Good Natured: Kane County Certified Naturalists
When was the last time you looked at the keeled scales on a water snake’s back? Or watched migrating warblers glean insects from newly emerged tree buds? Would you recognize a hellgrammite—the larva of the dobsonfly—if you saw one? Better yet, would you want to?
If any of these observations sound even remotely appealing, we have a deal for you! Part outdoor education, part social network, and part self-help group for incurable nature nerds, the Kane County Certified Naturalists (KCCN) program is a year-long initiative designed for adults who want to learn more about the natural history of our county and find ways to put that knowledge to good use.
A collaborative effort between the Forest Preserve District of Kane County and the Geneva and St. Charles Park Districts, KCCN will soon begin its 18th year of carrying out its mission: "To build a community of well-informed citizens who apply their ecological knowledge and skills to habitat restoration, environmental education, and community service."
KCCN starts in January with six weeks of core courses in basic ecology, geology, Kane County ecosystems, and ecological restoration. These classroom sessions, held on six consecutive Thursday evenings, are followed by four Saturday field trips in April, May, and June, when the weather warms. During these excursions, participants visit area parks and forest preserves that best illustrate the concepts discussed in class.
The core classes will be held from 6:00-8:30 p.m. at the Hickory Knolls Discovery Center in St. Charles on the following dates:
- January 9 – Ecology and Birds
- January 16 – Geology and Soils
- January 23 – Woodlands and Mammals
- January 30 – Watersheds, Wetlands, and Groundwater
- February 6 – Prairies and Insects
- February 13 – Phenology/Climate Change, Herpetology, and Wrap-Up
- February 20 (snow date)
Field trips will take place from 9 a.m. to noon at these locations:
- April 12 – Geology at Hickory Knolls
- April 26 – Woodlands at Johnson’s Mound Forest Preserve
- May 24 – Wetlands at Ferson Creek Park & Ferson Creek Fen, St. Charles
- June 21 – Prairies at Dick Young Forest Preserve
Participants will have until April 30, 2026, to complete an additional 30 hours of continuing education and/or volunteering with any of the three participating agencies. The continuing education requirement can be fulfilled by attending Learn from the Experts (LFE) courses, which cover a variety of topics. Volunteering opportunities include ecological restoration workdays, programs, special events, and hosting visitors at Creek Bend Nature Center and Peck Farm Park’s Butterfly House.
The program’s one-time fee of $350 covers costs for the entire year, including 10 months of LFE courses. Graduates are celebrated with pomp, circumstance, and a campfire at an evening ceremony attended by family, friends, and the growing community of KCCN members re-upping their certification.
If you’re interested in participating but still have questions, join us at our annual KCCN Information Session at 7 p.m. on Thursday, November 7, at the Hickory Knolls Discovery Center in St. Charles. Need directions? Find the fun here.
For more information, you can also request our Frequently Asked Questions document by emailing potto@stcparks.org.
Ready to sign up? Registration opens at 8 a.m. on Friday, November 8, and closes at 11:59 p.m. Registration is handled through the Geneva Park District. Visit www.genevaparks.org, call 630-232-4542 (main office) or 630-262-8244 (Peck Farm Park), or register in person at Sunset Community Center (710 Western Avenue, Geneva) during regular hours: Monday-Friday 5:30 a.m. - 9:30 p.m., or Saturday-Sunday 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Use program code 5411901-01.
Class size is limited, so don’t delay. Water snakes, warblers, hellgrammites, and a host of other Kane County nature enthusiasts are waiting for you!
Pam Otto is the outreach ambassador for the St. Charles Park District and can be reached at potto@stcparks.org.
