Lowell Park Nature Center

11/02/2026

🩵🧤❄️ Winter at Lowell Park is officially live online! ☕️☃️🌲

As the leaves finish falling and the crisp winter air rolls in, we have been quietly bundling up a cozy season of learning, creating, and exploring together.

Whether you’re looking to sip warm cocoa, wander snowy forest trails, or give your little ones a warm, welcoming space to play, our doors and hearts are wide open for you this winter.

Here’s a peek at what’s waiting for you on our winter schedule:

For Little Explorers & Families

❄️ Nature Fun for Little Ones (Free!): Monthly morning sessions exploring recycling, winter magic, and snowflakes!

❄️ Caretaker Corner Open Play (Free!): A cozy indoor nook filled with crafts and toys for caretakers and little ones to connect (Wednesdays & Fridays, Jan–March).

❄️ Hootin’ Holiday Bash (Dec. 19): Featuring live ambassador animals from Northern Illinois Raptor Rehab & Education! 🦉

❄️ Winter Break Forest School (Dec. 28–29): Outdoor winter adventure for kids!

❄️ Winter PJ Movie & Cocoa Night (Jan. 29): Cozy up in your favorite pjs with warm cocoa and a movie!

❄️ Screech Owl at Midnight Hollow (Feb. 12): A special Valentine’s-themed event featuring live ambassador animals from Northern Illinois Raptor Rehab & Education! 🦉

For All Ages & Outdoor Adventurers

❄️ Guided Outdoor Adventures: Join us for Snowshoe & Eco-Tours (Jan. 16 & Feb. 20) or a magical evening Wolf Moon Supermoon Hike (Jan. 22)!

For Grown-Ups & Nature Lovers

❄️ Woodcote Retreat: Finding Joy in the Winter: A peaceful Women’s Day Retreat on Jan. 9 with a catered lunch and a special take-home book. ☕️

We can’t wait to gather around the craft tables and walk the snowy trails with you all season long.

Browse full details and reserve your spots today at LOWELLPARK.COM (or scan the QR code on the flyer!)

10/31/2026

From your friends at the Nature Center, we wish you a very spooky day! 🕷️🧡🖤🎃

10/31/2026

Dancing ghosts, spooky screens, and the ultimate popcorn buffet! 🍿👻

Our kids' movie night was the absolute best way to bid farewell to October. Thank you to everyone who came out and remember, “Take chances, make mistakes, and get messy!”

10/28/2026

We are so incredibly thankful for people like Ms. Jean! 💛

When we asked if she would represent Lowell Park at the Autism Center of Illinois's Trunk or Treat event, she didn't hesitate and was so excited to join in the fun.

Even on the same busy night as our Spooky Hike, it meant the world to be a part of our wonderful community and support inclusive, accessible events for local families.

Thank you, Ms. Jean, for bringing your bright energy, caring heart, and love for nature education to everything you do! 🦋💖

10/27/2026

Hard work, great community, and a little bit of silly trail exploring!

A huge thank you to everyone who came out today for our Lowell Forest Restoration Volunteer Team workday!

Together, we tackled invasive species, cleared key trails (including the path to the infamous icebox formation!), and completed a full inventory to get ready for updated preserve signage. It’s always a blast to catch up with friends while caring for our forest.

Want to join us for the next one? We’d love to have you! Help us protect the rare old-growth oaks, dolomite cliffs, and native wildlife of Lowell Forest.

🗓 Next Workday: Tuesday, November 17, 2026 ⏰ Time: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM (Note: 3rd Tuesday this month due to Thanksgiving!)

Location: Lowell Forest Nature Preserve
What to bring: Wear long pants, sturdy shoes, and bring work gloves. (Ages 13+)

See you on the trail! 💚

10/26/2026

10/26/2026

🎃 Wrapping up October at the Ruth Edwards Nature Center in Lowell Park! 🍂

We have an incredible, action-packed final week of the month ahead, and we’d love for you to join us! Here is what’s happening at the center:

Today, October 26:

We’re thrilled to welcome our friends from Kreider Services for a special hiking morning at Lowell Park! 🥾🍁

Tuesday, Oct 27 (9:00 AM – 11:00 AM):

Lowell Forest Reforestation & Invasive Species Removal 🌿 Grab your garden gloves and help us care for our native habitat by clearing out invasive species.

