Adult Education
Learn from the Experts (LFEs)
LFEs are classes about local ecology, sponsored by the Forest Preserve District of Kane County, the St. Charles Park District and the Geneva Park District. Taught by staff of these agencies or other top experts, LFEs offer insightful information about topics that impact Kane County. Check our partner agency websites for more LFE offerings. Ages 18 and above.
If you are a current KCCN member or are planning to use a free class coupon, email Morgan Brown or call her at 630-513-4345.
For a list of upcoming classes: click here
Kane County Certified Naturalists
If you enjoy working in and learning about nature, then the Kane County Certified Naturalist program may be for you!
The Kane County Certified Naturalist program is a fee-based program tailored to individuals who want to learn more about Kane County ecosystems, the preservation and conservation of our green space, and Kane County’s cultural and natural history. This program is sponsored by the St. Charles Park District, Geneva Park District and Kane County Forest Preserve.
2025: Thursday, Nov 6 | 7pm | Hickory Knolls Discovery Center
Classes begin every January.
TO REGISTER: CLICK HERE
To earn certification, participants will:
1. Pay the program fee
2. Complete core classes and field trips
3. Take 15 hours of additional coursework
4. Do 15 hours of volunteering or 15 hours of additional coursework
FAQs
2026 Curriculum Info
PDF Version: click here
KCCN is an in-depth environmental education program for adults, combining both classroom and field experiences in Kane County’s natural areas.
Our mission is to build a community of well-informed citizens who apply their ecological knowledge and skills to habitat restoration, environmental education and community service.
In 2026, all classes and field trips will be in person.
- Six core classes in January and February
In-person classes meet on Thursdays from 6 – 8:30 pm at Sunset Community Center located at 710 Western Avenue- January 8 – Ecology and Birds
- January 15 – Geology and Soils
- January 22 – Woodlands and Mammals
- January 29 – Watersheds, Wetlands and Groundwater
- February 5 – Prairies and Insects
- February 12 – Phenology/Climate Change, Herpetology and Wrap-Up
- February 19 – Snow date
- Four in-person field trips during April – June
Field trips meet on Saturdays from 9 am-noon at different forest preserves and parks
- April 11 – Geology/Soils at Camp Tomo Chi-Chi Knolls
- April 25 – Woodlands at Johnson’s Mound Forest Preserve
- May 23 – Wetlands/Watershed at Ferson Creek Park & Ferson Creek Fen
- June 20 – Prairies at Dick Young Forest Preserve
- Ongoing educational opportunities (“Learn from the Experts” or “LFEs”) throughout the year
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Volunteer opportunities in Kane County natural areas all year long
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Deadline for ongoing education/volunteer requirement completion is April 30, 2027
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Graduation is in May, 2027
To fulfill the requirements needed to receive certification, you must attend all the classes and field trips as well as complete an additional 30 hours of continuing education and/or volunteer hours by April 30, 2027.
If you need any accommodations, please let us know. We are happy to adjust as necessary.
We recognize that conflicts are inevitable. We strongly encourage you not to miss more than one session. It is very difficult to replicate field trips, and make-up assignments are not as effective as attending class. Please talk to us if you have a schedule conflict.
If any core class is cancelled due to severe weather, we have a snow date on the calendar.
If you’re eager to learn about the ecology of Kane County, this program is for you. If you want to know more about the natural world, the program is for you. If you’re curious about native plants and wildlife, if you’ve always wondered about the land and the rivers, if you want to share your love of the natural world but don’t know how … this program is for you!
Not to worry! Whether you have a degree in biology or if you have been a stay-at-home parent all your life – all that matters is an eagerness to learn about nature! KCCNers come from all walks of life, and the common bond is the love of the natural world.
A certification in the program carries with it the recognition that you have a solid foundation of ecological knowledge, with practical experience in Kane County. You gain a deeper appreciation of the natural world, a sense of community with like-minded folks, and an active role in stewardship of the environment.
We accept any volunteer work conducted at sponsoring agencies’ parks and forest preserves. Examples:
- Welcome visitors in Geneva Park District’s Peck Farm butterfly house
- Participate in a restoration workday at a St. Charles Park District natural area
- Host visitors or help lead a program at Kane County Forest Preserve’s Creek Bend Nature Center
The fee of $375 includes 6 core classes, hard copy reference materials, 4 in-person field trips, and 10 months of free “LFE” classes
The St. Charles Park District processes all KCCN registrations.
- Registration opens at 8:30 am Friday, November 7, 2025; closes at 11:59 pm Friday, January 2, 2026.
- To register, visit https://www.stcnature.org/events/, call Morgan Brown at 630-513-4345, or register in person at Hickory Knolls Discovery Center (3795 Campton Hills Rd. St. Charles, IL 60175) during open hours: Monday-Saturday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm.
- Get ready for a wonderful experience!
Kane County Certified Naturalists is a partnership of the Forest Preserve District of Kane County, the Geneva Park District and the St. Charles Park District.