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.
Join us for a BIPOC-friendly nature walk with BIPOC Birders to see the animals present at Kickapoo Woods from 9AM-10AM. Binoculars will be provided. Following the walk, stewardship activities will take place with volunteers to help restore our natural habitats. Registration is not required for the walk.
Forest bathing is a guided experience that works to mend the relationships humans have with themselves, the concept of time, their communities, and their environment. It is a practice focused on remembering reciprocity by connecting to our senses through the natural world. Join Jess Rodriguez, certified Nature and Forest Therapy guide, in this two-hour practice […]
Join Spring Creek Stewards as we go on a scavenger hunt for white sweet clover to pull along with some seed collection! All are welcome to come, learn, and lead. Contact Information- [email protected] or Ken DeMuth 312-316-5216
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 […]
The Member Appreciation Series is an opportunity to connect with the Friends community at some of the best spots across the Cook County Forest Preserves. Please contact [email protected] to RSVP or to join Friends as a member.
Identify birds with us who call our forest preserves home! Binoculars will be provided. Sit or walk depending on the group to accommodate everyone.
Identify birds with us who call our forest preserves home! Binoculars will be provided. Sit or walk depending on the group to accommodate everyone.
Come learn about collecting sedges and members of the carrot family at Flint Creek Savanna this Thursday from 9-11am! We will be learning, collecting, and maybe even spreading some of […]
Join the Barrington Greenway Initiative for our Monthly Sketch & Stroll Nature Journaling Hike! Step into a slower pace and reconnect with nature through art. Every last Thursday of the […]
Come learn about collecting seeds at Bakers Lake this Saturday from 9-11am! We will be learning, collecting, and maybe even spreading some of this seed. No registration required! If you […]
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 […]
Join Spring Creek Stewards as we go on a scavenger hunt for white sweet clover to pull along with some seed collection! All are welcome to come, learn, and lead. […]
We will have materials needed, as well as snacks and non-alcoholic beverages to sip on. Event for the whole family.
We will have materials needed, as well as snacks and non-alcoholic beverages to sip on. Event for the whole family.
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Gentle Flow & Mindful Breath: Unwind and restore balance in this 60-minute, outdoor, gentle yoga class, designed to nurture your body and calm your mind. We’ll begin with a series […]
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 […]
Our Palos Preserves member appreciation event will feature refreshments and a guided walk around a gem within the Palos Preserves system, Cranberry Slough. The Member Appreciation Series is an opportunity to connect with the […]
