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.
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 this seed. 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/ […]
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 month, we gather to observe the natural world from fresh perspectives—no experience necessary! Led by a beginner artist, this guided walk is perfect for all […]
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 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: [email protected]
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 […]
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
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 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 […]
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 […]
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 of slow, flowing asanas (poses) and integrate deep breathing techniques (pranayama) to cultivate inner peace and release tension. This focus on breathwork will help you […]
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 […]
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 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.
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 […]
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 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 […]
