BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND
Theodore Stone Forest is a 142-acre nature preserve in Hodgkins, Illinois, which is more known for its freight terminals and other industrial offerings than for its outdoor wonders. Yet this beautiful, restored dolomite prairie, oak savanna, and woodland habitat is a wonderful place to take a short hike, savor the first spring wildflowers, take photographs, listen to birdsong and observe wildlife, enjoy the last blooms of fall, and snowshoe when snow blankets the area.
The prairie is the main draw at Theodore Stone (which is part of Arie Crown Forest). It has two distinct ecosystems. The northeastern portion is a dolomite prairie, at which 425 million-year-old dolomite bedrock lies beneath its surface. The thin surface of soil make it hard for trees and large plants to go, but this quality has also created a unique environment for plants (such as false pennyroyal and short grass), which grow in a thin layer of alkaline soil above the rock. Forest Preserves of Cook County says that “the western prairie and savanna sections of the preserve are home to purple milkweed, sky-blue aster, bitternut hickory, downy wood mint, marsh marigold, and rough blazing star, which take turns blooming all through the growing season.” If you walk in the prairie during the growing season, you’ll definitely notice the difference between the two prairie ecosystems. More than 180 native plant species grace the preserve.
Since this is a small preserve, you may only spend an hour or two wandering its dirt footpaths. As you walk, you may see deer, rabbits, or even a coyote. More than 115 bird species have been spotted at the preserve (click here for a list), including ruby-throated hummingbirds, sandhill cranes, double-crested cormorants, great blue herons, great egrets, and various species of hawks, woodpeckers, and warblers. A detailed list of the variety of plants and creatures that have been sighted at Theordore Stone can be found at iNaturalist. Note: A nature walk is scheduled for Sunday, September 24, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. Click here to register.
You may want to pair a visit to Theodore Stone Forest with one or more of the following local nature destinations (links to my articles about these spots and mileage estimates are listed).
Santa Fe Prairie Nature Preserve: A Red Caboose, Pleasant Trails, A Rare Prairie, and More Than 225 Native Plants (About 1.5 miles south of Theodore Stone)
Spears Woods: Room to Roam Amidst Rolling Hills, Sloughs, and Oak Woodlands (About 4 miles south of Theodore Stone)
Wolf Road Prairie Nature Preserve: “Forests” of Wildflowers, a Rare Prairie Ecosystem, and Great Birdwatching (About 6.5 miles northwest of Theodore Stone)
Graue Mill and Museum: Learn About Life in Illinois in the 1800s, the Underground Railroad, and Much More (About 7 miles northwest of Theodore Stone)
Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center: Big Bugs, Tons of Fun Activities for Kids, and Great Hiking Trails (About 7.4 miles northwest of Theodore Stone)
Cap Sauers Holding Nature Preserve: The Wildest Place in Cook County (About 10 miles south of Theodore Stone)
BEFORE YOU GO
The preserve is open from sunrise to sunset.
The entrance to Theodore Stone Forest is located on 67th Street, east of La Grange Road in Hodgkins, IL 60525.
There are two large picnic groves should you want to have a get-together.
You can sign up to volunteer to cut brush, pull weeds, collect seeds, and help out with other outdoor tasks at Theodore Stone by clicking here). Volunteers meet every Friday or the third Saturday of each month. Forest Preserves of Cook County says that all levels of experience are welcome.
Copyright (text, except quoted material) Andrew Morkes
Copyright (photos) Andrew Morkes, except the following images: Sandhill Crane Colt (Courtney Celley, USFWS); Coyote (Tom Koerner, USFWS); Egret (Doug Racine, USFWS)
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Looking for some great nature destinations in Chicagoland? If so, check out my book, Nature in Chicagoland: More Than 120 Fantastic Nature Destinations That You Must Visit. It features amazing destinations in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Click on the title to learn more. The book has 306 pages and 210+ photos and is only $18.99.
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ABOUT ANDREW MORKES
I have been a writer and editor for more than 25 years. I’m the founder of College & Career Press (2002); the editorial director of the CAM Report career newsletter and College Spotlight newsletter; the author and publisher of “The Morkes Report: College and Career Planning Trends” blog; and the author and publisher of Hot Health Care Careers: 30 Occupations With Fast Growth and Many New Job Openings; Nontraditional Careers for Women and Men: More Than 30 Great Jobs for Women and Men With Apprenticeships Through PhDs; They Teach That in College!?: A Resource Guide to More Than 100 Interesting College Majors, which was selected as one of the best books of the year by the library journal Voice of Youth Advocates; and other titles. They Teach That in College!? provides more information on environmental- and sustainability-related majors such as Ecotourism, Range Management, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Built Environment, Sustainability Studies, and Sustainable Agriculture/Organic Farming. I’m also a member of the parent advisory board at my son’s school.
In addition to these publications, I’ve written more than 60 books about careers for other publishing and media companies including Infobase (such as the venerable Encyclopedia of Careers & Vocational Guidance, the Vault Career Guide to Accounting, and many volumes in the Careers in Focus, Discovering Careers, What Can I Do Now?!, and Career Skills Library series) and Mason Crest (including those in the Careers in the Building Trades and Cool Careers in Science series).
Great information! Thank you