Friends of the Forest Preserves

10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Meeting Location: On the northern end, across from Carver Military Academy Track and Field area  

Come volunteer to collect and distribute ripe seed in local natural areas. Enjoy nature, relax, learn basic plant identification skills and responsible seed collecting techniques, and help your local forest preserve. Come for one session or all! No previous experience is necessary. Each volunteer day will have a knowledgeable leader who will explain the steps in a socially distant way and provide sanitized tools. Masks and pre-registration are required.

To help you prepare for a productive day:

• Bring water and a snack.
• Bring work gloves, if you have some. You will be provided some of you don’t.
• Dress according to the weather. Closed toe, water proof shoes are a must.
• Apply insect repellent. We often have some on hand if you forget.
• Wear your MASK – you will not be able to participate if you don’t have a mask.

This is part of the Calumet Seed Collectors Series.

Sign up for the Friends of the Forest Preserves: Calumet Region Newsletter!

For more information, please contact Gloria at gloria@fotfp.org.

If you don’t find a date or location that works for you, more volunteer opportunities can be found at fpdcc.com/volunteer.

12:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Meeting Location: End of parking lot

Come volunteer to collect and distribute ripe seed in local natural areas. Enjoy nature, relax, learn basic plant identification skills and responsible seed collecting techniques, and help your local forest preserve. Come for one session or all! No previous experience is necessary. Each volunteer day will have a knowledgeable leader who will explain the steps in a socially distant way and provide sanitized tools. Masks and pre-registration are required.

To help you prepare for a productive day:

• Bring water and a snack.
• Bring work gloves, if you have some. You will be provided some of you don’t.
• Dress according to the weather. Closed toe, water proof shoes are a must.
• Apply insect repellent. We often have some on hand if you forget.
• Wear your MASK – you will not be able to participate if you don’t have a mask.

This is part of the Calumet Seed Collectors Series.

Sign up for the Friends of the Forest Preserves: Calumet Region Newsletter!

For more information, please contact Gloria, Calumet Field Organizer, at gloria@fotfp.org.

If you don’t find a date or location that works for you, more volunteer opportunities can be found at fpdcc.com/volunteer.

10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Meeting Location: Main parking lot by the picnic grove

Come volunteer to collect and distribute ripe seed in local natural areas. Enjoy nature, relax, learn basic plant identification skills and responsible seed collecting techniques, and help your local forest preserve. Come for one session or all! No previous experience is necessary. Each volunteer day will have a knowledgeable leader who will explain the steps in a socially distant way and provide sanitized tools. Masks and pre-registration are required.

To help you prepare for a productive day:

• Bring water and a snack.
• Bring work gloves, if you have some. You will be provided some of you don’t.
• Dress according to the weather. Closed toe, water proof shoes are a must.
• Apply insect repellent. We often have some on hand if you forget.
• Wear your MASK – you will not be able to participate if you don’t have a mask.

For more information, please contact Gloria, Calumet Field Organizer, at gloria@fotfp.org.

Sign up for the Friends of the Forest Preserves: Calumet Region Newsletter!

If you don’t find a date or location that works for you, more volunteer opportunities can be found at fpdcc.com/volunteer.

5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Meeting Location: Penny Road Pond

Come volunteer to collect and distribute ripe seed in local natural areas. Enjoy nature, relax, learn basic plant identification skills and responsible seed collecting techniques, and help your local forest preserve. Come for one session or all! No previous experience is necessary. Each volunteer day will have a knowledgeable leader who will explain the steps in a socially distant way and provide sanitized tools. Masks and pre-registration are required.

To help you prepare for a productive day:

• Bring water and a snack.
• Bring work gloves, if you have some. You will be provided some of you don’t.
• Dress according to the weather. Closed toe, water proof shoes are a must.
• Apply insect repellent. We often have some on hand if you forget.
• Wear your MASK – you will not be able to participate if you don’t have a mask.

For more information, please contact Peter at peter@fotfp.org.

10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Meeting Location: 6639 West Harts Road, Niles, IL 60714 (Follow the yellow “volunteer” signs to the exact spot)

Come volunteer to collect and distribute ripe seed in local natural areas. Enjoy nature, relax, learn basic plant identification skills and responsible seed collecting techniques, and help your local forest preserve. No previous experience is necessary. Each volunteer day will have a knowledgeable leader who will explain the steps in a socially distant way and provide sanitized tools. Masks and pre-registration are required.

