Spring Valley Nature Center & Heritage Farm 

Vera Meineke Nature Center  

1111 E. Schaumburg Rd.

Schaumburg, IL 60193

847-985-2100

Volkening Heritage Farm is located at 201 S. Plum Grove Rd. (1/5 mile south of Schaumburg Rd.).

Parent Comments & Ratings

PROS

Spring Valley is a refuge of 135 acres of fields, forests, marshes and streams. It features over three miles of stroller and handicapped-accessible hiking trails, a museum with natural history displays and information, and an 1880s living history farm. And you can't beat the price -- it's free!

The Vera Meineke Nature Center contains natural history exhibits that change seasonally, an observation tower, classrooms, an extensive library, a gift sales area and restrooms. The nature center is very small, but usually has various activities for the little ones. At two and a half, my son now enjoys the natural history exhibits. He pushes the buttons to hear about the animals, observes the turtles and plays with the educational puzzles and games available.

The kids adventure pack, which you can check out for two weeks at a time (for $5), contains equipment, supplies, activites and books for children to engage with nature. One of the employees told me that my two and a half year old was probably a little young for the pack, but it would be worth it if he was a couple years older.

Toddler snowshoes, along with children and adult snowshoes, are available for rent when there is at least four inches of snow on the ground. My son wears a size 9 toddler boot, and the snowshoes just fit him. He had a great time pretending to be Curious George in his snowshoes, and lasted much longer than I expected.

Volkening Heritage Farm can be fun for the kids. I took my son when he was around 15 months old. Over a year later, he still talks about the rooster that came running after us! There are authentically dressed interpreters that guide visitors through the site. The farm's visitor center has toys for the little ones to play with if they get bored.

Spring Valley holds various events, some with admission fees (which are all fairly reasonable). A list of 2010 special events can be found here. There are also opportunities for school field trips, home school groups and scouting programs. More information can be found at: http://www.parkfun.com/Facilities/SpringValley/Programs.aspx. Summer camps for children begin at the age of five; you can find more info. on their Website.

CONS

While my son really enjoys the nature center now, it didn't hold his attention for long when he was under the age of two. The farm was a better fit for him when he was very young. He enjoyed waddling around and looking at the animals. However, in my opinion, it wouldn't be worth a long drive for a one-year-old. If you live close, though, it's a free opportunity for your baby to see a farm or take in a stroller ride on the trails.

LOGISTICS
If you plan on walking the trails, make sure your stroller has a canopy for shade. Several sections of the trails aren't shaded, and it can get hot in the middle of the summer.

From the nature center, you can walk on the trails to the farm. The walk was a little long for me and my little one, and once we got to the farm, the trail was no longer paved. I was tired at this point, and pushing the stroller was difficult. Next time, I'll drive to the farm.

If you'd like to rent snowshoes, I recommend calling ahead. One day when I called, there was over four inches of snow on the ground, but they told me the snow was too icy to enjoy the snowshoes. I'm glad I called before loading up my toddler.

Website: http://www.parkfun.com/Facilities/SpringValley.aspx