Tickets are on sale for the Homewood Science Center’s third Walk Walton fundraiser celebrating nature, science, music and crafts on Sunday, Oct. 21, at the Izaak Walton Preserve, 1100 W. Ridge Road in Homewood.
The day’s events – rain or shine – open at 10:30 a.m. for “The Walk,” a 2.4 mile on-foot excursion through the preserve. Walkers will learn about the many facets of nature in this secluded spot in Homewood. Guest lecturers will represent Chicago’s Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium and Museum of Science and Industry, as well as the University of Chicago and Climate Reality Leadership Corps.
John Brinkman of the Izaak Walton Preserve is on the lecturers list, and junior high students, who have been serving as science center ecology interns at Izaak Walton the past two months, will share knowledge from their hands-on experiences in the preserve.
The final walking tour will begin at 11:30 a.m. The walk portion of the day’s event is sponsored by Wintrust Bank.
The Walton Fest opens at noon. It includes two PopUp Science programs: “Spooky Science,” a Halloween themed take on gross anatomy, and “Autumn Ecology” giving an inside look at bugs, bees and birds.
Kids will love the insect petting zoo, courtesy of U of I Extension, and there will be a pumpkin patch, campfire and a chance to make s’mores.
Look for food trucks and a crew from Wiley’s Grill to help satisfy your hunger craving. Lassen’s Tap will be serving beer and Bloody Mary drinks. Lassen’s is the sponsor for the fest portion of the day’s event.
Volunteers will be selling paper mask take-home kits and Homewood Science Center T-shirts.
Walk Walton is free for children 12 and younger. The individual rate is $25. Small group rate for six adults and 12 children is $125. The large group rate for 12 adults and 24 children is $225.
Tickets purchased after Oct. 10 are $30 for participants 12 and older.
Ticket orders can be placed at homewoodsciencecenter.org.