The Kikapu Forest is a real gem for nature lovers, offering many opportunities for improving health and relaxation. Here, in the savannahs, meadows, by the water and on the riverbank, you can find peace and rejuvenate. Walking in the Kikapu Forest helps to improve mental health, reduce stress and anxiety, normalize blood pressure, strengthen the immune system, and boost self-esteem. Numerous studies confirm that regular contact with nature has a positive impact on human health. According to a study by the University of Exeter published in Yale’s online journal Environment 360 in January 2020, as little as 120 minutes a week spent in nature brings significant health benefits, regardless of occupation, ethnicity, economic status, and even for people with chronic illnesses and disabilities.
The Kickapoo Forest and the mile of the Little Calumet River that meanders along it are part of the historic, industrial, residential and natural Calumet region. Stretching from South Chicago to Gary, Indiana, the Calumet region combines vibrant communities, industrial plants, drawbridges, and important wetlands, oak savannas, and prairies.
This region has a rich history spanning centuries. Long before the arrival of Europeans, the area was home to Native American tribes. As stated in the work of Byg, Garner, Gordon, Parts and Weiner, “The Calumet region was long home to tribes belonging to the Algonquin groups around the Great Lakes. The main inhabitants of the region were the Miami and Potawatomi, and neighboring tribes interacted with local groups through trade or migration.”
In collaboration with the Center for the American Indian and the Fifth House Ensemble, Friends of the Chicago River hosts workshops and performances that use deep listening techniques to raise awareness of the environment. These events integrate local practices to explore the relationship between people and nature. Videos of the workshops are available on our YouTube channel.
The Sounds of the Chicago River project combines modern and traditional deep listening techniques with local conservation, music making, and storytelling. Sixto Franco, one of the members of the Fifth House Ensemble, explains: “In these workshops, we explore how nature inspires music and art, and how the sounds of nature can be better integrated into new compositions.” These performances are supported in part by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.
Kickapoo Forest offers many ways to get healthy and relax. You can:
- Canoe the Little Calumet River and explore the Kickapoo Forest from the water. This is a great place for beginner paddlers;
- Hike or bike the one-mile loop trail alone or with your dog, friends, or family;
- Bird and animal watching;
- Watch model airplanes at the model airplane field or join in the fun with your own model airplane;
- Have a picnic;
- Volunteer to help restore the ecosystem with Centennial Volunteers. You can help remove invasive plant species that threaten to crowd out native flora and fauna. Trained leaders will show you how to identify alien plants and safely remove them using hand tools.
The Kikapu Forest is the perfect place to enjoy nature, rejuvenate and gain new experiences.