INA, IL (KFVS) - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Rend Lake would like to remind visitors that, for safety reasons, the following sections of the Rend Lake Bike Trail will be closed to non-hunting traffic during the 2012 Illinois Youth Firearm Deer hunting season.

The season takes place the weekend of October 6 and 7. Closed portions of the bike trail include:

• Sections beginning at the South Marcum boat ramp and extending through the Rend City wetlands
• Past the Dam West Recreation Area
• North through the “stockpile” area to the South Sandusky Beach Recreation area.

In addition, the Corps says the section of bike trail on the east side of the lake that begins at the Franklin Cemetery and extends to the North Marcum Day Use Area will also be temporarily closed.

For more information call the Rend Lake Project Office and Visitor Center at 618-724-2493.

(KFVS) - Shawnee National Forest will host an outdoor education program this summer called ArborWild.

The program began as part of the U.S. Forest Service’s Centennial Celebrations in 2005 and has been very popular. This year, it will be held at two locations in southern Illinois: Tuesday, June 12 at Evergreen Park, in Carbondale and Wednesday, June 13 at Memorial Park in Harrisburg.

The forest say the day will include a bird obstacle course, fishing, wildland firefighters and their engine, crafts, Native American rock art, Nature Jeopardy, Carbondale Science Center (Evergreen Park site only), bat biologists and a visit from Smokey Bear.

The event is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., however the activities are on-going and the public is welcome at any time. All ages are invited to attend, but children must be accompanied by an adult.

For more information, or to register a large group, you can contact Linda Hauser at 618-833-8576.

(KFVS) - The Illinois Department of Natural Resources says more than 875 students will visit the Illinois Department of Natural Resources state parks in April and May for the 6th Annual Earth Day in the Parks event.

Earth Day in the Parks is an initiative of the IDNR to introduce students to environmental stewardship.

"Students participating in Earth Day in the Parks will have an opportunity to perform meaningful natural resources stewardship activities, including planting trees, planting native wildflowers, developing amphibian breeding pools, building and installing fish attractors and a number of other activities," said IDNR Director Marc Miller.

Sponsored by the IDNR Office of Strategic Services and Office of Land Management, Earth Day offers students the chance to get outdoors and work in nature. Students and teachers are encouraged to return to the park to study the effects of their work.