To help you prepare for a productive day:

• Bring water and a snack.
• Bring work gloves, if you have some. You will be provided some of you don’t.
• Dress according to the weather. Closed toe, water proof shoes are a must.
• Apply insect repellent. We often have some on hand if you forget.
• Wear your MASK – you will not be able to participate if you don’t have a mask.

For more information, please contact Derek Ziomber, North Branch Field Organizer, at derek@fotfp.org.

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Meeting Location: Corner of Avon Ave and Winnetka Rd in Northfield, IL (100 Avon Ave, Northfield, IL 60093)

Come volunteer to collect and distribute ripe seed in local natural areas. Enjoy nature, relax, learn basic plant identification skills and responsible seed collecting techniques, and help your local forest preserve. No previous experience is necessary. Each volunteer day will have a knowledgeable leader who will explain the steps in a socially distant way and provide sanitized tools. Masks and pre-registration are required.

To help you prepare for a productive day:

• Bring water and a snack.
• Bring work gloves, if you have some. You will be provided some of you don’t.
• Dress according to the weather. Closed toe, water proof shoes are a must.
• Apply insect repellent. We often have some on hand if you forget.
• Wear your MASK – you will not be able to participate if you don’t have a mask.

For more information, please contact Derek Ziomber, North Branch Field Organizer, at derek@fotfp.org.

9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

The east and middle forks of the Chicago River come together to give Watersmeet its name. The rich mix of trees, shrubs, sedges, grasses and wildflowers found here will thrive with your help.

Help the North Branch Restoration Project volunteers rescue the prairies, savanna and woods from buckthorn and other invasive species.

Tools and instructions are provided by the steward. It is not necessary to pre-register, but if a group of more than 5-6 are planning to come, please let the steward know that, so that adequate supplies can be provided. Dress for the weather and the outdoors. We strongly encourage boots/sturdy shoes and clothes that can get wear and tear. Natural fabrics are best, especially if brushpiles may be burned.

9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Meeting Location: Main parking lot by the picnic grove

Come volunteer to collect and distribute ripe seed in local natural areas. Enjoy nature, relax, learn basic plant identification skills and responsible seed collecting techniques, and help your local forest preserve. Come for one session or all! No previous experience is necessary. Each volunteer day will have a knowledgeable leader who will explain the steps in a socially distant way and provide sanitized tools. Masks and pre-registration are required.

To help you prepare for a productive day:

• Bring water and a snack.
• Bring work gloves, if you have some. You will be provided some of you don’t.
• Dress according to the weather. Closed toe, water proof shoes are a must.
• Apply insect repellent. We often have some on hand if you forget.
• Wear your MASK – you will not be able to participate if you don’t have a mask.

This is part of the Calumet Seed Collectors Series.

For more information, please contact Gloria at gloria@fotfp.org.

10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

From milkweed to goldenrod, Kickapoo’s native prairie plants need your help. Join an inspiring movement of volunteers gathering to restore this special site along the Little Calumet River. Learn to restore diverse wildlife, trees, wildflowers, and health in our forest preserves and our river systems. Our goal is to grow a community of people who will become caretakers and stewards through on-going education and training.

All the necessary tools and work gloves are provided. All participants should be dressed for a day of outdoor work. Please wear covered shoes (hiking boots or tennis shoes) and long pants. Clothing should be made of natural fibers such as cotton or wool (no synthetic clothing) as workdays often have brushpile burns and stray embers can “burn” clothing. Please wear comfortable clothes that can get dirty and your own drinking water. Depending on the season, a hat, sunscreen, or insect repellant may be good items to bring to a workday. While this site is accessible by public transit, we can also work to arrange carpooling if desired.

10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Join us to help restore this unique prairie and woodland ecosystem back to health! Trained leaders show you how to identify plants that don’t belong and demonstrate how to safely use hand tools to remove them. Depending on the season, workdays may also include native seed collection for dispersal in areas cleared of invasive species, hand pulling invasive grasses and flowers, as well as nature walks to enjoy the preserve.

All the necessary tools and work gloves are provided. All participants should be dressed for a day of outdoor work. Please wear covered shoes (hiking boots or tennis shoes) and long pants. Clothing should be made of natural fibers such as cotton or wool (no synthetic clothing) as workdays often have brushpile burns and stray embers can “burn” clothing. Please wear comfortable clothes that can get dirty and your own drinking water. Depending on the season, a hat, sunscreen, or insect repellent may be good items to bring to a workday.