Family Canoeing on the Little Calumet River

Family Canoeing on the Little Calumet River with Friends of the Forest Preserves and Friends of the Chicago River. Come join us for a fun-filled day of canoeing on the beautiful Little Calumet River at Kickapoo Woods! This event is perfect for families looking to enjoy the great outdoors together. Get ready to bond with your loved ones while exploring the scenic […]

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 […]

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 […]

Deer Grove East Tour

Deer Grove is the nation’s first forest preserve. On Tuesday, July 2, at 10 a.m. tour historic Deer Grove East and see the prairies, wetlands, woods, and savannas that volunteers have been restoring since 2011. Difficulty level: Our hike will be on paved trails and single-track dirt paths. There are no steep grades or difficult […]

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. […]

Pajaritos, Plantitas y Manualidades

Únete a Friends of the Forest Preserves y Chicago BIPOC Birders para una mañana de manualidades mientras observamos aves e identificamos plantas. Acompañanos mientras practicamos nuestro arte con hilo en Eggers Grove. Disfrutaremos de unos tamalitos y un cafécito, e identificaremos pajaros que pasen por nuestra area de trabajo. Se proporcionarán materiales y binoculares. Sí tiene alguna […]

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 […]

Meditative Walk at Sauk Trail Woods-Central

Explore the beautiful Thorn Creek trail system as we take a rejuvenating and meditative walk through Sauk Trail Woods- Central. Sauk Trail Woods is home to several bird and plant species as well as a Lake and other amenities. All ages are welcome! Difficulty level: This is a paved trail consisting of about 3.5 miles. […]

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 […]