Wednesday, Oct 28 (6:00 PM – 7:30 PM):

NAMI Pumpkin Leaf Garland Craft Night 🎃🍂 Get creative and make a beautiful hand-crafted pumpkin garland for your Thanksgiving and harvest home decor.

Friday, Oct 30 (6:30 PM – 8:00 PM):

Kids’ Halloween Movie Night 🍿👻 Bring the little ones out for a cozy, festive Friday evening treat to kick off Halloween weekend!

Saturday, Oct 31 (10:00 AM – 12:00 PM):

Wild & Free: Nature Crafts for Kids 🕷️ Bring the kiddos out this Saturday morning to make fun, nature-inspired crafts! This week, we’re creating wonderful spider webs using sticks and twine.

Come celebrate the season with us before October slips away! See you on the trails and in the center.

10/25/2026

Peak season is here at Lowell Park, do not miss this BEAUTIFUL, short-lived time it will pass by in the blink of an eye!

The forecast today in Dixon, IL is mostly cloudy with a high reaching 74°F, the absolute perfect fall weather to get outside and explore.

Please come out and visit us!

While you’re here enjoying our majestic river, relaxing on the benches, flying down the zipline, or having a picnic in one of our historic shelters, I want to gently encourage you to head out and hike a trail.

When people ask me for my personal favorite, I almost always immediately say Quarry Trail.

It’s dedicated strictly to walking and biking, just park your car at the yellow entrance, up at the top, or down by the river. (Last pic is the entrance)

The trail itself is wonderfully flat, but the views are jaw-droppingly gorgeous. Right now, with more light filtering through the changing canopy, you can clearly see the striking dolomite rock formations rising up from the ground.

It is a colorful paradise out there!

(And if you’re like me and crave even more adventure, the lower flat section of the park has a web of beautiful connector trails off Quarry Road that wind all the way back down toward the river!)

🍂 A FREE Fall Scavenger Hunt for Families

If you’re bringing your family along today, one of my favorite simple activities is a nature scavenger hunt. It’s completely FREE, deeply relaxing, and a wonderful way to support childhood development by encouraging kids to actively use their senses to explore their surroundings.

Here are 5 special things to spot at Lowell Park this weekend:

1. Leaf Galls: Look closely at fallen leaves for tiny, raised bumps! These protective plant homes shelter developing insects through the season and are a vital link in a healthy woodland ecosystem.

Pro Naturalist Tip: If you find leaves with galls in your own yard, please leave them be or gently rake them to the edge of your property so these little creatures can safely complete their life cycle!

2. A Giant Leaf: Our family loves holding contests on who can find the biggest leaf on the trail.

3. White-Tailed Deer: They are abundant throughout Lowell and such a peaceful sight to pause and observe.

4. Gray AND Fox Squirrels: We have both species here! They often prefer slightly different forest habitats, see if you can notice where you spot each type and what they’re up to.

5. Chipmunks (The Aerators of the Forest!): These energetic little ground-dwellers build intricate underground burrow systems that naturally aerate the soil and help keep our forest roots healthy and oxygenated.

We hope you don’t miss out on the beauty of this season. Grab your loved ones, pack a warm jacket, and spend a lovely day at the park!

10/24/2026

I was driving in the car on my way to the park. I had picked up my daughter from school, we got changed into our costumes, and the entire process was eerily silent. If you know my daughter and me, we are endless chitter-chatter.

She finally broke the silence on Lowell Park Road.

“Mom, are you worried?”

It took me a moment, but finally I said, “Of course I’m worried. In fact, I’m scared. I have 155 people signed up for a hike, 20 vendors, countless volunteers, and all I want more than anything is for everyone to make happy memories in the park with their community.

