The Kendall County Outdoor Education Center (KCOEC) is located on the site of the Hoover Forest Preserve, two miles west of Yorkville, Illinois.  The Regional Office of Education acts as the administrative agent for the center.

Because of this unique setting, the KCOEC has access to areas of prairie, hardwood forests, several streams, and the Fox River. The facility also has several outdoor teaching stations, a small indoor classroom, a new team challenge course, a living history area, and a Native American tipi.

The mission of the KCOEC is to provide students the opportunity for experiential learning in an outdoor setting.  A common thread woven into all outdoor education activities is a strong stewardship responsibility, conservation ethic, and environmental harmony.

While enhancing the standard school curriculum, the KCOEC offers the opportunity for student decision-making, self-confidence development, team building, risk taking, leadership development, and personal adventure.

Historically, the KCOEC is funded through a cooperative that includes the school districts of Yorkville, Plano, Sandwich, and Somonauk, Illinois. The Center provides services for the students within this cooperative. Groups outside the cooperative are also served on a space available basis. 

The Center provides one-day, outdoor education experiences for over 8,000 students each year. The participants range in grade from pre-kindergarten through high school and adults. Each program day is developed with the classroom teacher and is designed to enrich the classroom curriculum. Activities at the KCOEC include: nature studies, living history, orienteering, team building, and more.  Outside group activities are developed in cooperation with a representative from the sponsoring organization.

The KCOEC has been providing quality outdoor learning experiences for the students of the Yorkville, Plano, Sandwich, and Somonauk school districts for the last 35 years. We look forward to continuing the adventure into the future.

Deanna Bazan, Director - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Mark Rothman, Assistant Director - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Center Address:

11285 Fox Rd.

Yorkville, IL 60560

Phone - (630) 553-7108

Fax - (630) 553-4152