The Skokie River and Middle Fork of the Chicago River come together to give Watersmeet Woods its name. But Watersmeet is also a wet place with numerous special types of wetlands that support rare plants and wildlife, including the only “calcareous seep” on the North Branch preserves. This seep environment is fed by cool groundwater […]
The Yellow Trail - the trail we will be primarily walking - was rated the best trail in Illinois by Backpacker Magazine. The trails are in great shape and currently the wild geraniums and the woodland phlox are in full bloom! The walk will take approximately 2 hours and will be 3-4 miles in length, […]
Discover the history behind the first nuclear reactor in the world. We will cover the atomic age during WWII, the impact on the Forest Preserve Site M, and the closure, clean up and reopening of Red Gate Woods. Depending on trail conditions, a brief trail hike will follow. The trail is single file on rugged […]
There are so many different ways you can enjoy being out in the forest preserves! Visit Eggers Grove Forest Preserve with us as Donisha Reed, of Wealthy Living Coaching and Consulting, LLC, guides us in Slow Flow Vinyasa Yoga.* We will then take a short walk to observe the natural space around us. You won’t […]
Help restore habitat for plants and wildlife at this historic forest preserve. Blue Star Woods was once the site of a Civilian Conservation Corps Camp and a WWII Prisoner of War Camp. During that period, most of the site was converted to barracks and buildings. Since then, the camp has been demolished and nature has […]
Please join us as we look for birds and odonates a.k.a. dragonflies and damselflies. Let’s see how many species we can find! Difficulty level: intermediate-advanced hikers. Watersmeet Woods has few, if any, paved trails, so we will be hiking on rough terrain. Please plan accordingly. Sturdy hiking shoes are recommended. Parking: Street parking is available […]
There are so many different ways you can enjoy being out in the forest preserves! Visit Whistler Woods with us as Donisha Reed, of Wealthy Living Coaching and Consulting, LLC, guides us in Slow Flow Vinyasa Yoga.* We will then take a short walk to observe the natural space around us. You won’t want to […]
You've probably heard the saying "stop and smell the roses," but what about the milkweed? Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) begins blooming in June and hits its peak in July. Their large pink flower clusters produce a strong, sweet aroma that attracts pollinators, and sometimes humans as well. Milkweed is well-known for its importance to monarch […]
Please join us as we explore the ecology of the Cranberry Slough Nature Preserve. We will discuss ecological restoration and how it has positively impacted this beautiful site! The majority of the trail is paved (a small section is not). During the walk we’ll cover the following topics, among others: Differences between invasive and native […]
*This walk was originally scheduled for June 20, but was postponed to June 27 due to excessive heat.* This guided hike will explore how both working and retired adults can help restore the forest preserves by volunteering in the woods. The format will be similar to a "walk & talk." We will walk to the […]
The Skokie River and Middle Fork of the Chicago River come together to give Watersmeet Woods its name. But Watersmeet is also a wet place with numerous special types of wetlands that support rare plants and wildlife, including the only “calcareous seep” on the North Branch preserves. This seep environment is fed by cool groundwater […]
Please join us on a guided fitness hike! We'll explore activities in the forest preserves that help us get exercise and fresh air. And we'll learn about nature through various volunteer programs. This hike will focus on: Wildlife photography, especially photographing the many deer at Chevalier Woods The important role volunteers play in maintaining the […]
