ski one or more trails at the Jarrett Prairie. Beginners welcome! Fee $5 per person, includes skis, polls and boots Ages :  8 years and up Call 815-234-8535 to register or email us at info@byronforestpreserve.com  

Coyotes must be one of the most misunderstood species in Illinois and the U.S.  They conjure up mixed feelings of fear, anger, and for some wild beauty.  There are many stories about coyotes and some circles believe them to be the jokester of the wild. Come and learn more about this incredible animal, and what […]

Registration for our 2023-24 school year. February 6-10 - Current Students and Siblings February 13-17 - Byron Residents February 21 - Open Registration PRESCHOOL RATES: M/W/F $1,350/9 months ($150/month) T/Th $1,125/9 months ($125/month) Call 815-234-8535 for more info!

Join us for a winter hike on the prairie and some hot cocoa! This hike is part of the 815 Outside series; partners include the Forest Preserves of Winnebago County, Natural Land Institute, Severson Dells Nature Center, Nature at the Confluence, and Rockford Park District. Bring a travel mug to take your cocoa on the […]

This is a wonderful preserve to hike in winter! We’ll walk the 2 mile, fairly easy loop that follows Mill Creek, and look for beavers, birds, and other native wildlife. 8 years and older for this program please. Call 815-234-8535 to register by 4 pm. on Friday 2/17.  

Learn about our indigenous relatives, their ancestral homelands, and the survival of their traditional way of life. Topics will include the Ojibwa language, discussion of indigenous people living in the surrounding area, storytelling, and more. You don't have to register for this event, all ages are welcome. 

President's Day

Parents, looking something to do with your children on a day off school? Bring your students to the Jarrett Prairie Center to learn about paleontologists and how they work. Guide them through the stations to learn about fossils and how they are formed. Take a peek at dinosaur artifacts from the area in the museum […]

Registration for our 2023-2024 school year. February 6-10 - Current Students and Siblings February 13-17 - Byron Residents February 21 - Open Registration PRESCHOOL RATES: M/W/F $1,350/9 months ($150/month) T/Th $1,125/9 months ($125/month) Call 815-234-8535 for more info!

Not quite a Physics Day and not quite Makerspace, but somewhere between. We’ll have stations to build (and take home) projects from catapults to cars, and have stations to balance, connect, move, and manipulate puzzles, challenges, and contraptions. Ages : 6-13 years old Fee : $10 per child due at the time of registration Call […]

Not quite a Physics Day and not quite Makerspace, but somewhere between. We’ll have stations to build (and take home) projects from catapults to cars, and have stations to balance, connect, move, and manipulate puzzles, challenges, and contraptions. Ages : 6-13 years old Fee : $10 per child due at the time of the registration […]

Snow and temperature permitting, we’ll get fitted for cross country skis and head out! We’ll decide on a direction and ski one or more trails at the Jarrett Prairie. Beginners welcome! Fee $5 per person, includes skis, polls and boots Ages :  8 years and up Call 815-234-8535 to register or email us at info@byronforestpreserve.com  

Snow and temperature permitting, we’ll get fitted for cross country skis and head out! We’ll decide on a direction and ski one or more trails at the Jarrett Prairie. Beginners welcome! Fee $5 per person, includes skis, polls and boots Ages :  8 years and up Call 815-234-8535 to register or email us at info@byronforestpreserve.com  

This lecture will focus on how agriculture and animals interact with the local environment and public health. Dr. Pearson is a professor and veterinarian from University of Illinois-Champaign, where she teaches public health courses and oversees the veterinarian care of the UIC farms. You don't have to register for this event, all ages are welcome. 

The Byron Forest Preserve District Board of Commissioners' regular monthly meeting is open to the public.

This winter hike will be a little more adventurous! We’ll be hiking the eastern part of this preserve along the border with Winnebago County and the Funderburg Preserve, and in a loop that takes us along Hall Creek for a distance. Expect hilly and potentially uneven terrain along a 2-3 mile hike, but it’s well […]