Foraging and Wildlife Edibles
2023-09-09 10:00 - 13:00 UTC | Private Event Location
This course will cover an array of local wildlife plant species that are edible and some that are medicinal. We will discuss how these plants can be harvested, prepared, a what their reported medicinal qualities are and how they might have been used in traditional medicine. We will discuss the many uses for Common Plantain, Mullen, and Henbit. We will discuss how Mustard-Garlic can spice up your best hamburger. We will make a batch of Dandelion tea and discuss the many uses for Dandelions.

What's In Your Bag?
2024-01-21 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Lake Eureka Park, 101 Lake Road, Eureka, IL, 61530
Whether it’s a Bug Out Bag (BOB), a Get Home Bag (GHB), your Every Day Carry, or any other type of preparedness kit, this monthly get together is for you.
Each month Panther Creek hosts a fun and informative preparedness kit clinic to help you discover the latest and greatest essentials that may be worth a spot in one of your kits. We share what is new and current, as well as gear that is tried and true. Each month we explore bags, backpacks, slings, pouches, tools, supplies, gizmos and gadgets. We are always on the lookout for gear that is dual purpose, or provides better functions.
We always go over our own ever changing gear choices and we demonstrate and provide hands on exposure to all of our own kit items. Participants are encouraged to bring their own kits and share with the group what they find to be their most useful and favorite gear.

Foraging for Wild Edibles
2024-05-04 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago) | Wildlife Prairie Park, 3826 N Taylor Rd, Hanna City, IL, 61536
This is a hiking course designed to introduce students to a number of wild edibles that are found in the central Illinois area and throughout the Midwest. This course will cover an array of local wildlife plant species that are edible and some that are medicinal. We will discuss how these plants can be harvested, prepared, a what their reported medicinal qualities are and how they might have been used in traditional medicine. We will discuss the many uses for Common Plantain, Mullen, and Henbit. We will discuss how Mustard-Garlic can spice up your best hamburger. We will make a batch of Dandelion tea and discuss the many uses for Dandelions.
• Laws and legal considerations that govern foraging
• The Universal Edibility Test for survival
• Wild edible plants that are common
• Availability depends on the seasons
• Where to find and when to harvest
• What to avoid in wild edibles
• Common lookalikes
• How to ensure positive identification
• Much more
Ticket Price: $40 per person, $36 for Wildlife Prairie Park members
Here is a link to ticket sales for his event.

Survival Shelter Building
2024-05-18 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago) | Camp Wokanda, 620 East Boy Scout Road, Chillicothe, IL, 61615, United States
In a survival situation it is often required to find a way to shelter yourself from the elements. This course covers how to use basic shelter products you can carry in your kit, and how to use natural resources to create a shelter.

Being Prepared
2024-06-16 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago) | Wildlife Prairie Park, 3826 N Taylor Rd, Hanna City, IL, 61536
This class serves to prepare the student for the possibility of finding themselves in a survival situation. In the “Being Prepared” class we provide a number of memory tools to help enhance the students ability to remember and recall necessary survival information while dealing with stress or trauma. We focus on elements that have been proven time and again to be key factors in whether a person survives, or doesn’t in a true survival situation. We identify those elements, and then cover a number of ways to train, enhance, and develop your skills and abilities to maximize your chances of survival. We then cover some of the tools, equipment, and survival gear that will assist you in a survival situation.

“Survival Memory Tools”
Importance of skill development and practice.
Fitness, and “survival attitude”
Legal considerations of outdoor adventuring
Before you go – Steps to prepare
Emergency action plans
Kits – Survival Kits, Bug Out Bags, Get Home Bags, essential components.
Tools and items to enhance chances of survival.
The BEST kit

Here is a link to ticket sales for this event.

Firecraft
2024-07-20 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago) | Wildlife Prairie Park, 3826 N Taylor Rd, Hanna City, IL, 61536
The ability to start and maintain a fire is a vital component in any survival situation. This class begins with a short lecture period, and then is mostly hands on and covers numerous ways to build, start, and maintain a fire to use for warmth, security, processing water, and cooking. This class covers many fire starting methods, as well as fire safety.

