Rustic Falls Nature Camp

04/23/2025

THIS SUNDAY! Join us at the camp for our very first Tulip Festival. Arts and crafts, scavenger hunts, an interactive art exhibit, music and much more! A day of adventure and connection in the great outdoors—designed for the whole family to enjoy together.

Delicious bites from Drumlin Supper Club will be available for purchase. Come celebrate spring with us while supporting Rustic Falls.

Join us for a day of springtime magic at the Rustic Falls Tulip Festival! This family-friendly event is the perfect way to celebrate the beauty of Spring, with vibrant tulips in full bloom across our nature camp.

04/08/2025

The best weekend with the incredible young women of Hope Junior S.U.M- Sisters United at Marillac. A weekend filled with shared meals, important conversations, creative expression, dancing, singing and a whole lot of laughter. Building each other up, having fun, and creating experiences that empower and celebrate sisterhood. It’s what Rustic Falls is all about. We are so grateful to have this group each spring, it’s always so special and meaningful ❤️

04/01/2025

Grateful for the incredible volunteers from the Rotary of Chicago Citywide Service Club who spent the weekend with us getting Rustic Falls ready for spring! 🌿✨ From staining and repairing benches to painting chairs, clearing brush, and laying fresh woodchips on our path to the greenyard, their hard work and generosity mean so much. Thank you for helping us create a welcoming space for our visitors! 💚

03/23/2025

In a blink these trees will be filled with leaves, the tulips will be in full bloom and it will be hard to imagine that winter was ever even here. This time of year is spent getting the grounds ready for our busy season. Today we prepped new spaces for more flower beds, cleared downed brush and transplanted chive plants for our greenhouse into the apple orchard. That last frost of the year can’t come soon enough, we are ready to hit the ground running 🏃🌱

03/18/2025

We are excited to announce a new event! Join us for a day of springtime magic at our upcoming Tulip Festival! This family-friendly event is the perfect way to celebrate the beauty of Spring, with vibrant tulips in full bloom across our nature camp. Click here to learn more!

Join us for a day of springtime magic at the Rustic Falls Tulip Festival! This family-friendly event is the perfect way to celebrate the beauty of Spring, with vibrant tulips in full bloom across our nature camp.

03/05/2025

This winter, we had the honor of welcoming the incredible Lilley and her amazing parents from The Dragonfly Foundation for a weekend retreat at Kay’s Cottage. Lilley’s mom shared a heartfelt reflection on their time at camp—here’s what she had to say:

“We spent this past weekend at Rustic Falls Nature Camp and our hearts are coming back full. Both Michael and Lilley have been okay these past few weeks and during moments like these, it’s easier to pretend that I’m okay too. The thing is, there is still a level of stress and worry that comes with the quiet. I feel like I’m always bracing for the next storm without knowing when it will be. Even when things are fine, I’m still on high alert in case something does happen. My brain is always on overdrive and my heart always feels anxious. It’s exhausting and I always feel weary.
This weekend, for the first time in a very, very long time, I felt peaceful. My brain was quiet and my heart was calm. We spent our days baking and doing crafts and singing and dancing. We played games together and watched movies together. There were lots and lots of hugs and kisses and cuddles and laughter. We’ve spent so many days this past year with each other, but we haven’t had a lot of time to just be together. This weekend, we were able to do that. And this was exactly what my heart needed . . . what we all needed.”

It’s experiences like this that reminds us of the profound impact Rustic Falls Nature Camp can have—a place where families can pause, breathe, and simply be together. We’ve always called Rustic Falls a place to “press pause,” and we’re so grateful that Lily and her family experienced that during their visit.

03/03/2025

Our first Rustic Falls volunteer day of 2025 in the books. We prepped the greenhouse, planted tulips in crates, cleared downed brush, removed dead trees and refinished dining chairs for Kay’s Cottage. A day at Rustic Falls always feels like a reset in a world that feels so heavy so much of the time. The day was sunny and hopeful and our hearts are full. A day of fresh air, busy hands, and being in community. A combination that’s good for the soul. Thank you to our volunteers for spending their Sunday with us! Interested in getting involved? Join us for our next volunteer day on Sunday, May 18th!

03/02/2025

The annual winter overnight trip is always a special one! It’s hard to believe we’ve been doing this trip over a decade. Here’s a photo recap of the joys of this past weekend ✨ ❄️

02/24/2025

This Sunday, green thumbs unite! 🌱 Come join us at Rustic Falls for a volunteer day! We’ll be planting 1,000 tulip bulbs in crates and prepping our greenhouse for a springtime of growth. Let’s dig in and grow something beautiful together! 🌷 more information and the link to register is in our bio! Hope to see you there :)

02/24/2025

Another amazing weekend retreat with our friends from is officially in the books! We spent the weekend enjoying allll the snow activities (before it melts), cooking, playing games around the fire, dancing, roasting marshmallows, baking, and painting. We even took a trip to the roller skating rink, where everyone had the chance to master their skills. We’ve been hosting this winter weekend with Refugee One for over 12 years, and it continues to be one of our favorites. By fostering strong relationships with our partner organizations, we’re able to create truly meaningful and unforgettable camp experiences that are uniquely Rustic Falls ❄️

02/11/2025

Looking to get involved here at Rustic Falls? Grab some friends and sign up for one of our FOUR upcoming volunteer days! When life feels uncertain, there is nothing more rewarding than getting outside, breathing in the fresh air and planting seeds for a brighter tomorrow. It’s good for the soul.

All skill levels are welcome, and we’ll provide tools and materials—just bring your enthusiasm and a helping hand!

✨ Lunch will be provided for all volunteers to show our appreciation for your hard work. Register at rusticfalls.org/rfevents

02/04/2025

We have something new in our Rustic Falls Shop! Crafted with care and purpose, we are excited to announce our new Rustic Falls Walnut Charcuterie Boards. Made from the wood of a fallen walnut tree at Rustic Falls Nature Camp, these boards tell their own story, with no two alike.

Our dedication to sustainability shines through in every board. By repurposing this fallen tree, which was carefully kiln-dried for three months, we’ve transformed it into something beautiful and functional. Thoughtfully processed by our talented partners , these boards are not just kitchen essentials—they’re conversation starters.

When you purchase a Rustic Falls Walnut Charcuterie Board, you’re not just taking home a handcrafted treasure; you’re also supporting the mission of Rustic Falls Nature Camp. Your contribution helps us continue fostering outdoor education, sustainability, and meaningful experiences for our community.

Celebrate the timeless beauty of nature while giving back. Perfect for hosting, gifting, or displaying, these boards are as unique as the memories you’ll create with them. Shop them now on our site rusticfalls.org/shop (link also in bio)

01/30/2025

Rustic Falls is all about embracing the outdoors, creating joyful experiences and making unforgettable memories. We had the best time visiting the Dan Patch Stables at for an afternoon of horseback riding with our friends from last weekend. So much laughter and silliness on this Saturday afternoon ride. Trying new things, taking a break from our screens and breathing in some fresh air, it’s good for the soul ☀️🐴

01/20/2025

We want to take a moment to sincerely thank everyone who joined us last Thursday for our fundraiser in support of Rustic Falls. This sold out event was filled with an incredible outpouring of love and support, and we can’t thank you enough for being part of it. We are truly grateful to have such kind and generous people by our side as we continue writing the next chapter of Rustic Falls.

As we look ahead, we hope you’ll continue to follow along and be part of this exciting journey with us!