Natural Areas
Lyman Woods and the Belmont Prairie Lyman Woods
The William F. Sherman, Jr. Interpretive Center is located at 901 31st Street.
Interpretive Center Hours (through - May 31) Monday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Closed Tuesday - Thursday & Saturday . . . . 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Friday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Sunday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:00 - 4:00 pm
Refer to
www.dgparks.org for summer hours of operation. Grounds are open every day from dawn to dusk.
The Interpretive Center is a starting point for your exploration of more than 150 acres of old- and second-growth oak woods, meadow, and marsh. Hike more than two miles of marked trails to discover more than 400 species of plants, three kames, white-tailed deer, great horned owls, red fox, coyote, Cooper’s hawks and more. The most outstanding feature is 19 acres of virtually undisturbed oak woods existing since the Lyman family purchased the land in 1839. The purchase of the many parcels that make up Lyman Woods represents the cooperative efforts of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, the Downers Grove Park District, the Village of Downers Grove, and many dedicated individuals. For more information about Lyman Woods, please call 630.963.9388.
Please note: to ensure the continued preservation of Lyman Woods, dogs, bikes and motorized vehicles are not allowed. Thank you for your cooperation.
Volunteer Opportunities Hiking Patrol
Love to hike? Want to spend more time outdoors? Hiking Patrol volunteers help us maintain our beautiful natural areas by hiking the trails at Lyman Woods and the Belmont Prairie. Pairs of volunteers work together to inspect trails, report trail conditions and answer frequently asked questions from fellow hikers.
Green Thumbs Needed!
Do you have a green thumb, or are you looking to learn more about native plants and gardening? We need a volunteer crew to help maintain the native plant demonstration and butterfly gardens at Lyman Woods. Beginning this spring, volunteers must be available to volunteer on a regular basis and love getting their hands dirty! Begins in the spring.
R.E.A.P. Volunteer Workdays
R.E.A.P. (Restore, Educate and Preserve) is a volunteer group dedicated to restoring and protecting the Downers Grove Park District’s natural areas. Land management workdays are held on selected Saturdays from 8:00 - 10:30 am. Volunteers must register at least one week in advance of the scheduled workday. Volunteer workdays can be arranged for organized groups upon request.
Fall Workday Dates
Belmont Prairie . . . . . . . . . . . . February 16 & March 16 Lyman Woods . . . . . . . . . . . . April 13 & May 18
Contact the volunteer coordinator at 630.963.1300 to register for a workday or for more information about volunteer opportunities.
dgparks.org • 630.963.1300 Winter & Spring 2013 51 Belmont Prairie T.I.M.B.E.R. Packs
Check out a TIMBER Pack to help you explore Lyman Woods! TIMBER Packs contain tools like magnifiers, bug boxes, identification guides and activities for your family or group to use free of charge. Choose from Trees, Insects, Mammals, Birds, or Early Residents. Check out your pack during Interpretive Center hours with a valid driver’s license.
Group Program Opportunities
at Lyman Woods Bring your group to Lyman Woods for an unforgettable outdoor adventure! Our educational programs have been designed for many audiences including schools, homeschoolers, scouts, and youth groups. Please visit the Natural Areas page at
www.dgparks.org, or call 630.963.9388 for program and registration information.
Belmont Prairie is a 25-acre site including one of the last original prairies in Illinois. Located west of the Downers Grove Golf Club at Cross Street and Haddow Avenue, the prairie supports more than 300 species of plants, eight species of mammals, four species of reptiles and amphibians and numerous birds. A dedicated Illinois Nature Preserve, Belmont Prairie is an educational resource for residents of Downers Grove and surrounding communities. Belmont Prairie is open every day from dawn to dusk.
Please note: in accordance with Illinois Nature Preserve Commission rules, there are no dogs, bikes or motorized vehicles allowed at Belmont Prairie. Thank you for your cooperation.
Special thanks to the Grove Foundation for their support of the St. Mary’s Fifth Grade Wetlands Education Program, and to the Pierce Downer Heritage Alliance, Grove Foundation and Education Foundation for their support of the School District 58 first grade Little Sprouts program. Both programs are designed to support local school district science curriculum.
Teambuilding Workshops
at Lyman Woods Improve cooperation, develop better communication skills and practice problem- solving and conflict-resolution skills during 2-hour, half-day or full-day teambuilding workshops. Participants will leave with a sense of teamwork and accomplishment and an understanding of how to transfer newfound or fine-tuned skills back to their work, school or personal lives.
Workshops are perfect for: • Corporate communication • Youth group leadership development • New hire orientation
Workshop options include traditional cooperative games and wilderness skills- based challenges. For more information on teambuilding opportunities at Lyman Woods, please contact the Interpretive Center at 630.963.9388.
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