Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods

One of our younger hikers rescued many woolly bear caterpillars on the trail during our bilingual hike at Hastings Lake. There's a myth that the width of the middle brown band predicts the severity of the winter. Time to bundle up? #bilingualhike #lcfpd #woollybear #caterpillar (at Hastings Lake Forest Preserve)

Close up views of a mute swam on our guided nature hike this morning at Hastings Lake. #bilingualhike #swan #muteswan #lcfpd (at Hastings Lake Forest Preserve)

Our executive director, Sophie Twichell, received an incredibly thoughtful goodbye gift from the Leave No Child Inside steering committee for Lake County. Presented by Lois Morrison, the monarch butterfly plaque made by artist Lynne Krestan reads "beauty, serenity, grace." Beautiful! #leavenochildinside #lynnekrestan #monarch #lnci #bestcommitteeever (at Greenbelt Cultural Center)

Such fun to have some of Edward and Nora Ryerson's great, great grandchildren at Brushwood making their own memories of this special place. Fabulous turnout for the "Views from Brushwood Farm" exhibition featuring photographs of how the Woods were enjoyed from 1937-1974. #ryersonwoods #artopening #artexhibition #descendants #viewsfrombrushwoodfarm #brushwoodfarm #photography (at Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods)

Hikers on our guided nature hike this morning (presented in English & Spanish) learned all about milkweed and it's critical importance to monarch butterflies. A great group! #ryersonwoods #bilingualhikes #monarch #milkweed #leavenochildinside (at Ryerson Conservation Area)

Our Little Free Library is open for business! You'll find it at the end of the newly installed TRAIL TALES. Here Stephen Territo of the Vernon Area Public Library and a young helper stock it for the first time. Come take a book, return a book one day soon! #trailtales #caminandoconcuentos #littlefreelibrary #ryersonwoods #leavenochildinside #vapld #lcfpd (at Ryerson Conservation Area)

This evening while walking the loop at #ryersonwoods with the new TRAIL TALES panels, we enjoyed watching thousands of migrating dragonflies fly over the restored prairie catching their dinner. So much fun to see! #trailtales #caminandoconcuentos #missmaplesseeds #dragonflies #migration #hunting #prairie (at Ryerson Conservation Area)

A big THANK YOU to the forest preserve crew that's installed the Trail Tales or Caminando con Cuentos panels at Ryerson Woods and Greenbelt Forest Preserve. We're so excited to launch this program! #lcfpd #ryersonwoods #greenbelt #trailtales #caminandoconcuentos #leavenochildinside

Exciting day! We marked the trail at Ryerson Woods this evening for the locations where the "Trail Tales" or "Caminando con Cuentos" panels are to be installed. This program, which links time in nature, physical activity and literacy, launches this Friday. Can't wait! #trailtales #caminandoconcuentos #literacy #activeliving #leavenochildinside #missmaplesseeds (at Ryerson Conservation Area)

Late summer splendor #browneyedsusan #wildflower #nativeplants #nativewildflower

Did you know you can rent Brushwood Center for special occasions? Tent going up today for a Labor a Day weekend wedding. Couldn't be a more beautiful spot than Ryerson a Woods for tying the knot! #tent #wedding #rental #tietheknot #ryersonwoods (at Ryerson Conservation Area)

"Raven" by Maureen McCauley (oil on canvas), part of the AVIAN SPIRITS art exhibition currently on display at Brushwood Center. Show closes August 31. #avianspirits #ryersonwoods #raven #blackbird #maureenmccauley #artexhibition #artexhibit #birdartist (at Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods)

Wonderfully creative artists at work in Brushwood Center's art classes. #artclass #botanicalillustration #lily #ryersonwoods (at Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods)

Impressive fungus on one of the majestic maples outside Brushwood Center. It's a beautiful display but sadly also means this tree is on its way out. #fungus #ryersonwoods #brushwoodcenter #maple #mapletree (at Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods)

Thanks to everyone who came out to tonight's Film Festival in the Woods. We had a full house! #filmfestivalinthewoods #ryersonwoods #filmfestival (at Ryerson Conservation Area)

While our members watched award-winning short films, nature offered this amazing live display -- a stunning sunset laced with mist over the preserve. #sunset #riverwoods #ryersonwoods #filmfestivalinthewoods #brushwoodcenter