The science of fire
Fire safety
Fire starting techniques
Different fire lays and their uses
The steps to “building” a sustainable fire
Commercially available fire starting products
How to make your own tinder and firestarters

Class Location: Meet at Recreation Hall. Enter through the Main Park and the Ticket Gate Attendants can help with directions.
What to bring: These are items you may bring In addition to the basic items allowed at all classes but are not required. You may bring personal fire starting tools such as a ferro rod, flint and steel, a 5x+ magnifying glass. You may bring compact cutting tools such as a survival knife, pocket knife, folding camp saw, etc. Some of these items such as a ferro rod and striker will be available but may be in limited quantity.
This class is for ages 14 and up, Max 25 students, and ticket price is $40
Link to tickets or this event

Kickapoo Creek Festival 2024
2024-08-10 09:30 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Wildlife Prairie Park, 3826 N Taylor Rd, Hanna City, IL, 61536
This year we are again helping “The Friends of Rocky Glen” with their annual Kickapoo Creek Festival at Wildlife Prairie Park. We will be onsite on Saturday, the 10th all day starting in the morning. We will have the Panther Creek pavilion set up with some of our primitive living and survival items on display for open discussion.
We will be doing a primitive fire making and cooking demonstration in the morning. This will be followed throughout the day with survival topic discussions and demonstrations on gear, sheltering techniques, cordage and knots, best practices, as well as some historical perspective on many survival and wilderness buschcraft skills.
Please, come out and stop by and say hello.

Foraging for Wild Edibles
2024-09-01 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago) | Wildlife Prairie Park, 3826 N Taylor Rd, Hanna City, IL, 61536
This is a moderate difficulty hiking class and is designed to introduce students to a number of wild edibles that are found in the central Illinois area and throughout the Midwest. This class will cover an array of local wildlife plant species that are edible and some that are medicinal. We will discuss how these plants can be harvested, prepared, a what their reported medicinal qualities are and how they might have been used in traditional medicine. We will discuss Jerusalem artichoke, sassafras, goldenrod, wild ginger, black walnuts, black cherry, and host of others.

Legal considerations that govern foraging
The Universal Edibility Test for survival
Wild edible plants that are common
Where to find and when to harvest
What to avoid in wild edibles
How to ensure positive identification

Basics: Bushcraft is educational, encourages creativity and physical activity. Participants should dress for the weather and bring water and a snack if desired. Adults are encouraged to bring a reliable knife, cotton cloth or bandana. Note taking is highly recommended. Optional items that may enhance your outdoor experience include a light backpack, gloves, a wide brimmed hat, sunscreen, insect repellant, and a few Band-Aids or personal first-aid kit.
What to bring: Students should bring the Basics plus a paper sack or basket for gathering plant materials and a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, and plenty of water could be useful.
This class is for ages 14 and up. Max 40 students and ticket price is $40
Get Tickets Here

Shelter Building
2024-09-14 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago) | Wildlife Prairie Park, 3826 N Taylor Rd, Hanna City, IL, 61536
The number #1 danger to someone lost or injured in the outdoors is exposure. So, knowing how to quickly build a basic shelter is vital. Participants will learn how to use basic shelter products you can carry in your kit, and natural resources you will gather from the surrounding landscape, to create different types of bushcraft survival shelters. Participants will also be introduced to useful knots and the rapid deployment ridgeline for throwing up a tarp shelter. Class will cover:

Important considerations for wilderness shelters
How to fabricate cordage from natural resources
Important knots, and cordage usage
Tube tent, tarp, and sheet plastic shelters
Ways to use emergency blankets and ponchos for shelter
Building lean-to, and debris shelters using natural materials

Class Location: Meet at Recreation Hall and walk to base camp. Enter through the Main Park and the Ticket Gate Attendants can help with directions.
Basics: Bushcraft is educational, encourages creativity and physical activity. Participants should dress for the weather and bring water and a snack if desired. Adults are encouraged to bring a reliable knife, a Bic lighter, cotton cloth or bandana. Note taking is highly recommended. Optional items that may enhance your outdoor experience include a light backpack, gloves, a wide brimmed hat, sunscreen, insect repellant, and a few Band-Aids or personal first-aid kit.
What to bring: Students should bring the Basics plus 50′ of cordage or paracord and a small personal camp saw or folding pruning saw. You may also want to bring two large industrial garbage bags for gathering materials and other uses during this class. A limited amount of gear and supplies will be available at classes for students who need working materials..
This class is for ages 14 and up, Max 25 students, and ticket price is $40
Get Your Tickets Here

