Celebrate Earth Day by joining a restoration day at forest preserves throughout Cook County! Get outside and give back to your community and nature. We welcome all volunteers, experts and novices! Just make sure to wear long sleeves and pants and comfortable shoes that you don’t mind getting a little dirty. Gloves and tools will be provided, and some sites will even have a free lunch for Earth Day!
4th Annual Earth Day Hike at Lake Calumet-Southeast Environmental Task Force 8:30 am- 12:30 pm: Explore the area around Lake Calumet on the “secured” property of the Illinois International Port District. Join us to view the recently acquired 282 acres that will soon be opened for hiking, fishing, boating, bird-watching, and other nature activities as part of the Millennium Reserve Initiative.
Bunker Hill-North Branch Restoration Project 9 am- 12 pm: Restore this beautiful site while celebrating Earth Day!
Chicago Portage Woods 9 am- 12 pm: Restore native habitat by removing invasive brush, collecting seeds, and pulling weeds at one of Illinois’s National Historic Sites, the Chicago Portage.
Deer Grove East 9 am- 12 pm: See the other half of the very first forest preserve, Deer Grove.
Friends of Busse Woods 9 am- 12 pm: Remove invasive species, pick up trash, and gather and spread the seeds of native plants.
Hofmann Dam River Rats 9 am- 12 pm: Participate in the 37th annual river clean-up. Refreshments will be provided.
Kickapoo Woods-Centennial Volunteers 10 am- 1 pm: Join the Centennial Volunteers as we clear room for new species on Kickapoo prairie via brush cutting and burning. Free lunch!
Linne Woods-North Branch Restoration Project 9 am-12 pm: Restore this beautiful site while celebrating Earth Day!
McCormick Woods-Des Plaines River Valley Restoration Project 9 am- 12 pm: Enjoy a few quality hours outside and learn to identify and remove invasive species that threaten biodiversity in the preserves.
Orland Grassland 9 am- 12 pm: Help restore this unique grassland.
Poplar Creek Prairie Stewards 9 am- 12 pm: Restore the native habitat in the Carl Hansen/Poplar Creek Forest Preserve in Hoffman Estates.
Sand Ridge Nature Center 10 am- 3 pm: Join us for a day set aside as a reminder to be good stewards of our planet. Activities include hikes, puppet shows, crafts and Earth Day Jeopardy!
Somme East-Centennial Volunteers 12 pm- 3 pm: Join the Centennial Volunteers to remove invasive species and plant native ones!
Sundown Meadow-Des Plaines River Valley Restoration Project 10 am- 1 pm: Remove invasive species and collect and spread native seeds.
Trailside Museum of Natural History 1 pm- 4 pm: Take a guided walk to view the many wonders of our Earth in the springtime woods.
Willow Spring Woods 9 am-12 pm: Remove invasive species like honeysuckle and barberry.
LaBagh Woods-Centennial Volunteers 12 pm- 3 pm: Restore this uncommon woodland and plant native shrubs. Be a part of river and forest revitalization by joining an inspiring movement of volunteers gathering to restore this special site along the Chicago River.
Schiller Woods-Des Plaines River Valley Restoration Project 9 am- 12 pm: Enjoy a few quality hours outside and learn to identify and remove invasive species that threaten biodiversity in the preserves.
Somme Prairie Grove- North Branch Restoration Project 9 am- 12 pm: Somme Prairie Grove is a mosaic of prairie, savanna, and woodland. Help restore it!
Spring Creek Stewards 12 pm- 3 pm: Spring Creek is one of only a few preserves large enough to sustain populations of rare animals, grassland birds and a rich variety of habitats.