What Kendall County Forest Preserve District does

Kendall County Forest Preserve District is a local-government special-purpose district established in 1964 and headquartered at 110 W. Madison Street, Yorkville, Illinois. Its statutory mandate is to preserve and manage natural areas and open spaces, deliver environmental education, and provide outdoor recreation within Kendall County. The District manages a portfolio of forest preserves (Hoover, Subat, Fox River Bluffs, Baker Woods, Harris, Jay Woods, Pickerill Pigott, Richard Young), operates the Laws of Nature Center in the Kendall County Historic Courthouse and the Ellis House and Equestrian Center in Minooka, and is constructing the Mary M. Subat Nature Center (expected early 2026). Programming spans NGSS-aligned school and scout programs, the 9-month Natural Beginnings early-childhood nature program, summer and after-school camps, horsemanship lessons and therapeutic riding (via Sunrise Center North), public trail access, overnight camping (bunkhouses and campsites at Hoover), and private event venue rentals (Meadowhawk Lodge, Ellis House, Pickerill Estate House). Pricing across offerings is unit-based — scout badge programs start at $8 per scout with a $64 minimum, firewood at $25/bundle, shelter deposits at $25, with event venues accommodating 60-200 guests. No proprietary technology is disclosed; customer-facing operations run on the DaySmart Recreation registration platform, with marketing distributed through the kendallforest.com website, multiple Facebook pages, Constant Contact newsletters, and downloadable PDF program catalogs.

The District is funded primarily through Illinois property-tax levy and competitive state grant programs rather than disclosed earned revenue. It has secured approximately $1.07 million in dedicated funding across multiple 2023-2024 capital grants, including a $600,000 IDNR Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grant for the Subat Nature Center, a $200,000 IDNR Regional Trails Program grant, and a $272,000 Kendall County Transportation Alternatives Program commitment for the Hoover-to-Fox River Bluffs trail connection. A separate 501(c)(3) — the Forest Foundation of Kendall County, established in 2006 — supports fundraising and a Memorial Program for conservation. With 11-50 employees, the District is a small public agency whose revenue is not publicly disclosed; operating budgets for comparable Illinois forest preserve districts suggest an annual budget in the low single-digit millions, but no first-party figure is available.

The District is executing a defined 2024-2026 capital buildout (Subat Nature Center completion and a multi-preserve trail connection) while maintaining its existing program mix. Strategic posture is one of in-county capacity deepening rather than geographic expansion, with sub-brand identities under KCFPD (Laws of Nature Center, Ellis House and Equestrian Center, Meadowhawk Lodge, Pickerill Estate House, Natural Beginnings, Forest Foundation) reflecting a multi-tenant operations model inside one small public organization.

Name

Kendall County Forest Preserve District

Legal name

Kendall County Forest Preserve District

Website

https://kendallforest.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kendall County Forest Preserve District is an Illinois local-government special-purpose district, founded 1964, that preserves natural areas across multiple forest preserves and delivers environmental education, summer and scout programs, equestrian lessons, camping, and event venue rentals to Kendall County families, schools, scouts, and event hosts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Nature Preserve and Environmental Education Services

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (924120), Support Activities for Forestry (1153), Support Activities for Forestry (11531)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Forestry & Public Lands Administration (State/National Forests) (BPAIAMAF)

Keywords

• Nature preserve management
• Environmental education programs
• Outdoor recreation services
• Public park facilities
• Equestrian center services

Headquarters

HQ city

Yorkville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Kendall County Forest Preserve District is a local government agency that acquires, preserves, and manages natural areas and open spaces across Kendall County, Illinois. It delivers environmental education programs, nature-based youth and adult recreation (camps, horsemanship lessons, scouting), and rents special-event venues (Meadowhawk Lodge, Ellis House, Pickerill Estate House) and camping facilities at its forest preserves.

Product overview

Kendall County Forest Preserve District is a government agency managing natural areas and recreation facilities in Yorkville, IL. The District offers a diverse portfolio of programs and services centered on environmental education and outdoor recreation: nature-based early learning through Natural Beginnings, horsemanship lessons and equestrian programs at Ellis House and Equestrian Center, summer and seasonal camps for children, school and scout educational programs, public programs like Babes in the Woods and Afternoon Adventures, camping and shelter rentals at Hoover Forest Preserve, and special event venue rentals including Meadowhawk Lodge, Ellis House, and Pickerill Estate House. The District also maintains multiple forest preserves including Hoover, Fox River Bluffs, Baker Woods, and the developing Subat Nature Center.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Laws of Nature Center: Nature education center located in the Kendall County Historic Courthouse, operating hours 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Monday - Friday.
• Ellis House and Equestrian Center
• Meadowhawk Lodge
• Pickerill Estate House
• Natural Beginnings Early Learning Program
• Forest Foundation of Kendall County

