Arts & Entertainment
Will County, IL: New Free Forest Exhibit Opens This Week
Channahon, IL – Families across Will County and the southwest Chicago suburbs have a new free indoor attraction to explore this week as Four Rivers Environmental Education Center unveils an interactiv
By Mason Reid · 2026-11-06T21:13:58.621Z
Channahon, IL – Families across Will County and the southwest Chicago suburbs have a new free indoor attraction to explore this week as Four Rivers Environmental Education Center unveils an interactive exhibit revealing what happens inside a forest after the sun goes down.
According to the Forest Preserve District of Will County, the new Day & Night Exhibition opened Wednesday, Nov. 4, and continues through Sunday, Jan. 3. The exhibit welcomes visitors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, with free admission.
Located in Channahon, southwest of Joliet, the environmental education center offers visitors an opportunity to discover how wildlife and forest ecosystems change between daylight and darkness.
Two Forests, Two Different Worlds The exhibition features two specially designed rooms, each centered around a large replica oak tree constructed by Four Rivers staff.
One room recreates a bright daytime forest, while the second uses blackout curtains and flashlights to simulate nighttime conditions.
Visitors can explore interactive displays highlighting animals and natural processes that often remain hidden during ordinary woodland walks.
Jerome Gabriel, facility supervisor at Four Rivers, said the exhibit helps visitors better understand how daytime and nighttime wildlife activities work together to support forest ecosystems.
Free Admission and Accessible Activities The exhibit was designed with accessibility in mind. Interactive doors, sliding panels and light controls are positioned no higher than 44 inches to accommodate visitors with different mobility needs.
Staff members spent hundreds of hours constructing the exhibit and its components.
For families seeking an educational indoor activity as colder weather approaches, the exhibition provides a free opportunity to experience nature without heading into the woods.
Visitor Information: Four Rivers Environmental Education Center, Channahon, Illinois. Open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., through Jan. 3. Admission is free.