Friends of the Forest Preserves

Volunteer Stewardship Days- Whistler Woods
2026-03-25 09:00 - 12:00, 2026-03-21 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | Whistler Woods, J9J3+GP, Riverdale, Illinois, United States
Join us at Whistler Woods for a restoration day and holiday-themed potluck! Bring your favorite dish and come ready to cut and burn buckthorn with other volunteers.

Volunteer Stewardship Days- Sand Ridge Nature Center
2026-03-24 09:00 - 12:00 | Sand Ridge Nature Center, JC4M+8M5, Calumet City, Illinois, United States
Sand Ridge is a woodland and prairie site with a magnificent nature center attached. Join our volunteer crew for a restoration day to help restore our forest preserves. Meet outside of the pod on the service driveway NW of the Nature Center.

Oxbow Prairie Volunteer Workday
2026-03-22 10:00 - 13:00, 2026-02-08 10:00 - 13:00 | Oxbow Prairie, Oxbow Prairie, Chicago, Illinois, United States
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 an abundance of Eurasian grasses, Queen Anne’s lace and tall goldenrod. With management, the more conservative prairie plants such as northern dropseed, stiff goldenrod, golden alexanders and big bluestem grass are returning.

The wetter areas are richest in native plants, including cup plant, ironweed, tall meadow-rue, water parsnip, cordgrass, Virginia rye, and numerous kinds of sedges.

A small oak savanna on the old east bank has swamp white and bur oaks, in the words of landscape architect and restorationist Tom Vanderpoel, “a wonderful micro oak savanna.”

Join North Branch Restoration Project volunteers and enjoy a different view here!

Youth under age 18 must be accompanied by a legal parent/guardian or attend with a chaperoned organized youth group (school, scouts, church).

Visit The North Branch Restoration Project on Facebook!

Directions: From the south, enter the drive off of Caldwell Avenue across from Tonty; proceed ~1/4 mile, staying to the right at the split. From the north, enter the drive off of Harts Road and proceed ~3/4 mile south. Look for the Volunteer signs at the meeting spot.

Spring Equinox: A Celebration of New Beginnings
2026-03-21 09:00 - 12:00 | Eggers Grove, MFQF+94Q, Chicago, Illinois, United States
You are invited to Spring Equinox: A Celebration of New Beginnings, an event hosted by Light of Loving Kindness and Friends of the Forest Preserves. Join us on this day for nutritious snacks, a nature walk, and storytelling centered around new beginnings & mental health. We would love for you to come out with friends and family to celebrate the beginning of this beautiful season of light and growth!

Homeschool Hangout: Bird Feeder Crafting
2026-03-19 10:00 - 12:00 | Homeschool Hangout at Eggers Grove, 11251-11249 South Avenue B, Chicago, Illinois, 60617, United States
Join us for a short nature hike followed by some crafts as we build bird feeders to take home and hang in our local areas. Seed will be provided for bird feeders. Binoculars will be provided for the walk, but feel free to bring your own. All ages are welcome.

Homeschool Hangout at Eggers Grove
2026-03-19 10:00 - 12:00 | Homeschool Hangout at Eggers Grove, 11251-11249 South Avenue B, Chicago, Illinois, 60617, United States
Come hang out at Eggers Grove for a fun homeschool meet-up! Every third Thursday of the month from 10am-12pm

All ages and families are invited to this free event at Eggers Grove. Whether you homeschool, unschool, or just want to hangout with other families, come for a monthly nature walk and other nature based activities.

Stewardship Volunteer Days - Healy Savanna
2026-03-17 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-03-03 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-02-17 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-02-03 13:00 - 15:00, 2026-01-20 13:00 - 15:00 | Beverly Lake Trail, Beverly Lake Trail, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, 60179, United States
Meeting Location- Beverly Lake Trail, Hoffman Estates

Summary of Event/Workday- Join us for a winter stewardship workday at Healy Savanna as we remove invasive shrubs using hand tools and build a communal brush pile for a future fire. Beginners are absolutely welcome and all tools will be provided. Come learn something new, enjoy some snacks, and meet great people while caring for this special landscape. This free event is open to participants ages 13 and up, with minors accompanied by a chaperone. We’ll slow down, give back to the land, and take time to appreciate the quiet beauty of winter, together.

Contact Information- Please reach out to Isabella Stocke isabella@fotfp.org with any questions!

Miami Woods and Prairie Volunteer Workday
2026-03-15 10:00 - 13:00, 2026-02-22 10:00 - 13:00, 2026-02-14 10:00 - 13:00 | Miami Woods, Miami Woods, Morton Grove, Illinois, 60053, United States
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 east side of the river forms the Saint Paul Woods Forest Preserve.

Miami Woods and Prairie contain important remnants of the original grasslands and woodlands that formed the natural heritage of the greater Chicago area. Miami Woods and Prairie (except the turf grass picnic areas) is to achieve restoration to the highest ecological condition possible using a minimum amount of management intervention. Our approach is to restore natural processes so that the area will become as self-sustaining as possible.

Visit The North Branch Restoration Project on Facebook!

Youth under age 18 must be accompanied by a legal parent/guardian or attend with a chaperoned organized youth group (school, scouts, church).

Directions: Located on the east side of Caldwell, two blocks north of Oakton. Meet in the parking lot for Miami Woods, look for the Volunteer sign.

Volunteer Stewardship Days- Dan Ryan Woods
2026-03-14 10:00 - 13:00 | Dan Ryan Woods, P8HJ+FR, Chicago, Illinois, 60643, United States
Dan Ryan Woods is an expansive area covering 257 acres of Cook County. The site is home to beautiful woodlands, and flora and fauna that thrive in it. During our volunteer days, you can help preserve these species by removing invasive plants!

