Win $500 Prize in Preserve the Moment Photo Contest

If you haven't entered the Preserve the Moment photo contest yet, time is of the essence not only as November comes to a close but also because the end is near for this year's contest, which wraps up on December 31.

Sure, the weather hasn't exactly been stellar lately, but don't let that stop you from getting outdoors and exploring nature. There are plenty of opportunities to snap a photo of a variety of wildlife that are easier to spot now that most of the leaves have fallen, to find some cool fungus, or simply take in the scenery.

So go ahead and venture out into a preserve and try to wow the judges. Just be sure to enter November's contest by 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, November 30.

Even if you don't have anything from this month, photos taken in a preserve since the contest started in April also can be submitted. If you're just finding out about the contest now, it's a good time to go through your recent nature photos and enter a potential winner.

Each monthly finalist - as voted on by a panel of judges - will receive a $75 MasterCard gift card and advance into the final round of judging once the contest concludes on December 31. The top three winners will be determined by a public vote on the District's Facebook page, with the first-place winner receiving a $500 gift card; second place, $250; and third place, $150.

Three random drawings also will be held for all contest participants and those three winners will each receive a $75 MasterCard gift card. All who enter receive a participation gift.

Participate in the "Woods Walk" program, which will get you moving in some wonderful natural settings.

Visit Hadley Valley Preserve, which just earned an Excellence in Ecological Restoration accreditation.

Register for a guided hiking program and bring your camera, because these hikes are a great way to see – and learn about – wildlife in the preserves.

Check out our Will County Wildlife Facebook Group to see what everyone else is spotting throughout the county.

Check out our Instagram account and Flickr page.

Participants may enter up to five digital photos per month. All photos must be uploaded via the District's contest upload page. Be sure to fill out all of the required information, including the date and location the photo was taken.

Photos must be taken by amateur photographers age 18 or older, and they must be snapped in a Will County forest preserve during the contest period, which began on April 1. For instance, pictures taken at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, which is owned by the U.S. Forest Service, and Pilcher Park, which is a City of Joliet park, will not qualify for the contest.

For a list of all Forest Preserve locations, check out the District's preserve page and be sure to read the contest rules before entering. Entries not adhering to the rules will automatically be disqualified.

The Preserve the Moment photo contest is sponsored by The Nature Foundation of Will County.