Hidden Gem

By Mark Loehrke
Appears in the July 2025 issue.

Closed to the public since February 2024, Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Bolingbrook recently reopened following an extensive $2 million renovation. The Forest Preserve District of Will County education and exploration facility now features a new entrance area; an indoor birdwatching outlook; and permanent exhibits focused on fungi, snakes, salamanders, and more. In keeping with the oak theme of the remodel, visitors also will find an exhibit focused on the journey of an acorn (complete with an acorn dress-up station), a bench that mimics a decaying log, and a wall panel that explains tree communication.

Photo: Forest Preserve District of Will County