Adult First Aid/CPR/AED
2024-09-28 09:30 - 14:30 (America/Chicago) | Wildlife Prairie Park, 3826 N Taylor Rd, Hanna City, IL, 61536
Our Red Cross certified Adult First Aid/CPR/AED class incorporates the latest science and teaches students to recognize and care for a variety of first aid emergencies such as burns cuts scrapes sudden illnesses head neck back injuries heat and cold emergencies and how to respond to breathing and cardiac emergencies for victims about 12 years and older.
Successful students will receive a certificate for “Adult First Aid/CPR/AED” from the American Red Cross that is valid for two years.
Class Location: Meet at Recreation Hall. Enter through the Main Park Gate and the Ticket Gate Attendants can help with directions.
Basics: Participants should dress for the weather and bring water and a snack if desired. Bring pen/pencil and paper Note taking will be required.
What to bring: Bring the Basics plus, please bring your own personal first-aid kit (PFAK) if you have one. If not, that is OK, we will go over how to construction one and proper kit contents.
This full day class is for ages 14 and up, Max 10 students, and ticket price is $108.
Get Tickets Here

Being Prepared
2025-03-15 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago) | Wildlife Prairie Park, 3826 N Taylor Rd, Hanna City, IL, 61536
This class serves to prepare the student for the possibility of finding themselves in a survival situation. The “Being Prepared” class clearly outlines the Eight Necessities of Survival, and we provide a number of memory tools to help enhance the students ability to remember and recall necessary survival information while dealing with stress or trauma. We focus on elements that have been proven time and again to be key factors in whether a person survives, or doesn’t in a true survival situation. We identify those elements, and then cover a number of ways to train, enhance, and develop your skills and abilities to maximize your chances of survival. We then cover some of the tools, equipment, and survival gear that will assist you in a survival situation and that you should always carry with you.

Eight Necessities
“Survival Memory Tools”
Importance of skill development and practice.
Fitness, and “survival attitude”
Legal considerations of outdoor adventuring
Before you go – Steps to prepare
Emergency action plans
Kits – Survival Kits, Bug Out Bags, Get Home Bags, essential components.
Tools and items to enhance chances of survival.
The BEST kit

Class Location: Meet at Recreation Hall. Enter through the Main Park and the Ticket Gate Attendants can help with directions.
Basics: Bushcraft is educational, encourages creativity and physical activity. Participants should dress for the weather and bring water and a snack if desired. Taking notes is highly recommended.
What to bring: Students may bring their own personal Every Day Carry, Survival Kits, Bug Out Bags, Get Home Bags, etc. but this is not necessary. At the end of the class we will take time to go over kit contents and answer questions about students individual kits.
This class is for ages 14 and up, Max 25 students, and ticket price is $40
Tickets Available Now!

Shelter Building
2025-04-12 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago) | Wildlife Prairie Park, 3826 N Taylor Rd, Hanna City, IL, 61536
The number #1 danger to someone lost or injured in the outdoors is exposure. So, knowing how to quickly build a basic shelter is vital. Participants will learn how to use basic shelter products you can carry in your kit, and natural resources you will gather from the surrounding landscape, to create different types of bushcraft survival shelters. Participants will also be introduced to useful knots and the rapid deployment ridgeline for throwing up a tarp shelter. Class will cover:

Important considerations for wilderness shelters
How to fabricate cordage from natural resources
Important knots, and cordage usage
Tube tent, tarp, and sheet plastic shelters
Ways to use emergency blankets and ponchos for shelter
Building lean-to, and debris shelters using natural materials

