St. Paul Woods Volunteer Workday

St. Paul Woods is an inviting oak-hickory woodland situated east of the North Branch of the Chicago River. Like many of our native woodlands, it needs management to clear invasive brush and trees to restore the original structure. With increased sunlight, the wildflowers and grasses will once again add to the beauty of the woods. Join […]

Seeds and Sunset

Join our Northwest Field Organizer, Isabella Stocke, for a seed collection evening at the beautiful Spring Creek Long Meadow prairie! Enjoy a plant walk in nature, learn identification skills, and responsible seed-collecting techniques. Come out to restore native habitat! The Spring Creek region is filled with prairie, oak woodlands, and wetlands that could use your […]

North Branch Xylem Seed Garden Workdays

North Branch Xylem Seed Garden 6633 W Harts Road, Niles

Seeds are the lifeblood of healthy woodlands and prairies. By growing successive generations of species, they help ensure resilient, self-renewing natural areas for years to come. Restoration volunteers hand collect seeds of many different species in Forest Preserve sites along the Chicago River North Branch, then distribute them to other less healthy North Branch sites. […]

Miami Woods and Prairie Volunteer Workday

The Miami Woods Forest Preserve covers 112 acres stretching along the west side of the North Branch of the Chicago River from Oakton Street northward to Dempster Street.  It is bounded on the west side by Caldwell Avenue, Waukegan Road and development at the intersection of Waukegan Road and Dempster Street. The land on the […]

Poplar Creek Prairie Stewards Workday – Sundays

Come volunteer to restore native habitat! Filled with prairie, oak woodlands and wetlands, the Poplar Creek region in Northwest Cook County needs you. You will be given the opportunity to pursue restoration activities such as brushcutting, lopping, brush pile burn building, weed pulling, and seed planting - all while meeting others in the community. No previous […]

Poplar Creek Prairie Stewards Workday – Saturdays

Come volunteer to restore native habitat! Filled with prairie, oak woodlands and wetlands, the Poplar Creek region in Northwest Cook County needs you. You will be given the opportunity to pursue restoration activities such as brushcutting, lopping, brush pile burn building, weed pulling, and seed planting - all while meeting others in the community. No previous […]

Oxbow Prairie Volunteer Workday

Formed by an old loop in the river’s course, lies the Oxbow Prairie. This old oxbow in the Chicago River’s North Branch is a combination of low, wet prairie soils and slightly higher mesic prairie soils. A small open savanna lies on what was once the east bank of the river. The mesic prairie had […]

North Branch Xylem Seed Garden Workdays

North Branch Xylem Seed Garden 6633 W Harts Road, Niles

Seeds are the lifeblood of healthy woodlands and prairies. By growing successive generations of species, they help ensure resilient, self-renewing natural areas for years to come. Restoration volunteers hand collect seeds of many different species in Forest Preserve sites along the Chicago River North Branch, then distribute them to other less healthy North Branch sites. […]

Fall Seed Soirée

Come join us for an afternoon of dancing, food and snacks, bonfires, seed collecting, nature walks, and games for kids and adults. This event is located at Kickapoo Woods on Sat, Nov 16, 2024 at 1:30 PM (off Halsted St, south of W 144th St). This event is perfect for nature enthusiasts of all levels and ages. […]

Poplar Creek Prairie Stewards Workday – Sundays

Come volunteer to restore native habitat! Filled with prairie, oak woodlands and wetlands, the Poplar Creek region in Northwest Cook County needs you. You will be given the opportunity to pursue restoration activities such as brushcutting, lopping, brush pile burn building, weed pulling, and seed planting - all while meeting others in the community. No previous […]

Bunker Hill North Flatwoods Volunteer Workdays

Join the North Branch Restoration Project to restore this oak woodland to its former beauty! This 76-acre site depends on a community of volunteers to remove invasive species, spread native seed, and much more. Large pin oaks are a unique feature of this preserve, which is also home to some beautiful spring ephemerals. Visit The […]

Trailblazers Walk: Bemis Woods North

Explore the open savanna as we hike and enjoy Bemis Woods North and Bob Mann Woods scenery! Please join us as we explore the woodland trail to observe both the flora and fauna of the woodlands surrounding Salt Creek. Walks are held every third Sunday until November Challenge Level: Easy to moderate at a steady […]