Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center

9800 Willow Springs Rd, Willow Springs, IL 60480, USA

Address:	9800 Willow Springs Rd, Willow Springs, IL 60480, USA
Phone:	+1 708-839-6897
Site:	fpdcc.com
Rating:	4.6
Working:	9AM–5PM 9AM–5PM 9AM–5PM 9AM–5PM Closed 9AM–5PM 9AM–5PM

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 6

Audrey Fischer

Little Red Schoolhouse is also the site of free stargazing with the volunteer astronomers from Chicago Astronomical Society. Chicago Astronomical Society’s LITTLE RED SCHOOL HOUSE 2015 SUMMER SKY WATCH SCHEDULE: April 25, 2015 - Start Time 7PM, Featuring the Moon & Jupiter May 30, 2015 - Start Time 7:30PM, Featuring the Moon, Venus & Jupiter June 27, 2015 - Start Time 8PM, Featuring Hercules Cluster, Venus & Jupiter July 25, 2015 - Start Time 8PM, Featuring the Moon, Saturn, Hercules Cluster, Albireo and M57 the Ring Nebula August 22, 2015 - Start Time 7:30PM, Featuring the Moon, Saturn, Albireo, M57, Summer Triangle (Altair, Vega, & Deneb) Sept 19, 2015 - Start Time 7PM, Featuring the Moon, ET, the Summer Triangle Oct 24, 2015 - Start Time 7PM, Featuring the Moon, ET, Albireo and the Andromeda Galaxy Join us for a FREE evening under the stars at our Public Observing Sessions. If you have a telescope or a pair of binoculars, feel free to bring them along and participate in the observing with us! Volunteers will also be happy to share views through their scopes with you. It is very interesting and a great opportunity to see a variety of telescope equipment in use, and get tips in viewing. If you need some help or instruction on setting up your telescope, bring it to any of our other LRSH sessions listed and we will try to help you as time permits. Little Red School House Public Observing *DOs & DON’Ts* *No White light! Please use a Red LED flashlight or cover your flashlight with red Cellophane, red plastic tablecloth, red balloon,etc. * Flash photography is NOT permitted while we are observing. * If you bring your young family members with, please be sure that they are adequately supervised. No running or horseplay is permitted; our astronomers have expensive and delicate equipment. * Please use the trash-cans in the park (Let’s leave the park as clean as we found it, or better :) * We are NOT allowed to walk down any of the trails at night; please stay in the observing area only!

Helen Chancy

I loved going to the LRSH as a child, and love it now bringing my own kids. The trails are nice with light gravel, they are NOT paved though. There are some hills, but its definitely stroller friendly. Im not sure how easy it would be for a wheelchair, and I wouldnt suggest a hoveround/rascal. Theres always plenty of beautiful trees, flowers and grasses to see. The ponds are great areas to show the little ones frogs, carp, goldfish, water snakes and turtles. There are beehives set off from the trail to see, and a little outdoor play area for the kids to build forts. The newer discovery center is wonderful. Its closed on Fridays, but the restrooms are always open, and theyre really nice with flush toilets! Yay! The discovery center has live and stuffed animals on display, a wigwam, and a great play area for the kids to color, make crafts and learn about the local forests and animals. Ive seen lots of humming birds right outside the center which is amazing, because Ive barely ever seen them by my house. The old school house is still there although a little bare inside. Still a great place to learn about what it was like when in use.

Kristina McB

I love this center so much, I couldnt possibly say enough good things about it! The trails are great for running or walking, but they do not allow dogs inside their property. Their are ample dog trails surrounding them, however. With the proximity to the lake, we have spotted countless bird, salamander, frog, and toad species throughout the year here, as well as deer (and fawn!). The staff here are super knowledgeable, and in ways that dont make you feel like an idiot for not knowing everything about the area. The nature center is abundantly kid friendly, and I love that they constantly encourage learning. The play center gets treated really rough in the summer. I dont know if it is the amount of kids coming through, or neglectful parents, but the experience is completely different. Toys and books get destroyed, and things go missing... its very sad to see. They accept donations, so if you have something you can just bring it in! FYI: they are closed on Fridays, and have several birds in the outdoor garden area that are fun to check out!

Morgan Kelley

Wow this place has so much to do! There is an old school house you can go in as well as a bird viewing area where theres about 2p bird feeders set up so you can watch the birds as well as trails to walk on and go see a bee aviary! Was really awesome theres also a pond you can walk up to and watch ducks. Youre not allowed to picnic I this place but 5 minutes down the road theres a smaller park with picnic tables etc which worked out fine. There is even a nice little area with a water fountain and stones you can move around and play with. Really nice spot for yoga or meditation if thats your thing. Overall there is a lot to do here for kids of all ages theres a indoor animal section with snakes turtles frogs and fish and boy oh boy the biggest coolest turtle Ive ever seen is here he must weigh like 70 lbs Im not even joking! What a site! I took my 3 year old and a 16 year old here, and they both enjoyed it. Will be back! :) also, its all free and they usually have free trees for you to take home and plant in your yard....super cool!

Marty McNulty

The new educational building is very cutting edge and excellent, especially the exhibit area. But I have one issue with the building. In the large childrens play and activity area, they have signs on all these bench-high shelving units that say "do not sit on the furniture." Well, if they actually had places for adults to sit, then perhaps people wouldnt be sitting on the furniture. Why not have at least one bench for adults to take a break on while their kids play? It makes no sense, especially for grandparents or folks who have just finished a hike. Why is it so crazy to expect seating? This is so odd that I must conclude it is deliberate. If so, I think theyre overthinking this a bit. Theres a wide hallway in the middle that could easily accommodate a couple of long benches. Theres also a space along the back wall under a bulletin board. A problem with an very simple solution.

Crista Murphy

So totally different then when I used to go as a child. I know it was winter and the trees are dormant, but it just seemed so much more sparse than I remember. A lot of controlled burn areas, which I know helps with fertilisation but there seems to be a lot less wooded areas. I miss the garden area with the scarecrow and moving the main trail back away from the lake has changed the feel of the place. The new facility is clean and shiny, but missing the coziness that was the original school house.