Class Location: Meet at Recreation Hall and walk to base camp. Enter through the Main Park and the Ticket Gate Attendants can help with directions.
Basics: Bushcraft is educational, encourages creativity and physical activity. Participants should dress for the weather and bring water and a snack if desired. Adults are encouraged to bring a reliable knife, a Bic lighter, cotton cloth or bandana. Note taking is highly recommended. Optional items that may enhance your outdoor experience include a light backpack, gloves, a wide brimmed hat, sunscreen, insect repellant, and a few Band-Aids or personal first-aid kit.
What to bring: Students should bring the Basics plus 50′ of cordage or paracord and a small personal camp saw or folding pruning saw. You may also want to bring two large industrial garbage bags for gathering materials and other uses during this class. A limited amount of gear and supplies will be available at classes for students who need working materials..
This class is for ages 14 and up, Max 25 students, and ticket price is $40
Tickets Available Now!

Foraging for Wild Edibles - Spring
2025-05-03 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago) | Wildlife Prairie Park, 3826 N Taylor Rd, Hanna City, IL, 61536
This is a hiking course designed to introduce students to a number of wild edibles that are found in the central Illinois area and throughout the Midwest. This course will cover an array of local wildlife plant species that are edible and some that are medicinal. We will discuss how these plants can be harvested, prepared, a what their reported medicinal qualities are and how they might have been used in traditional medicine. We will discuss the many uses for Common Plantain, Mullen, and Henbit. We will discuss how Mustard-Garlic can spice up your best hamburger. We will make a batch of Dandelion tea and discuss the many uses for Dandelions.

Legal considerations that govern foraging
The Universal Edibility Test for survival
Wild edible plants that are common
Availability depending upon the season
Where to find and when to harvest
What to avoid in wild edibles
Common lookalikes
How to ensure positive identification

Basics: Bushcraft is educational, encourages creativity and physical activity. Participants should dress for the weather and bring water and a snack if desired. Adults are encouraged to bring a reliable knife, cotton cloth or bandana. Note taking is highly recommended. Optional items that may enhance your outdoor experience include a light backpack, gloves, a wide brimmed hat, sunscreen, insect repellant, and a few Band-Aids or personal first-aid kit.
What to bring: Students should bring the Basics plus a paper sack or basket for gathering plant materials and a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, and plenty of water could be useful.
This class is for ages 14 and up. Max 40 students and ticket price is $40
Tickets Available Now!

Firecraft - Bushcraft Firemaking
2025-05-17 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago) | Wildlife Prairie Park, 3826 N Taylor Rd, Hanna City, IL, 61536
The ability to start and maintain a fire is a vital component in any survival situation. This covers the basic science of fire, and then is mostly hands on in the field. We cover numerous ways to build, start, and maintain a fire to use for warmth, security, processing water, and cooking. This class covers many fire starting methods, as well as fire safety.

The science of fire
Fire safety
Fire starting techniques
Different fire lays and their uses
The steps to building and maintaining a sustainable fire
Commercially available fire starting products
How to make your own tinder and firestarters

Class Location: Meet at Recreation Hall. Enter through the Main Park and the Ticket Gate Attendants can help with directions.
What to bring: These are items you may bring In addition to the basic items allowed at all classes but are not required. You may bring personal fire starting tools such as a ferro rod, flint and steel, a 5x+ magnifying glass. You may bring compact cutting tools such as a survival knife, pocket knife, folding camp saw, etc. Some of these items such as a ferro rod and striker will be available but may be in limited quantity.
This class is for ages 14 and up, Max 25 students, and ticket price is $40

Tickets Available Now!

Water Procurement
2025-06-14 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago) | Wildlife Prairie Park, 3826 N Taylor Rd, Hanna City, IL, 61536
Water if life. Clean water is arguably the most important resource to acquire in any given survival situation. This class is intended to teach students the skills and abilities necessary to locate, transport, filter, and purify water for sanitation and consumption. The class is structured as a brief lecture followed by hands on instruction. During this phase we will locate and transport water, build a primitive campfire, utilize several methods to filter and purify the water for consumption.

