Midewin Tours

The public tour program has ended for the season -- 

check back with us in Spring 2011!

General Tour Information

Cost: All programs in 2010 are free unless otherwise noted.  Some special group tours involve a fee.

Program Duration: Unless otherwise noted each program will last approximately 2 hours.

Reservations: Advanced registration is required. Leave a message at (815) 423-2170 or email LBazan@fs.fed.us.  Please leave contact info in case we need to contact you about cancellations or changes to the tour schedule.

Cancellations: We will make every effort to offer all activities as scheduled. All tours may be cancelled or rescheduled due to weather. Changing site conditions and staff availability may require changes to the schedule. Call (815) 423-2170 for a recorded message regarding current program information. You may also leave a message at this number.

Where to Meet: Unless otherwise noted all programs begin and end at the Midewin Welcome Center located at 30239 South State Route 53, Wilmington, Illinois.

When to Arrive: All programs begin promptly at the published time. Please plan to arrive 15 minutes early to allow time for registration.

What to Bring: Come dressed for the weather, wearing shoes suitable for walking over easy to moderately uneven ground. Bring water, sun protection, and insect repellant. Cameras and binoculars are encouraged.

Auto Caravan Tours: Participants in these activities will drive their own vehicles as part of a staff-led caravan.  A number of stops are made along the way with short walks to points of interest. Running commentary can be heard over a radio as the caravan moves from point to point. Participants need not leave their vehicles if they do not wish to do so.

Bike and Horse Rides: Participants in these activities must provide their own bike or horse.

2010 Tours:

Midewin for Kids

Making Gourd Birdhouses – 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 30  Kids, bring your parents to Midewin for a day of craft and creation.  Gourds, paint and supplies will be provided for you.  Just bring your creative minds and clothes you don’t mind getting paint on and we’ll learn about cavity-nesting birds found at Midewin and in and around your neighborhoods that may take advantage of your gourd birdhouse.

Reptiles and Amphibians – 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, July 28  Find out what makes reptiles and amphibians unique compared to other animal groups and meet a few representative live animals that can be found in and around Midewin.

Critter Hike – 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, August 18  Join interpreters and learn about some of the most beautiful and misunderstood creatures in the natural world. With net in hand, you’ll gently capture, explore, investigate (and release!) butterflies, spiders, beetles and more!

Naturalist Badge for Webelos Scouts – 3:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct 20  Learn about (and view!) poisonous plants and venomous animals of Illinois, discover food chains, and investigate Midewin wildlife in order to fulfill the requirements necessary to earn your Naturalist Badge.  (Registration preference given to Webelos Scouts)  

Auto Caravan Tours

Birds East and West - Bring binoculars and camera to see the birds that make Midewin their home.  Watch the dew burn off the grass during this early morning hike.   Meet at the Welcome Center.

Cemetery at Dusk - Just as the landscape changes over time so do cemeteries.  Learn about history and culture while immersed in the seclusion and serenity of Starr’s Grove, nestled in one of the last native woodlands on Midewin.  Meet at the Welcome Center.

Midewin Photo Tour - From pioneer cemeteries to arsenal structures to native flora, this tour has something to offer all photographers from the amateur or professional.  Meet at the Hoff Road Trailhead.

What’s With the Cows? –….a question often asked by visitors to Midewin.  Cattle serve a very useful purpose at Midewin and will continue to be part of the future of the property.  Meet some of the cattle, learn about the differences between the breeds and discover how these domestic animals benefit certain types of rare Midewin wildlife.  Meet at the Welcome Center.

War Plant to Prairie Plant (Intro to Midewin) - Discover Midewin’s past, present and future from the comfort of your vehicle.  Tour stop points include the river road seedbeds, a 400 acre prairie restoration area and a bunker complete with authentic ammunition plant artifacts.  Meet at the River Road Seedbeds.

Bus Tour

Ghosts of the Ammunition Plant - Why was the largest ammunition plant built here and how did it operate?  This tour features the buildings of the former Elwood Ordnance Plant and the stories that bring them to life.  This bus tour takes approximately three and a half hours, with a scheduled break. Meet at the Welcome Center.

Walks and Rides

Bike by Twilight – Night draws near.  A peace settles over the prairie.  Feel the cool evening air as we explore Midewin at dusk.  Participants must provide and transport their own bicycle.  Heavier tread tires are recommended, as the route includes paved and rough gravel surfaces.  Meet at the Hoff Road Trailhead.

History on Horseback – See and learn about Midewin, its history and management, from the back of your horse.  Join equestrian volunteers for a ride through portions of Midewin not yet open for public use as you learn more about how the area is being managed today.  Participants must bring their own horse.  Call for specific directions to the starting point for this activity.

Hike Foxglove - Experience “a prairie under construction” while visiting the “Foxglove” restoration area of Midewin.  An interpreter will paint a mental picture of the tallgrass prairie as it was 200 years ago as you witness Midewin’s efforts to “heal” the land back to its original grandeur.  Meet at the Welcome Center.

Trick-or-Treat Bunker Style - Trick-or-treat in a bunker field left over from a bygone era.  At each Bunker you will be greeted by a character from Midewin’s past, present or future who will share with you a memorable story or lesson.  Meet at the Welcome Center.

Midewin Bike Tour –   Learn about the ins and outs of Midewin over the crackle of your tires on the gravel path.  Participants must provide and transport their own bicycle.  Heavier tread tires are recommended, as the route includes paved and rough gravel surfaces.  Meet at the Welcome Center.

Group Tours & Programs

Many of the tours and bike rides available at Midewin can also be scheduled for special groups and organizations throughout the year.  These activities are generally scheduled for weekdays instead of weekends.  Special tours must be arranged at least 3 weeks in advance and must have a minimum of 10 participants.  Please call (815) 423-6370 for additional information.