Champaign County Forest Preserve cancels May programming and several camps, awaits Gov. decision for golf

April 22, 2020 – In anticipation of an extension of Illinois’ stay-at-home order and restrictions
on gatherings, the Champaign County Forest Preserve District has now canceled all on-site
public programs through the end of May.

This cancellation includes the highly popular, heavily attended Bird Migration Fest and Take Me Fishing events scheduled for May 9 and 23 respectively.

District public programs staff members are working to restructure as many programs as possible
to virtual formats. We encourage individuals to check the website and Facebook frequently for program updates. Individuals who have signed up for programs requiring pre-registration will be contacted directly about cancellations and any pre-paid fees will be credited to future programs or refunded.

The District has also decided to cancel its summer nature, garden, archaeology, and museum
camps for 2020. Seasonal program staff hiring has been suspended due to the unknown duration
of the COVID-19 restrictions as well as the financial impact closures have had on District
revenues.

Executive director Mary Ellen Wuellner stated, “We regret having to cancel summer
camps. The staff enjoy putting them on just as much as the kids enjoy attending them. But from
both a financial and public health perspective, we felt we had no choice but to make this
decision.” We will contact the parents of children signed up for camps to make arrangements
for refunds or credits.

No decision has yet been made about summer golf camps. They are waiting for a decision from the
governor regarding the reopening of golf courses around the state.