Locating and transporting potable water
Water filtering techniques
Commercial water filters
Homemade filters
Wilderness filtering techniques
Water purification / decontamination techniques
Much more

Basics: Bushcraft is educational, encourages creativity and physical activity. Participants should dress for the weather and bring water and a snack if desired. Adults are encouraged to bring a reliable knife, Bic style lighter, cotton cloth or bandana. Taking notes is highly recommended. Optional items that you may find useful include a light backpack, gloves, a wide brimmed hat, sunscreen, insect repellant, and a few Band-Aids or personal first-aid kit.
What to bring: Students should bring the Basics plus a water bottle, canteen, or some other form of water container.
This class is for ages 14 and up. Max 25 students and ticket price is $40
Tickets Available Here

Pathfinding and Rescue
2025-08-02 09:30 - 18:00 (America/Chicago) | Wildlife Prairie Park, 3826 N Taylor Rd, Hanna City, IL, 61536
Even the most experienced outdoorsmen sometimes neglect their land navigation skills. But, when the trail runs out, or is covered in snow, the ability to navigate across wilderness terrain and determine where you have been, and where you are going, becomes essential, otherwise, you become lost, and may have to rely on Search and Rescue (SAR) to help you out. This engaging class is a wonderful introduction to both pathfinding, as well as how search and rescue works and what you can do to affect your own rescue if you become lost in the wilderness. This class covers the following:

Compass usage
Pace count
Enhanced navigation methods
Identifying geographic markers
Self mapping
Signaling
How Search and Rescue works for you
Self rescue
Much more,…

Class Location: Meet at Recreation Hall. Enter through the Main Park and the Ticket Gate Attendants can help with directions.
Basics: Bushcraft is educational, encourages creativity and physical activity. Participants should dress for the weather and bring water and a snack if desired. Adults are encouraged to bring a reliable knife, a Bic lighter, cotton cloth or bandana. Note taking is highly recommended. Optional items that may enhance your outdoor experience include a light backpack, gloves, a wide brimmed hat, sunscreen, insect repellant, and a few Band-Aids or personal first-aid kit.
What to bring: Students should bring a compass, pen/pencil and paper. A limited amount of gear and supplies will be available at classes for students who need working materials..
This is a full day class and will break for 1 hour for lunch. Class is for ages 14 and up, Max 25 students, and ticket price is $70
Tickets Available Here

5th Annual Kickapoo Creek Fest
2025-08-08 08:00 - 2025-08-10 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Sommer Farm – W.H. Sommer Park, 6329 N. Koerner Rd., Edwards, IL, 61528, United States
Please come out and join us for the 5th Annual Kickapoo Creek Fest sponsored by the Friends of Rocky Glen. This three day event will feature free camping, live music, workshops, wildlife education, outdoor yoga and meditation, fishing, canoeing, and lots of other fun activities. Panther Creek will be there doing demonstrations, and discussions. Stop by our tent and say hello and hang out for the music and the fun. We look forward to seeing you there.

Foraging for Wild Edibles - Fall
2025-09-06 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago) | Wildlife Prairie Park, 3826 N Taylor Rd, Hanna City, IL, 61536
This is a moderate difficulty hiking class and is designed to introduce students to a number of wild edibles that are found in the central Illinois area and throughout the Midwest. This class will cover an array of local wildlife plant species that are edible and some that are medicinal. We will discuss how these plants can be harvested, prepared, a what their reported medicinal qualities are and how they might have been used in traditional medicine. We will discuss Jerusalem artichoke, sassafras, goldenrod, wild ginger, black walnuts, black cherry, and host of others.

Legal considerations that govern foraging
The Universal Edibility Test for survival
Wild edible plants that are common
Where to find and when to harvest
What to avoid in wild edibles
How to ensure positive identification

Basics: Bushcraft is educational, encourages creativity and physical activity. Participants should dress for the weather and bring water and a snack if desired. Adults are encouraged to bring a reliable knife, cotton cloth or bandana. Note taking is highly recommended. Optional items that may enhance your outdoor experience include a light backpack, gloves, a wide brimmed hat, sunscreen, insect repellant, and a few Band-Aids or personal first-aid kit.
What to bring: Students should bring the Basics plus a paper sack or basket for gathering plant materials and a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, and plenty of water could be useful.
Class will meet at the Visitor Center. Ask at front gate for directions.
This class is for ages 14 and up. Max 40 students and ticket price is $40
Buy Tickets Here

