Tours available each Saturday at Wilmington national prairie

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WILMINGTON – Tours and activities offered to the public at the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie the next two Saturdays.

DOLOMITE PRAIRIE

Midewin has a lot to offer the individual who wants to get out and experience the prairie on foot.

Join Midewin interpreters at 9 a.m., July 18, for an easy walk and learn about wildflowers, butterflies, spiders and much more. This walk will explore the dolomite prairie at Midewin, the rarest of the scarce prairie habitats left in Illinois.Several unique plants grow in this unusual area.

Meet at the Midewin Welcome Center, located on State Highway 53, two miles north of Wilmington.

GHOSTS OF THE AMMUNITION PLANT

Why was one of the largest ammunition plants built here and how did it operate? This 12:30 p.m., July 18, tour features several buildings of the former Elwood Ordnance Plant.

Public safety concerns prevent access to the interior of remnant Arsenal buildings. This tour takes approximately three hours.

Participation in this tour will be limited; reservations are required. Participants will board a school bus for a running commentary along the way. A number of stops are made with short walks to points of interest.  
BUTTERFLY AND SPIDER WALK

Join interpreters at 10 a.m., July 25, and learn about some of the most beautiful and some of the most misunderstood creatures in the natural world. Learn where and how to look for butterflies and spiders, basic identification skills and a whole lot more on this amazing tour. 

MIDEWIN GEOLOGY

Prehistoric oceans, ice age glaciers and flooding rivers have all helped shape the Midewin landscape.

This tour, at 12:30 p.m., July 25, will explore the role of geology in creating the tallgrass prairie ecosystem and how that geology influences the ways we restore the prairie. Participants will drive their own vehicles in a guided auto caravan.

A number of stops are made with short walks to points of interest.  

TWILIGHT BIKE RIDE

Explore Midewin at dusk by bike at 6:30 p.m., July 25, as you ride a 10-mile loop on paved and gravel surfaces. Participants must provide and transport their own bicycle. “Fat tires” are recommended.

Participants should arrive for their tour 15 minutes early to ensure they don’t miss the departure of the group. 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.

To reserve space on a tour, leave a message at (815) 423-2170. Please leave contact info in case we need to contact you about cancellations or changes to the tour schedule. There is no charge for Midewin tours this year.

More information about tours and other public programs at Midewin is available at (815) 423-6370 or www.fs.fed.us/mntp/.

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