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!
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. […]
Kick it at Kickapoo Woods and Prairie! Grab a coffee and pastry and enjoy the forest preserves. You can learn how volunteers care for this incredible community space through tree care, invasive plant removal, and more. Join the fun with line dancing, hands on activities, and giveaways!
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 for a morning full of activities, with a 1-mile walk, followed by a yoga session at the preserve.
Enjoy a relaxed midweek nature walk through the scenic trails of 40 Acre Woods. Bring your kids and wagons! This guided wagon walk is designed for adults and children who are looking to stay active, connect with others, and experience the beauty of the preserve at a comfortable pace. Participants can expect peaceful paths and […]
Join us for a morning full of activities, with a 1-mile walk, followed by a yoga session at the preserve.
Join us as we admire the spring colors and beauty of the Des Plaines River. 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 […]
CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER Location- Spring Creek Longmeadow Meeting Location- 152 W Dundee Rd, Barrington Summary of Event/Workday- Set against the stunning backdrop of Longmeadow, this beginner-friendly outing invites you to connect with nature, community, and conservation. You’ll get hands-on with native plant restoration by learning to identify prairie species and collect their seeds. Vital […]
Join Chicago BIPOC Birders, Friends of the Forest Preserves, Black People Outside, and Southeast Environmental Task Force for a day at Eggers Grove! You can join for a bike bus from Colibri Coffee to Eggers Grove, followed by a nature walk, bird sighting, seed collecting, and hands on crafts! Registration required below.
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 […]
Join us for a guided Trailblazer Walk along the Lost Beach Trail and through the beautiful surroundings of Sand Ridge Nature Center. This experience combines a leisurely nature walk with storytelling, offering participants the opportunity to connect with local landscapes, wildlife, and the region’s history. Along the way, we’ll pause to observe native plants and […]
Description: Join us for a morning full of activities, with a 1-mile walk, followed by a yoga session at the preserve.
Celebrate the rich history of Whistler Woods with Friends of the Forest Preserves! We invite you to join us on Wednesday, August 12th, 2026 for a historical storytelling walk. Within the local woods adjacent to the African American Heritage Water Trail, we will walk and engage with the history of Whistler Woods, formerly Whistler Tract, […]
Location- Spring Creek Galloping Hill Meeting Location- Penny Road Pond, Barrington Hills Summary of Event/Workday- Set against the stunning backdrop of Galloping Hill, this beginner-friendly outing invites you to connect with nature, community, and conservation. You’ll get hands-on with native plant restoration by learning to identify prairie species and collect their seeds. Vital work that […]
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 […]
Come and join us at Egger’s Grove and help us do some critical bat monitoring while also having fun. We’ll use special equipment to listen to what bats sound like […]
Join us at Whistler Woods to discover the beauty of its native prairie! We will provide all tools and instructions to collect native seeds and help restore the site’s natural […]
Join us for our summer Insect Safari with naturalist guide Michael Rush. Using nets and collection jars . Participants will be able to catch, identify, and study a variety 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 […]
Join us for a morning full of activities, with a 1-mile walk, followed by a yoga session at the preserve.
