Will County forest preserve picnic, camping permits go on sale starting Tuesday; teen attains Eagle Scout rank with Lake Crone project – Chicago Tribune

The Forest Preserve District of Will County picnic and camping permits will go on sale starting at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 3, online and at the Sugar Creek Administration Center in Joliet.

Two hours later, they will be available at the Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon, Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville and the Plum Creek Nature Center in Crete Township.

The sale of permits at the Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Bolingbrook starts at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 4.

Picnic permits are available for more than 30 shelters and are required for groups of 25 or more and encouraged for smaller groups that want to have guaranteed use of a specific shelter, a news release said.

Tent camping is allowed at Forked Creek Preserve in Wesley Township, Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve in Crete Township, Hammel Woods in Shorewood, McKinley Woods in Channahon and Messenger Woods Nature Preserve in Homer Glen. The forest district also rents camping gear, which will decrease from $25 to $20 in 2023.

Permits are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information, go to www.reconnectwithnature.org.

Patrick William Norton, a 15-year-old student at Neuqua Valley High School, was named an Eagle Scout after completing a 766-hour project to benefit Crone Middle School in Naperville.

With help from nearly 700 volunteers, Patrick created the “Lake Crone Reading Sanctuary” at the 4020 111th St. school, which he attended. The sanctuary has a lending library, inspirational rock garden with a path and potted flowers, and re-mulched open areas overlooking Lake Crone and around the school.

Patrick is a member of Boy Scout Troop 889. He said in a news release the project taught him to be an effective leader.