We don’t own it, but we use the land every day. Like the fairy from William Shakespeare’s A Fairy Song, we go “over hill, over dale” every day. We love the land and always treat it with respect and kindness.
How about you? Do you enjoy spending time outdoors? Do you like hiking?
Northern Illinois is home to numerous trails, forest preserves, state parks and paths that are free and open to the public. You might think that “free and open to the public” means the parks are crowded, but, sadly, most of the time we are the only people on the trails.
The Rockford Fringe understands that there is some fear associated with hiking. Maybe you don’t hike for one or more of the following reasons.
- no public transportation / too far from home
- the trails are poorly marked / don’t want to get lost
- coyotes
- criminals use parks for violence, drugs, sex
- bugs / ticks / mosquitoes
- too hot / too cold / too rainy / too snowy
We’d like to help! If you feel afraid but are also curious, consider joining us. All of our hikes are within 5-10 miles of downtown Rockford. We’re experienced hikers; we will keep you safe and won’t get you lost. We’ll show you that the woods are safe and fun for people of all ages.
Our hikes are regularly attended by three generations. We’ve hiked hundreds of miles together in all kinds of weather. While we don’t hike in thunder, lightning, ice or sleet, we tough it out in the rain and snow. We’ve hiked in cold weather and on hot, humid days. Sometimes we hike in our bare feet.
We love hiking and invite you to join us on a free Hike-n-Share. We’ll hike for two or three miles, then share something creative with each other. Click here for more information and to RSVP.
Thanks for reading. -Connie Kuntz (hike guide)
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P.P.S. Here’s the full Shakespeare poem.
A Fairy Song (from A Midsummer Night’s Dream)
By William Shakespeare
Over hill, over dale,
Thorough bush, thorough brier,
Over park, over pale,
Thorough flood, thorough fire!
I do wander everywhere,
Swifter than the moon’s sphere;
And I serve the Fairy Queen,
To dew her orbs upon the green;
The cowslips tall her pensioners be;
In their gold coats spots you see;
Those be rubies, fairy favours;
In those freckles live their savours;
I must go seek some dewdrops here,
And hang a pearl in every cowslip’s ear.
- How now spirit? Whither wander you?
We don’t own it, but we use the land every day. Like the fairy from William Shakespeare’s A Fairy Song, we go “over hill, over dale” every day. We love the land and always treat it with respect and kindness. How about you? Do you enjoy spending time outdoors? Do you like hiking? Northern Illinois … - Bells and whistles need not apply…
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