Nestled within the flatwoods along the Des Plaines River, the Ryerson Woods Education Facility acts as a beacon of both ecological education and environmental stewardship for the Lake County Forest Preserves and region at large. In addition to supporting educational programs in partnership with local schools and community organizations, the net-zero energy building serves as a trailhead for the surrounding 565-acre Ryerson Woods Conservation Area. Funded through a grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation, the facility achieved Phius ZERO certification and uses 80% less energy than a comparable code-compliant building.