Adult First Aid/CPR/AED
2025-10-04 09:30 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Wildlife Prairie Park, 3826 N Taylor Rd, Hanna City, IL, 61536
Our Red Cross certified Adult First Aid/CPR/AED class incorporates the latest science and teaches students to recognize and care for a variety of first aid emergencies such as burns cuts scrapes sudden illnesses head neck back injuries heat and cold emergencies and how to respond to breathing and cardiac emergencies for victims approximately 12 years and older.
Successful students will receive a certificate for “Adult First Aid/CPR/AED” from the American Red Cross that is valid for two years.
Class Location: Meet at Recreation Hall. Enter through the Main Park Gate and the Ticket Gate Attendants can help with directions.
Basics: Participants should dress for the weather and bring water and a snack if desired. Bring pen/pencil and paper Note taking will be required.
What to bring: Bring the Basics plus, please bring your own personal first-aid kit (PFAK) if you have one. If not, that is OK, we will go over how to construction one and proper kit contents.
This full day class is for ages 14 and up, Max 10 students, and ticket price is $108.
Tickets Available Here

Being Prepared
2026-03-14 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago) | Wildlife Prairie Park, 3826 N Taylor Rd, Hanna City, IL, 61536
This class serves to prepare the student for the possibility of finding themselves in a survival situation. The “Being Prepared” class clearly outlines the Eight Necessities of Survival, and we provide a number of memory tools to help enhance the students ability to remember and recall necessary survival information while dealing with stress or trauma. We focus on elements that have been proven time and again to be key factors in whether a person survives, or doesn’t in a true survival situation. We identify those elements, and then cover a number of ways to train, enhance, and develop your skills and abilities to maximize your chances of survival. We then cover some of the tools, equipment, and survival gear that will assist you in a survival situation and that you should always carry with you.

Eight Necessities
“Survival Memory Tools”
Importance of skill development and practice.
Fitness, and “survival attitude”
Legal considerations of outdoor adventuring
Before you go – Steps to prepare
Emergency action plans
Kits – Survival Kits, Bug Out Bags, Get Home Bags, essential components.
Tools and items to enhance chances of survival.
The BEST kit

Class Location: Meet at Recreation Hall. Enter through the Main Park and the Ticket Gate Attendants can help with directions.
Basics: Bushcraft is educational, encourages creativity and physical activity. Participants should dress for the weather and bring water and a snack if desired. Taking notes is highly recommended.
What to bring: Students may bring their own personal Every Day Carry, Survival Kits, Bug Out Bags, Get Home Bags, etc. but this is not necessary. At the end of the class we will take time to go over kit contents and answer questions about students individual kits.
This class is for ages 14 and up, Max 25 students.
Tickets Available Now

Shelter Building
2026-04-11 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago) | Wildlife Prairie Park, 3826 N Taylor Rd, Hanna City, IL, 61536
The number #1 danger to someone lost or injured in the outdoors is exposure. So, knowing how to quickly build a basic shelter is vital. Participants will learn how to use basic shelter products you can carry in your kit, and natural resources you will gather from the surrounding landscape, to create different types of bushcraft survival shelters. Participants will also be introduced to useful knots and the rapid deployment ridgeline for throwing up a tarp shelter. Class will cover:

Important considerations for wilderness shelters
How to fabricate cordage from natural resources
Important knots, and cordage usage
Tube tent, tarp, and sheet plastic shelters
Ways to use emergency blankets and ponchos for shelter
Building lean-to, and debris shelters using natural materials

Class Location: Meet at Recreation Hall and walk to base camp. Enter through the Main Park and the Ticket Gate Attendants can help with directions.
Basics: Bushcraft is educational, encourages creativity and physical activity. Participants should dress for the weather and bring water and a snack if desired. Adults are encouraged to bring a reliable knife, a Bic lighter, cotton cloth or bandana. Note taking is highly recommended. Optional items that may enhance your outdoor experience include a light backpack, gloves, a wide brimmed hat, sunscreen, insect repellant, and a few Band-Aids or personal first-aid kit.
What to bring: Students should bring the Basics plus 50′ of cordage or paracord and a small personal camp saw or folding pruning saw. You may also want to bring two large industrial garbage bags for gathering materials and other uses during this class. A limited amount of gear and supplies will be available at classes for students who need working materials..
This class is for ages 14 and up, Max 25 students
Tickets Available Now

