Knox College at Blackthorn Hill Nature Preserve

On the crisp autumn afternoon of November 2nd, Knox Outdoor Adventure Club, led by the National Park Trust College Ambassadors Patience and Sarah, ventured to a local nature preserve called Blackthorn Hill. The fall colors were just peaking, so we were greeted by a bright blue sky through glimpses of the brilliant yellow and orange leaves.

Our small but mighty group began the trek up to the prairie. Along the way, we were greeted by many animals, from red-tailed hawks hiding in the trees to a friendly squirrel along the bank of the stream, all of which were part of the collections painted by local artists to enhance the park’s mission, “to provide nature and environmental education to youth and adults.” We then made it to the park’s highlight: the Prairie Maze! We had a fun time running around the maze, trying different pathways to see if we’d find an exit. It was the perfect time of year for the maze since the Illinois Tallgrass Prairie plants were towering above our heads, making it feel just like a classic corn maze! The rippling golden ocean of grasses was beautiful in the late afternoon light as we made our way back into the forest. We were then led to a spot in the forest where a stream cut through the trees, and we could walk along it for a little bit, jumping below and around the twisting tree roots.

On our way back to the shelter, where our warm drinks & snack were waiting for us, we came across a recently harvested cornfield, where we marveled at the expansive openness in this little pocket of woods. Back at the pavilion, we poured our mugs of hot apple cider, teas, and hot cocoa while chatting and getting to know each other. As our last group activity, we played a game of ‘thicket’ where we tapped into our reservoirs of whimsy while hiding in the woods in this hide-and-seek style game. Finally, we took in our last breaths of the cold air & bright colors while joyfully catapulting fallen leaves back into the air. Overall, it was a lovely fall adventure where new friendships were kindled and the joy from spending time outside was rejuvenating.