Shooting Stars
This cache involves a two-mile walk at the beautiful Crabtree Nature Center. It is important that
you are aware that this center is only open from 8:00 am to 5:00
pm (the winter hours are shorter - please see the link) and the
center is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day.
After visiting here and collecting information, you will be looking
for the cache container at another site: "Spring Lake Forest
Preserve" which is about three miles away. The round-trip hike at
Spring Lake FP is less than one mile.
Permission granted by: Jeff Rapp, Naturalist II, Crabtree Nature
Center.
For questions, please call: 847-381-6592
The Crabtree Nature Center is nestled within a Wildlife Sanctuary.
This special place is set aside as a habitat for wildlife. It is
popular with birders who come to photograph and enjoy the diverse
bird population. You may enjoy taking some photographs too, so
bring your camera and binoculars as you witness the beauty of this
site.
It is necessary that you leave pets at home for this
journey. All of your travel at the Crabtree Nature Center is to be
on the paths.
Wild Geraniums
In the past, geocachers have attempted hides at Crabtree. These
hides were placed without permission and were quickly removed. This
hunt takes a different approach. It was developed with the
cooperation of the land managers here. Please ensure the longevity
of this cache by respecting the guidlines for visitors at Crabtree.
Please stay on the trails here as you follow the intructions
below.
Stage 1
After parking near the posted coordinates, make your way to N42°
06.955 W88° 09.801 where you will find a number of benches with
brick bases. Let the number of benches be A.
Go to the trailhead for Phantom Prairie
Follow the trail until you get to a gate at N42 07.042 W88°
09.721. This is the trailhead for the Phantom Prairie Trail.
Stage 2
Follow the trail to N42° 07.098 W88° 09.647. Here you will find
the first of eight benches you will visit. Look under the bench to
collect B.
So many stages!
Relax.
You will be stopping at every bench along the path so you don't
have to fuss about the coordinates. Take your time, sit, watch and
listen at these benches. Your patience will be rewarded as many
animals begin to show themselves.
Relax and enjoy the special treats this place has to
offer!
Stage 3
Follow the trail to N42° 07.195 W88° 09.478. Look under the
bench to collect C.
Stage 4
Follow the trail to N42° 07.197 W88° 09.273. Look under the
bench to collect D.
Stage 5
Follow the trail to N42° 07.275 W88° 09.237. Look under the
bench to collect E.
Stage 6
Follow the trail to N42° 07.347 W88° 09.290. Look under the
bench to collect F.
Stage 7
Follow the trail to N42° 07.356 W88° 09.365. Look under the
bench to collect G.
What if someone is on a bench?
Clearly, this is a cache hunt in an area where you must take
your time.
If someone is sitting on one of the benches, please do not disturb
them. Instead, choose one of the following two options:
1. Come back later.
or
2. Use the checksum, 28, to deduce the missing number. All eight
digits that you collect should add to 28.
Stage 8
Follow the trail to N42° 07.321 W88° 09.527. Look under the
bench to collect H.
Stage 9
Follow the trail to N42° 07.266 W88° 09.542. Look under the
bench to see how to arrange the numbers you've collected to form
the coordinates for the final cache. You may find it helpful to
bring along a small mirror. The information on this bench appears
as both regular text and in mirror image.
Getting to the final
Continue to follow the trail to to a junction and turn left in
the direction of the "Exhibit Building." From there you will go to
the parking lot, get in your car and drive to Spring Lake Forest
Preserve. At Spring Lake, you can park at N 42° 08.160 W 088°
13.250 and follow the paths to the cache.
Crabtree Nature Center
kindly asks your cooperation
- The Crabtree Nature Center is open:
March 1 through the
last Saturday in October
8:00 a.m. —
5:00 p.m. daily
Last Sunday in
October through February 28
8:00 a.m. —
4:00 p.m. daily
- Stay on the trail at all times.
- Remove nothing from the area (including dead material or things
on the ground) except trash!
- Damage or disturb nothing that you find.
- Speak softly so as not to disturb the animals.
- Walk slowly because quick movements are as frightening as
noise.
- Please leave your pet at home: dogs and cats are very
disturbing to display animals and wildlife.
- No jogging. No bicycling.
- No food or beverages.
Family enjoying Crabtree
Jack-in-the-Pulpit