I might heart summer, but I’m gonna get my bundle on to see the beauty of winter.
The Bensenville Park District is offering a Winter Wonderland Hike at Fischer Farm, 16 W. Old Grand Ave., from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. this Saturday where participants will start at the historic main house and hike through the prized grasses, wetlands and forest areas of what is one of the oldest remaining homesteads in DuPage County.

“Fischer Farm is a neat place where we are constantly trying to expand programming and the hike gets you all around the grounds,” said Kelly Parke, the Park District’s environmental and heritage education supervisor.

The second Winter Wonderland Hike will be from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, at Deer Grove Leisure Center, 1000 W. Wood St., where participants will depart for neighboring Varble Park and Breiter-Palm Park.

“In general, I don’t think people realize all the beautiful natural areas we have here, but especially at Varble because it’s right next to the Leisure Center,” Parke said. “People come for a program and don’t pay attention to what’s next door. This hike is great because I can show people what they’ve been passing by.”

Parke and volunteers have been regularly weeding the park to rid it of non-native plants. A controlled burn this fall furthered their quest to keep the area healthy.

While Parke is looking to expose the gem of Varble, she also wants participants to appreciate the beauty developing at Breiter-Palm Park.

“Breiter-Palm is going through growing pains and it’s going to be a while for all native plants to return,” Parke said. “It will be a park that will bloom in almost every season. It might look ugly, but people need to be patient. We all have a different idea of what’s beautiful, like an ornamental lawn with lilies and tulips, but this park is all prairie and we’re not trying to have weed beds, we’re trying to restore what once was here.”

Hikes are not only geared toward families with children three years and older, but also individuals who want just want to get take a nature hike.

The Park District will educate visitors on the areas as well as direct their attention to animals signs along the trails. From the delicate tracks of squirrels and mice to the heavy feet of deer and coyotes, even active woodpeckers and mating owls overhead, there’s no telling what participants will be able to track.

After hiking, groups will return to the leisure center to discuss their adventure while warming up with cookies and hot chocolate.

The deadline for registering for either Winter Wonderland Hike is two days before the event. To sign up, call Parke at (630) 766-7015, Ext. 113. Fees for both hikes are just $2 to $3 per person and $6 to $7 per family.

“These are fun, inexpensive activities for the whole family,” Parke said. “It’s doing something outside, instead of spending another Saturday morning either not together or inside at the TV or computer.”

If you can’t make it to either of these blustery hikes, enjoy these parks in their spring glory on April 19 to see the wildflowers of Varble and May 17 to bird watch at Fischer Farm.

“I’m just trying to get people more in touch with nature,” Parke said.  “I almost want to grab them and say, ‘How cool is this, right here in your backyard?’”

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