What is WeGo Exploring?
To help encourage the WeGo community to get out and "explore what's great outdoors in West Chicago," the partnership of the City of West Chicago, Healthy West Chicago, the West Chicago Park District, and the West Chicago City Museum have put together the WeGo Exploring community initiative.
The WeGo Exploring community initiative aims to promote the importance of being active outdoors for physical and mental health while also highlighting the many places to go and things to do outdoors within the community.
Apart from physical health benefits, simply being active outdoors also has several mental health benefits including improved attention, lower stress, and enhanced memory.
In addition, being outdoors provides people with a sense of adventure and discovery when they change the locations where they explore!
Where should I Go?
Everywhere! West Chicago offers many great places to discover and explore. From finding the oldest tree in the DuPage County Forest Preserve in the West Chicago Prairie Forest Preserve to seeking out each of the many different parks, playgrounds, and trails the West Chicago Park District; there is no shortage of things to do and places to go in our community.
This webpage will serve as a fun guide to assist you with your journeys, and will be regularly updated with new places, events, trails, and activities for you to explore outdoors in West Chicago.
How Do I Participate?
Participating in WeGo Exploring is as simple as lacing up your shoes and exploring the outdoors in West Chicago! Anyone can participate, and there are many great places to explore throughout the community.
Use the buttons below to navigate to different features of this webpage to help you start your adventure.
ENGAGE WITH OTHERS
Participate in the WeGo Exploring Scavenger Hunt
Join other community members on wild goose chases throughout West Chicago by taking part in interactive scavenger hunts throughout the year using the GooseChase app. Win prizes and discover new places to go and things do throughout the City.
Participants can earn points for great prizes by simply answering questions, checking in at various locations, or snapping quick photos of specific things in the community. The sooner you start the hunt, the better your chances are to win some of the bigger prizes.
Getting set up to participate in the online WeGo Exploring Scavenger Hunt can be done quickly and easily by using the following steps.
- Download the Goosechase iOS or Android
- If you already have an account, simply log in. Or, if you’re new, sign up for a free account. It's quick and easy!
- Search for the WeGo Exploring experience using the code 9D8B4Z or WeGo Exploring -Summer
- Create a profile to track you progress, and feel free to set yourself apart by adding a photo and user name.
- Start exploring and earning points!
2024 Summer Prizes
- $50.00 Visa Gift Card (1st Place)
- $25.00 Visa Gift Card (2nd & 3rd Place)
- WeGo Exploring T-Shirt (1st - 10th Place)
Share Photos of Your Adventures with Others
Share your outdoor adventures with the community and be rewarded with prizes by sharing your photos. Photos can be of yourself and other outdoors, or can they be simply of things you’ve seen on your journeys throughout West Chicago.
The goal is to help others find the best outdoor places to explore within our community, so the more photos the better! To share your photos, simply fill out the details in the accompanying form and submit your photos.
WeGo Exploring Photo Submission
Promote WeGo Exploring on Social Media
Help spread the word by sharing your adventures on social media with the hashtag, #wegoexploring. Those who help promote may also win a prize for helping building community support for this initiative.
PLACES TO GO
Kline Creek Farm
Stroll through restored farmstead structures and meet the historically-costumed interpreters operating this living history farm using the tools and techniques of the past. Activities and events at the farm re-create the seasonal rhythms that have governed farm life for centuries.
Wiggly Field Dog Park
Of course you can bring your four-legged friends on your adventures! Check out Wiggly Field in Reed-Keppler Park and let your dog enjoy some time off the leash before you hit the trails.
West Chicago Prairie Forest Preserve
Check out the 358 acres of wetlands and upland oak savannahs that make the West Chicago Prairie Forest Preserve one of the most biologically diverse areas in the region. Unlike most parks and nature preserves, the Preserve doesn’t have huge lakes or designated picnic areas, so feel free to roam through nature.
Kress Creek Farms Park
Take the kids for some fun on the playground, enjoy a game of disc golf with some friends, or enjoy some of the walking trails available at Kress Creek Farms Park. After enjoying the different amenities of this park, perhaps enjoy a lunch picnic with others.
Illinois Prairie Path
The 61 mile long Illinois Prairie Path is a multi-use nature trail that runs through Cook, DuPage, and Kane Counties throughout northeastern Illinois. The recreational nature trail system is a frequent favorite of cyclists and hikers as it winds through many communities including directly thought the downtown of West Chicago.
Kruse House Museum and Gardens
The Kruse House Museum and Gardens at 527 Main Street offers visitors a singularly authentic experience of the past. Alongside the American four-square house from 1917, there is also large and elaborate garden featuring the original rock terraces and lily pond, along with an assortment of flowers and plants that are maintained by the West Chicago Garden Club. The Kruse House gardens are free to the public to stroll through.
Great Western Trail
The Great Western Trail is a trail that replaced the abandoned main line of the Chicago Great Western Railroad. The trail is 14 miles of an abandoned railway from St. Charles to the DeKalb County Line that is ideal for bicycling and hiking.
THINGS TO DO
Whether it's an upcoming outdoor community event, a local program, or a series of outdoor exercise events, we'll ensure you're in the know as you search for places to go and activities to partake in during your WeGo Exploring journey. Check back regularly to see the many things to do while you find what's great outdoors in West Chicago!
Explore the Downtown while Enjoying the West Chicago Art Banner Exhibit
Explore downtown West Chicago to see 26 artworks by local and regional artists displayed along Main Street and Geneva Street until September. Vote for your favorite piece to nominate the artist for the 2024 People’s Choice Award.
Hit the Olmec Trails Along in West Chicago & Beyond
Explore West Chicago to see four of 33 sculptures from the "Olmec Trails" exhibit, celebrating Mexican heritage through public art. Locations include the West Chicago Public Library, Reed-Keppler Park, the Kruse House Museum, and Kline Creek Farm; additional sculptures are spread across DuPage County, with a map provided on the College of DuPage’s website.
Savor a Summer Evening Filled with Live Music, Food Trucks, and Entertainment at Food Fest
The West Chicago Food Festival returns downtown on Saturday, August 24, from 4 to 8 p.m. Enjoy diverse culinary delights and live music starting with Alika Arlyn at 4 p.m., followed by 28 Days at 5:30 p.m. and Good Clean Fun at 7 p.m. Family activities like face painting, balloon art, and live performances run from 4 to 7 p.m. Don't miss a live chalk art mural celebrating West Chicago’s 175th anniversary. Sample food from 15 vendors and beverages from Hawthorne’s Backyard Bar & Grill.
Welcome Fall with the Fit4Fall 5K on the Illinois Prairie Path
Participate in West Chicago’s Fit4Fall 5K, featuring a certified 5K course on the Prairie Path at Reed Keppler Park, starting and finishing at Zone 250, 201 West National Street. Enjoy a post-race event with custom medals and event shirts for 5K runners, plus swag bags for the first 100 registrants. Register by September 5 to receive a complimentary waffle with unlimited toppings from All Belgium Waffle.
PHOTO SUBMISSIONS