Foraging for Wild Edibles - Spring
2026-05-02 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago) | Wildlife Prairie Park, 3826 N Taylor Rd, Hanna City, IL, 61536
This is a short hiking course designed to introduce students to a number of wild edibles that are found in the central Illinois area and throughout the Midwest. This course will cover an array of local wildlife plant species that are edible and some that are medicinal. We will discuss how these plants can be harvested, prepared, a what their reported medicinal qualities are and how they might have been used in traditional medicine. We will discuss the many uses for Common Plantain, Mullen, and Henbit. We will discuss how Mustard-Garlic can spice up your best hamburger. We will make a batch of Dandelion tea and discuss the many uses for Dandelions.

Legal considerations that govern foraging
The Universal Edibility Test for survival
Wild edible plants that are common
Availability depending upon the season
Where to find and when to harvest
What to avoid in wild edibles
Common lookalikes
How to ensure positive identification

Basics: Bushcraft is educational, encourages creativity and physical activity. Participants should dress for the weather and bring water and a snack if desired. Adults are encouraged to bring a reliable knife, cotton cloth or bandana. Note taking is highly recommended. Optional items that may enhance your outdoor experience include a light backpack, gloves, a wide brimmed hat, sunscreen, insect repellant, and a few Band-Aids or personal first-aid kit.
What to bring: Students should bring the Basics plus a paper sack or basket for gathering plant materials and a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, and plenty of water could be useful.
This class is for ages 14 and up. Max 40 students

Sign Up Here

Preparing Wild Medicinals
2026-05-03 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago) | Wildlife Prairie Park, 3826 N Taylor Rd, Hanna City, IL, 61536
As a follow-up our “Foraging for Wild Edibles” class, we will take a deeper look at the traditional medicinal uses of several of those plants and how to prepare them for use. We will discuss which ailments these plants were historically used to treat, along with common methods for preparing and storing them. We will also cover multiple approaches to plant medicine, with a focus on teas, tinctures, balms and salves.
Participants will have the opportunity to sample infused teas and will leave with several tea bags made from herbs discussed in class for later use. We will demonstrate how to start both oil and alcohol infusions, then finish one that has already been prepared in advance. Together, we will make a salve during the class that students can take with them, and participants should leave feeling confident in their ability to turn plants into shelf-stable useable products.
Preparation methods
• Infusions (Teas): For soft parts (leaves, flowers)
• Decoctions: For hard parts (roots, bark, seeds)
• Tinctures: Highly concentrated alcohol extracts.
• Poultices: Mash fresh or dried herbs into a paste and apply directly to skin.
• Compresses/Washes: Use strong infusions or decoctions applied with cloth for skin issues.
• Infused Oils/Salves/Balms: Steep herbs in oil, then mix with beeswax for topical balms.
Cost for this class is $50 per student
Class will start at 10:00 AM and run until approximately 2:00 PM. There will be periodic breaks but no lunch break, so, you may bring snacks if you wish. Bottled water will be available for free.
Students are asked to bring their own washable cup or mug. All other materials will be provided.
Sign Up Here

Firecraft - Bushcraft Firemaking
2026-05-16 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago) | Wildlife Prairie Park, 3826 N Taylor Rd, Hanna City, IL, 61536
The ability to start and maintain a fire is a vital component in any survival situation. This covers the basic science of fire, and then is mostly hands on in the field. We cover numerous ways to build, start, and maintain a fire to use for warmth, security, processing water, and cooking. This class covers many fire starting methods, as well as fire safety.

