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 […]

Friends of the Forest Preserves hosts numerous events throughout the year designed to connect people of all ages and backgrounds with the natural wonders of the forest preserves in Cook County.
Guided hikes, educational workshops, wellness programs, volunteer workdays, golf outings, fundraisers, cultural programs, and more await you.
Browse our schedule of events below to learn more.
Text CALUMET or NORTHWEST 545-454 for events and volunteer opportunities!
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 […]
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.
Join BGI at one of our upcoming Warbler and Wildflower Walk hikes! All are welcome and free to attend. We will be admiring and learning all about the incredible flora that is in bloom along with some bird watching. Meeting Location- Oak Knoll Road, Barrington Hills Contact Information: [email protected] or [email protected]
Join us for a Garlic Mustard Search-and-Pull Adventure! Help protect our woodlands by removing invasive garlic mustard while enjoying the spring beauty of the preserve. If conditions are right, we may also collect and scatter seeds from spring ephemerals as they begin to ripen—supporting the next generation of native wildflowers! Registration Link- https://www.givepulse.com/event/414183-spring-creek-stewardship-volunteer-days Contact Information- [email protected] or Ken DeMuth 312-316-5216
Woodland ephemeral flowers (Spring flowers) are blooming at Deer Grove West. They only bloom in the Spring when the trees’ leaves have not shaded the ground. These beautiful little flowers put on a very colorful show that fades as the trees begin to fill in with leaves. Spring is the time to see this unique […]
Join BGI at our upcoming Leadership Class! All are welcome and free to attend. We will be sharing leadership resources and teaching any and all interested in being a part of restoration. Meeting Location- Hill N Dale Farmhouse Contact Information: [email protected] or [email protected]
Every Tuesday until September 23rd, 2025! Entrance at Halsted, south of 144th St. Riverdale, IL 60827. Stretch and Walks9:00 am – 10:00 am2 mile walk. Walking pace with room for […]
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 at […]
Every Wednesday until September 24th, 2025! Entrance at 134th St., East of Halsted Ave. Riverdale, IL 60827. Stretch and Walks9:00 am – 10:00 am2 mile walk. Walking pace with room […]
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.
Join BGI at one of our upcoming Warbler and Wildflower Walk hikes! All are welcome and free to attend. We will be admiring and learning all about the incredible flora that is in bloom along with some bird watching. Meeting Location- 459 W State Rte 22 Contact Information: [email protected] or [email protected]
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. […]
Join BGI at one of our upcoming Warbler and Wildflower Walk hikes! All are welcome and free to attend. We will be admiring and learning all about the incredible flora that is in bloom along with some bird watching. Meeting Location- Oak Knoll Road, Barrington Hills Contact Information: [email protected] or [email protected]
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 […]
Every Tuesday until September 23rd, 2025! Entrance at Halsted, south of 144th St. Riverdale, IL 60827. Stretch and Walks9:00 am – 10:00 am2 mile walk. Walking pace with room for conversation & mindfulness. No registration required. Yoga10:00 am – 11:00 amAll levels welcome. Registration not required, but please email us if you will be bringing […]
Every Wednesday until September 24th, 2025! Entrance at 134th St., East of Halsted Ave. Riverdale, IL 60827. Stretch and Walks9:00 am – 10:00 am2 mile walk. Walking pace with room for conversation & mindfulness. No registration required. Yoga10:00 am – 11:00 amAll levels welcome. Registration not required, but please email us if you will be […]
Join Us for a Seed Collecting Adventure! Get hands-on with restoration and enjoy the beauty of the prairie while helping us collect seeds from wood betony, a fascinating native plant. During this beginner-friendly outing, you’ll learn how to identify wood betony in the field, discover fun facts about its unique role in the ecosystem, and […]
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! During the walk we’ll cover the following topics, among others: The geologic formation of […]
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 […]
Nature-based peace circles for people of all ages & ethnicities to connect, celebrate, and build community through art, wellness, & play. June gatherings celebrate our newly forged connection to each other and the natural environment through outdoor Cooking and Camping. This includes identifying and utilizing local plants as both food and medicine. Note that on […]