For Kids

One of the greatest gifts you can give children is your love of nature.

Children need regular time outdoors, so visit Lincoln Marsh Natural Area with your kids to experience something new every time the weather changes. We offer wide open, natural places where your children can run, have fun, and play safely. Let your kids take the lead – with their natural curiosity, they will quickly find something to explore. We also provide programs to promote nature exploration by children and their families. We encourage you to explore our website to learn more about the exciting hands-on programs we offer to the community.

Prairie Patch Play Area

The Prairie Patch Play Area incorporates surrounding landscape and vegetation to better experience nature as part of a child’s daily outdoor playtime.

Scavenger Hunts

Downloadable scavenger hunts to use while hiking our trails!

Discover! Packs

Grab the family and head over to Lincoln Marsh for an exciting discovery adventure! Our Discover! Packs are filled with all sorts of self-guided activities and discovery tools to help you explore the “wild side” of Wheaton. 

Nature-Themed Books for Kids

Download the Lincoln Marsh’s Recommended Reading List (PDF)

Word Find

Can you find all of the marshy words? Download the Lincoln Marsh Word Find (PDF).

Coloring Pages

Enjoying the Outdoors With Kids

Enjoying the outdoors with your children is a fun, healthy way to spend quality time with your family. Experts also believe giving children unstructured playtime outside fosters creativity and healthy childhood development, while helping prevent childhood obesity, attention deficit disorder, and emotional stress. Don’t know what to do? It’s easy – here are some tips to get you started.

Leave No Child Inside: Tips for Parents (PDF)

Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights

Every child should have the opportunity to:

  • Discover wilderness – prairies, dunes, forests, savannas, and wetlands
  • Camp under the stars
  • Follow a trail
  • Catch and release fish, frogs, and insects
  • Climb a tree
  • Explore nature in neighborhoods and cities
  • Celebrate heritage
  • Plant a flower
  • Play in the mud or a stream
  • Learn to swim