The science of fire
Fire safety
Fire starting techniques
Different fire lays and their uses
The steps to building and maintaining a sustainable fire
Commercially available fire starting products
How to make your own tinder and firestarters

Class Location: Meet at Recreation Hall. Enter through the Main Park and the Ticket Gate Attendants can help with directions.
What to bring: These are items you may bring In addition to the basic items allowed at all classes but are not required. You may bring personal fire starting tools such as a ferro rod, flint and steel, a 5x+ magnifying glass. You may bring compact cutting tools such as a survival knife, pocket knife, folding camp saw, etc. Some of these items such as a ferro rod and striker will be available but may be in limited quantity.
This class is for ages 14 and up, Max 25 students

Sign Up Here

Water Procurement
2026-06-13 10:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago) | Wildlife Prairie Park, 3826 N Taylor Rd, Hanna City, IL, 61536
Water if life. Clean water is arguably the most important resource to acquire in any given survival situation. This class is intended to teach students the skills and abilities necessary to locate, transport, filter, and purify water for sanitation and consumption. The class is structured as a brief lecture followed by hands on instruction. During this phase we will locate and transport water, build a primitive campfire, utilize several methods to filter and purify the water for consumption.

Locating and transporting potable water
Water filtering techniques
Commercial water filters
Homemade filters
Wilderness filtering techniques
Water purification / decontamination techniques
Much more

Basics: Bushcraft is educational, encourages creativity and physical activity. Participants should dress for the weather and bring water and a snack if desired. Adults are encouraged to bring a reliable knife, Bic style lighter, cotton cloth or bandana. Taking notes is highly recommended. Optional items that you may find useful include a light backpack, gloves, a wide brimmed hat, sunscreen, insect repellant, and a few Band-Aids or personal first-aid kit.
What to bring: Students should bring the Basics plus a water bottle, canteen, or some other form of water container.
This class is for ages 14 and up. Max 25 students
Sign Up Here

Pathfinding and Rescue
2026-08-01 09:30 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Wildlife Prairie Park, 3826 N Taylor Rd, Hanna City, IL, 61536
Even the most experienced outdoorsmen sometimes neglect their land navigation skills. But, when the trail runs out, or is covered in snow, the ability to navigate across wilderness terrain and determine where you have been, and where you are going, becomes essential, otherwise, you become lost, and may have to rely on Search and Rescue (SAR) to help you out. This engaging class is a wonderful introduction to both pathfinding, as well as how search and rescue works and what you can do to affect your own rescue if you become lost in the wilderness. This class covers the following:

Compass usage
Pace count
Enhanced navigation methods
Identifying geographic markers
Self mapping
Signaling
How Search and Rescue works for you
Self rescue
Much more,…

Class Location: Meet at Recreation Hall. Enter through the Main Park and the Ticket Gate Attendants can help with directions.
Basics: Bushcraft is educational, encourages creativity and physical activity. Participants should dress for the weather and bring water and a snack if desired. Adults are encouraged to bring a reliable knife, a Bic lighter, cotton cloth or bandana. Note taking is highly recommended. Optional items that may enhance your outdoor experience include a light backpack, gloves, a wide brimmed hat, sunscreen, insect repellant, and a few Band-Aids or personal first-aid kit.
What to bring: Students should bring a compass, pen/pencil and paper. A limited amount of gear and supplies will be available at classes for students who need working materials..
This is a full day class and will break for 1 hour for lunch. Class is for ages 14 and up, Max 25 students,

Sign Up Here

Adult First-Aid/CPR/AED
2026-10-03 09:30 - 14:30 (America/Chicago) | Wildlife Prairie Park, 3826 N Taylor Rd, Hanna City, IL, 61536
Our Red Cross certified Adult First Aid/CPR/AED class incorporates the latest science and teaches students to recognize and care for a variety of first aid emergencies such as burns cuts scrapes sudden illnesses head neck back injuries heat and cold emergencies and how to respond to breathing and cardiac emergencies for victims about 12 years and older.
Successful students will receive a certificate for “Adult First Aid/CPR/AED” from the American Red Cross that is valid for two years.
Class Location: Meet at Recreation Hall. Enter through the Main Park Gate and the Ticket Gate Attendants can help with directions.
Basics: Participants should dress for the weather and bring water and a snack if desired. Bring pen/pencil and paper Note taking will be required.
What to bring: Bring the Basics plus, please bring your own personal first-aid kit (PFAK) if you have one. If not, that is OK, we will go over how to construction one and proper kit contents.
This full day class is for ages 14 and up, Max 10 students.

Sign Up Now
