Suburban Stadiums: Emily Oaks Nature Center

Each week in Suburban Stadiums, Skokie Patch will feature a different local athletic facility, from fitness centers to neighborhood parks. We’ll dive into its history, list available programs and provide a calendar of major events.

EMILY OAKS NATURE CENTER

The nature center in Skokie provides a natural environment for wildlife and conducts programs for people of all ages.  

Facility and History: The Emily Oaks Nature Center was part of a land purchase that Niles Center Park District made in 1929. The large acreage was bought from the Cook County Forest Preserve District and was eventually divided up to include Niles East High School, railroad tracks and Oakton Community Center.

“In the memos it says that Emily Oaks is going to be left in a semi-rustic condition,” said Lee Hansen, the center's facility manager. “The desire was to keep it somewhat natural.”

When Hansen came to the nature center in 1987, the 13-acre site had an old field house and a gravel parking lot. Funds were acquired from the state to construct the visitors' building and, in 1988, Emily Oaks was dedicated as a nature museum. The Skokie Park District put up a fence around the nature center and set specific visiting hours.

“We no longer mowed and removed invasive and non-native species, and returned native species that typically would’ve grown in the area and try to manage the site as a natural area,” Hansen said.

While the site is looking to recreate conditions from about 150 years ago, some changes are irreversible. The pond was dug in the 1930s, but the water table is lower because of development in the area.

Programming: Since 1988, Emily Oaks’ programs have evolved into a wide variety of classes and opportunities.

“Emily Oaks is not just for kids, it’s for adults also,” Hansen said. “We have a full range of programming. We have trips that go off-site, but we also teach kids and teach families how to canoe on the site as well.”

The Park District works with school groups, scout troops, families and others. Staff plays host to campfires, cookouts and a camp program for children ages 4-15.

Even when the weather turns cold, Emily Oaks still offers opportunities for people to get out and enjoy nature.

“We’re 365 days a year except for the holidays, so we are running programming in the winter,” Hansen said.

Among other activities, the Park District puts on snowshoeing trips and winter bonfires for families.

Calendar of Events:

In January, there is an outing planned to see the frozen waterfalls in Starved Rock State Park near La Salle and the annual Winter Chili Fest takes place in February. Check the Skokie Park District website for more details.