Products and services

• Natural Beginnings Early Learning Program A 9-month nature-based early childhood program for children ages 3-6 that introduces them to the natural world through exploring various nature-based themes, held at Hoover Forest Preserve in Yorkville.
• Ellis House and Equestrian Center Horsemanship Lessons Private and semi-private horsemanship lessons for adults and children ages 4 and older, offered 7 days a week by appointment at the Ellis Equestrian Center in Minooka, Illinois, in compliance with National Children's Center safety standards.
• School and Scout Programs Educational programs for Pre-K through high school, including Cub Scout and Girl Scout badge programs. Programs are delivered in classrooms and as field trips to forest preserves, with pricing starting at $8 per scout and a $64 minimum per booking.
• Summer Camps for Kids Nature-themed day camps for children from first through ninth grade, featuring nature hikes, games, crafts, exploration and discovery. Offered at Hoover Forest Preserve in Yorkville and Ellis House and Equestrian Center in Minooka.
• Birthday Parties Equestrian-themed birthday parties at Ellis House and Equestrian Center (with pony rides, crafts, and indoor classroom use) and nature-themed birthday parties at Hoover and Harris Forest Preserves with naturalist-led activities.
• Public Programs Programs including Babes in the Woods (ages 2-5), Afternoon Adventures (12-week after-school program), and Wandering in the Woods (K-5th grades, 6-week after-school program), held at Hoover Forest Preserve.
• Camping and Shelters Overnight camping facilities including campsites, bunkhouses (Blazing Star, Moonseed, Kingfisher) at Hoover Forest Preserve, and picnic shelters at Harris, Jay Woods, Pickerill Pigott, and Richard Young Forest Preserves. A $25 refundable security deposit is required for shelter reservations.
• Special Event Venues Rental venues including Pickerill Estate House (up to 90 outdoor/60 indoor), Ellis House and Equestrian Center (up to 200 guests), and Meadowhawk Lodge at Hoover Forest Preserve (up to 100 guests with commercial kitchen).
• Forest Preserves and Nature Centers Public access to forest preserves including Subat Nature Center (under construction, expected early 2026 completion), Hoover Forest Preserve, Fox River Bluffs, Baker Woods, Harris Forest Preserve, and others across Kendall County, with free public trail access.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• The Conservation FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal conservation organization that provided additional support for Subat Forest Preserve acquisition in 2002 alongside Illinois Department of Natural Resources grants.
• National Children's Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and SafetyminorOthersOrganization whose safety standards are upheld by Ellis Equestrian Center for all horsemanship lessons and riding programs, including helmet requirements, riding area specifications, and rider capability assessments.
• Sunrise Center North Therapeutic RidingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization providing therapeutic riding sessions at Ellis House and Equestrian Center for children and adults with disabilities.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Forest Preserve District of DuPage County: Adjacent Illinois forest preserve district managing a much larger preserve system (60+ preserves) with educational programming, event venues, and similar government-district structure. Direct regional peer that absorbs overflow regional demand.
• Lake County Forest Preserves: Illinois forest preserve district with strong education/recreation programming, equestrian facilities, and event venues. Mid-to-large scale peer for benchmarking unit economics.
• Forest Preserves of Cook County: Largest forest preserve district in Illinois (~70,000 acres), offering extensive educational programming, camping, and event venues. Sets the broader benchmark for Illinois forest preserve district operations.

Direct peers

• McHenry County Conservation District: Northern Illinois conservation district managing nature preserves, offering educational programming, facility rentals, and special events — a strong operational peer for Kendall County FPD's service model.
• Forest Preserve District of Will County: Adjacent Illinois county forest preserve district with similar mandate around natural-area preservation, environmental education, and outdoor recreation programs. Comparable scale and product mix.
• Forest Preserve District of Kane County: Neighboring Illinois county forest preserve district offering environmental education, summer camps, facility rentals, and equestrian programs. Closest operational analog to Kendall County FPD.
• DeKalb County Forest Preserve District: Small-to-mid-sized Illinois forest preserve district offering educational programs, camping, and event facilities to a suburban-rural county demographic similar to Kendall County.

Others

• The Conservation Foundation: Local conservation nonprofit that supported Subat Forest Preserve acquisition in 2002 and partners with Kendall County FPD on land conservation programming. Adjacent ecosystem partner.

Regional players

• Openlands: Regional Chicago-area land conservation nonprofit that co-funded Kendall County FPD programs in 2025 and partners with multiple Illinois forest preserve districts on land acquisition and conservation.
• Naperville Park District: Adjacent DuPage County municipal park district offering nature programming, summer camps, and event-venue rentals — competes for the southern Kendall County residential audience for family programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/KendallCountyForests
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kendall-county-forest-preserve-district

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kendall County Forest Preserve District