Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center

Fullersburg Woods Visitor Center provides an engaging, interactive introduction to the local environment. There, visitors can explore the world of Salt Creek and its inhabitants and learn how to identify common birds and animal tracks. They can get up close and personal with the 13,000-year-old skeleton of a woolly mammoth or use microscopes and spotting scopes to examine creatures that call DuPage County home today. Visitors can also find answers to nature-related questions from the center’s staff of expert naturalists, who love talking about native plants and animals almost as much as they love learning about nature themselves!

Modern restrooms, a drinking fountain, and information on other DuPage County forest preserves complement the visitor center’s exhibits.

The mission of Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center is to educate the public about humankind’s influence on DuPage County’s natural ecosystems and the inter-relationships with the environment. It does so by offering programs year-round to the general public, teachers and students, and youth and civic groups.

For Everyone

Scheduled programs for individuals, families and groups focus on natural resources and feature activities from tapping maple trees to identifying spring wildflowers and tracking resident and migrant wildlife. For upcoming programs and events at Fullersburg Woods, visit the Calendar of Events.

For Teachers and Their Students

Each year more than 35,000 school children visit Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center to learn about the local natural environment and how they can improve conditions for future generations. In fact, the center offers several field-trip and outreach programs, which meet state curriculum standards.

In addition, the center offers professional-development programs with CPDU credits for educators.

For more information, view the "Teachers Guide" or call the center at (630) 850-8110.

For Scouts and Scout Leaders

Learn more about opportunities for Scouts and other youth groups at Fullersburg. For more information, view the "Scouting Guide."

The area that is now Fullersburg Woods Forest Preserve emerged in 1833 as one of the first settlements along Salt Creek. Benjamin Fuller platted much of the land along the waterway and built his home, which now stands on the east side of York Road, sometime near 1840.

Volunteers at Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center lead activities during Nature Discovery Programs and present the world of DuPage flora and fauna to children through games and puppet shows. They help with special events, appear as front-line staff in the visitor center and do so much more. For more information, visit Fullersburg Woods Volunteers, or contact the Forest Preserve District’s Volunteer Services office at (630) 933-7681 or volunteer@dupageforest.com.

Located in the southern corner of Fullersburg Woods Forest Preserve, Graue Mill and Museum is one of the area’s remaining authenticated Underground Railroad “stations” and the only operating waterwheel grist mill in Illinois. Programs on milling, spinning, and weaving illustrate life between 1850 and 1890 and the effect mills had on the area’s culture. The restored Frederick Graue House, the 1850s Victorian home of the Graue family, is a perfect venue for small private functions.

Both facilities are owned by the Forest Preserve District and operated by the nonprofit DuPage Graue Mill Corporation. The mill is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from mid-April to mid-November, except on select holidays. House-rental information is available by request. For details, visit Graue Mill, or contact the museum at (630) 920-9720 or info@grauemill.org.

Volunteers at Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center lead activities during Nature Discovery Programs and present the world of DuPage flora and fauna to children through games and puppet shows. They help with special events, appear as front-line staff in the visitor center and do so much more. For more information, visit Fullersburg Woods Volunteers, or contact the Forest Preserve District’s Volunteer Services office at (630) 933-7681 or volunteer@dupageforest.com.

The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is committed to making its facilities accessible to all visitors. For special accessibility needs or concerns, please contact the District's ADA coordinator at (630) 933-7683 or
TTY (800) 526-0857 at least three business days in advance of your visit.