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 us for a walk through Lost Beach Trail at Sandridge Nature Center as we learn about native plants and bird species. Difficulty Level: Easy, the trail is a 1.4 miles loop Parking/Meeting location: Sandridge Nature Center guest parking lot. Meet your volunteer guide: Joshua has been visiting Cook County Forest Preserves since he was a […]
Join our Northwest Field Organizer, Isabella Stocke, for a seed collection evening at the beautiful Spring Creek Long Meadow prairie! Enjoy a plant walk in nature, learn identification skills, and responsible seed-collecting techniques. Come out to restore native habitat! The Spring Creek region is filled with prairie, oak woodlands, and wetlands that could use your […]
The final three miles of the Des Plaines River Trail have more lost, abandoned, and mysterious artifacts than any other stretch of the trail; we’ll discuss what these are and how they fit into the modern history of this most urban of urban rivers. Along the way, we’ll also talk about water quality, habitat conditions […]
Come volunteer to restore native habitat! Filled with prairie, oak woodlands and wetlands, the Poplar Creek region in Northwest Cook County needs you. You will be given the opportunity to pursue restoration activities such as brushcutting, lopping, brush pile burn building, weed pulling, and seed planting - all while meeting others in the community. No previous […]
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 […]
Join us as we appreciate the poetry of Mary Oliver and attempt to experience nature as her body of work implores us to. The group will walk through the prairie area down a small decline to the Chicago River, stopping to read Oliver’s poems along the way. Towards the end of the walk, you will […]
Join our Northwest Field Organizer, Isabella Stocke, for a seed collection evening at the beautiful Spring Creek Long Meadow prairie! Enjoy a plant walk in nature, learn identification skills, and responsible seed-collecting techniques. Come out to restore native habitat! The Spring Creek region is filled with prairie, oak woodlands, and wetlands that could use your […]
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. […]
Beaubien Woods Forest Preserves is a 250-acre site located in the southeast part of Cook County. It is home to several 100+ year-old oak trees, high-quality prairie, oak savanna, and wetland habitat, and hundreds of species of native plants and migratory birds. Stewardship volunteers help to restore these habitats by performing seasonal restoration tasks. The […]
This natural area features woods, a colorful prairie and unpaved trails. Trees should be starting to peak with brilliant fall colors. The autumn colors will be an added feature to all there is to see here. Great photography opportunities abound in this picturesque area. Difficulty Level: The walk will be at a moderate pace and primarily […]
Come volunteer to restore native habitat! Filled with prairie, oak woodlands and wetlands, the Poplar Creek region in Northwest Cook County needs you. You will be given the opportunity to pursue restoration activities such as brushcutting, lopping, brush pile burn building, weed pulling, and seed planting - all while meeting others in the community. No previous […]