Volunteer Stewardship Days- Eggers Grove
2026-03-14 10:00 - 13:00 | Eggers Grove, MFQF+94Q, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Eggers Woods is a beautiful site made of woodlands, marshes, and prairies. For a better view of the flora and fauna at this site, join us for a volunteer day performing ecological restoration. Meet at the parking lot east of the caretaker’s building.

Eggers and Elderberries
2026-03-11 17:00 - 18:30 | Illinois
Please join us for our virtual program, Eggers and Elderberries: Connections within the Calumet Region! Together, we will learn about the forest preserves, zoom in to learn about Eggers Grove Forest Preserve, a gem of the East Side community. Then, we will learn about the history, benefits, and uses of elderberry, a local and native plant of the Calumet Region.

As an added bonus, registered participants will receive a fresh produce basket delivered to their home or local library, along with a Latin- and African-American-inspired recipe card to bring the flavors of their community to their kitchen, an Elderberry tea kit, and a Visitor’s Guide to Eggers Grove.

(Currently full)

Stewardship Volunteer Days - Healy Savanna
2026-03-08 13:00 - 15:00 | Beverly Lake, Beverly Lake, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, United States
Join us for a winter stewardship workday at Healy Savanna as we remove invasive shrubs using hand tools and build a communal brush pile for a future fire. Beginners are absolutely welcome and all tools will be provided. Come learn something new, enjoy some snacks, and meet great people while caring for this special landscape. This free event is open to participants ages 13 and up, with minors accompanied by a chaperone. We’ll slow down, give back to the land, and take time to appreciate the quiet beauty of winter, together.

Contact Information- Please reach out to Isabella Stocke isabella@fotfp.org with any questions!

St. Paul Woods Volunteer Workday
2026-03-07 10:00 - 13:00, 2026-01-31 10:00 - 13:00 | St. Paul Woods, 6500 Oakton Ave, Morton Grove, Illinois, United States
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 North Branch Restoration Project volunteers as we remove buckthorn and other weedy species, protecting our native ecosystems.

Visit The North Branch Restoration Project on Facebook!

Youth under age 18 must be accompanied by a legal parent/guardian or attend with a chaperoned organized youth group (school, scouts, church).

Directions: Enter the driveway north off 6500 Oakton Ave, across from Natchez Ave in Morton Grove. Look for the Volunteer sign in the parking area.

Stewardship Volunteer Days - Hill 'N Dale
2026-03-07 09:00 - 11:00 | Hill N Dale, 42°09'34.5"N 88°12'23.1"W, Barrington Hills, Illinois, United States
Meeting location- Hill ‘N Dale Office

Join CFC as we prepare burn units at HND and Grigsby for prescribed burns this Spring.

Registration: No registration required! If you are interested in signing up for the CFC newsletter for weekly event emails here is that link- https://citizensforconservation.org/get-involved/regular-workdays/

Contact Information- Please reach out to Sanketh with any questions at smenon@citizensforconservation.org

Bunker Hill North Flatwoods Volunteer Workdays
2026-03-01 10:00 - 13:00, 2026-01-25 10:00 - 13:00 | Bunker Hill North Flatwoods, 6600 W Harts Road, Niles, Illinois, United States
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 North Branch Restoration Project on Facebook!

Youth under age 18 must be accompanied by a legal parent/guardian or attend with a chaperoned organized youth group (school, scouts, church).

Directions: Enter the preserve from Harts Road, just west of Touhy and Caldwell and look for the volunteer sign. The approximate address is 6600 W Harts Road in Niles, IL.

Stewardship Volunteer Days- Kickapoo Woods
2026-02-28 10:00 - 13:00 | Illinois
Kickapoo Woods is a site with beautiful wet prairies in Riverdale, IL. During volunteer days, you can get up close and personal with nature performing a variety of restoration activities. Meet at the volunteer kiosk.

Black History Month Sound Healing and History Hike
2026-02-21 12:00 - 16:00 | Dan Ryan Woods Event Pavillion, W 87th St & S Western Ave, Chicago, Illinois, 60620, United States
Join Friends of the Forest Preserves, Light of Loving Kindness, Black People Outside, and more for a restorative day in nature! Participants will be guided on a 4-mile walk of the Major Taylor Trail, followed by sound healing.

HomeSchool Hangout: Winter Potawatomi Stories
2026-02-19 10:00 - 12:00 | Eggers Grove Comfort Station, MFQC+6Q Chicago, Illinois, Chicago, IL, 60617, United States
Nature Hike and Winter Potawatomi Storytelling with Gina Roxas

A nature hike and winter storytelling from Gina Roxas, a citizen of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation & executive director of Trickster Cultural Center. All ages are welcome.

Address: Eggers Grove Comfort Station 11251-11249 S Ave B, Chicago, IL 60617

For any questions, contact Joy Bailey at: Joy@fotfp.org

Stewardship Volunteer Days- Dan Ryan Woods
2026-02-14 10:00 - 13:00 | Dan Ryan Woods, P8HJ+FR, Chicago, Illinois, 60643, United States

Stewardship Volunteer Days- Whistler Woods Workday - CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER
2026-01-28 10:00 - 13:00 | Kickapoo Meadows, J9J3+GP, Riverdale, Illinois, United States
Join us at Whistler Woods for our volunteer days! We will be performing a variety of restoration activities in this woodland and prairie-dominant site. Meet at the end of the parking lot.
