Kudos ~ Michelle Wendling

Joliet resident Michelle Wendling won the June Forest Preserve District’s Preserve the Moment Photo Contest with a shot of sunlight streaming through the trees at Hadley Valley preserve. She says, “I went to Hadley Valley specifically because it was a misty morning, and Hadley always has the best fog/mist around.” Her photo won the most votes on Facebook after being chosen as one of five finalist photos by judges. Honorable mentions were given to Byron Morgan, of Crete, Bertrand Leclercq, of Naperville, Mark Hanna, of Romeoville, and Jo Anne Saleme, of Naperville.

Monthly winners will continue to be chosen through December. Every entrant receives a participation gift and monthly winners are awarded $75 VISA gift cards. When the contest concludes, the eight monthly winners will vie for overall honors via Facebook voting. The top photos will receive gift cards of $500 for first place, $250 for second place and $150 for third place. All prizes are funded by The Nature Foundation of Will County.

To enter, visit ReconnectWithNature.org. To view the photos, visit Flickr.com/willcoforests.