There are so many little things that can go wrong. But Lola, if you learn nothing from watching me (your mother) tonight, I want you to remember to do it anyways. Follow your dreams scared, follow them tired, do it stressed, do it happy, do it sad, just keep going.”

Last night, we had to pivot in a big way. 381 people wanted to go on a spooky hike, and the nature center and farmers market team (our true hero, Brittney!) welcomed every single one of them.

We are so thankful to every community member who came out, and to every person who helped their neighbor. We are thankful for the donations made last night, and we are incredibly thankful to the vendors, staff, and volunteers who gave their time and energy to bring a vision of community in the park to life.

I am so proud of the Dixon Park District, and I’m even more proud of the Dixon community. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

P.S. We don't have a ton of pictures from the night, so please share yours in the comments below!

Also: If you have any feedback, we welcome it. Our goal is to continue offering free, low-budget, sustainable events. If you have an idea that fits that vision, please share!

10/23/2026

OVER 155 REGISTERED & WE ARE SO READY!

The countdown is on for tonight’s Halloween Spooky Hike & Market at Lowell Park, and we are absolutely blown away by the response, over 155 people have signed up!

To make sure everyone gets a turn on the trail while keeping group sizes safe and cozy, we’ve put together a super simple check-in system for tonight. Here is everything you need to know before you head over! 👇

🎟️ HOW THE SPOOKY HIKE WORKS

Guided hikes will depart every 30 minutes starting at 5:00 PM, with our last hike leaving at 8:00 PM (5:00, 5:30, 6:00, 6:30, 7:00, 7:30, and 8:00 PM).

Popsicle Stick Time Slots: Head straight to the table set up at the YOWL Memorial in front of the Nature Center! Our wonderful volunteer Nancy will be handing out colored popsicle sticks (30 spots per time slot).

Capacity: Between all 7 hike times, we have room for 210 hikers total, so there will be plenty of room for everyone!

First-Come, First-Served: If your preferred hike time fills up, grab a stick for the next available slot and enjoy the festival in the Pinetum while you wait!

👋 MEET YOUR NATURE CENTER & EVENT TEAM

Events like this are only possible thanks to our volunteer team and dedicated staff! When you see us tonight, be sure to say hello:

Ana (Nature Center Director) – Guiding your spooky hikes along Miller Trail!

Nancy – Manning the YOWL Memorial hike sign-up station & handing out time slot sticks.

Kaylin – Assisting guests inside the Nature Center.

Autumn – Hosting the S’mores Station, ready to chat and help you roast the perfect marshmallow!

Brittney – Managing vendor logistics and keeping everything running smoothly at the market.

🎃 COSTUMES & WHAT TO WEAR

Dress Up or Come As You Are: Halloween costumes are strongly encouraged for all ages, but cozy fall clothes are great too!

Footwear & Layers: Please wear sturdy, close-toed trail shoes or boots for walking in the woods, and bundle up in warm layers.

FESTIVAL & MARKET FUN

While you wait for your hike slot—or after you come off the trail—enjoy everything happening in the Pinetum:

🎶 Live Music by Nicole Miller
🔥 FREE S’mores Station hosted by Autumn
🛍️ 20 Local Vendors & Food Trucks (bring cash, as park cell signal can be spotty!)
🏛️ Nature Center Fun with Kaylin inside

🌲 HIKING & TRAIL LOGISTICS

Spookiness Level: Early hikes before sunset are great for little ones! After dark, our amazing volunteers from the IMPACT program will be stationed along the trail making fun animal/howling noises and popping out.

Lighting: We will have lanterns available to borrow, but feel free to bring flashlights or headlamps for later hikes.

Parking: Park in the main Nature Center lot or along the sides of the park roads on the grass. Please drive slowly and respect the park!

Pets: Friendly, leashed pets are welcome! 🐾

Family Safety: Zero tolerance—no alcohol or drugs permitted.

This night is all about family, friends, and community. Grab your costumes, bring your family and leashed pups, and come celebrate autumn with us at Lowell Park!

We can't wait to see you all tonight!