Winter Wellness Family Event

Explore ways to be healthy in mind, body, and spirit at the Winter Wellness Family Event at Singing Bird Nature Center in Rock Island, IL from 10 am – 1 pm on Saturday, February 25. It’s a collaboration between University of Illinois Extension and Black Hawk State Historic Site.  

“It’s the perfect way to spend a winter’s day, learning about health and wellness, exploring nature, sampling tasty soups, and doing fun activities for all ages in a great venue surrounded by the urban forest.” said Becky Buckrop, Illinois Extension marketing and development program coordinator.

There will be a variety of interactive stations; visitors can learn ways they can reduce food waste – which will save money and help the environment; find out how to make green cleaning products and take home a free sample; observe birds from the indoor viewing room and explore bird-beak facts from Master Gardeners.

In honor of heart health month, learn the steps you can take to keep your heart healthy. Dive into the importance of nutrition, and pick up a free 2023 Eat.Move.Save calendar from SNAP-Ed featuring recipes and health tips. Get your blood pressure and glucose levels checked from Community Health Care.

Dress for the weather and do an outdoor Soup Scavenger Hunt! Illinois Extension will have maps for you to follow to clues in the park. Turn in your completed sheet for a chance to win one of 20 vegetable soup kits to take home and make.

Warm up inside as you enjoy free soup and hot cocoa by the fire. Spend time crafting: there will be canvases, bird-house gourds, and rocks to paint.

Kids will enjoy activities from 4-H, Mercer County Ag Literacy, AOK Childhood Network, and the Rock Island Public Library including: "I Made That!" activity packets to explore snow, a fun indoor obstacle course, and a selfie station to capture your memories. The Rock Island library will also have their bookmobile at the event.

While you’re at Black Hawk Park, be sure to visit the Hauberg Museum to learn about Sauk and Meskwaki (Fox) Indians, it’s located on the south side of the park at Black Hawk Lodge (1510 46th Ave).

Singing Bird Nature Center is located on the north end of Black Hawk Park off 44^th Ave. in Rock Island. For more information about the Winter Wellness Family Event, contact University of Illinois Extension in Milan, IL at (309) 756-9978 or their website at extension.illinois.edu/hmrs