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.
Come learn about collecting savanna/woodland grasses along with Starry Campion 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! Visit https://citizensforconservation.org/get-involved/regular-workdays/ if you are interested in signing up for the CFC newsletter for weekly event emails. Meeting Location: Flynn Creek […]
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 Wild Quinine, Leadplant, Purple Praire Clover, and others at Flint Creek Savanna this Saturday from 9-11am! We will be learning, collecting, and maybe even spreading some of this seed. No registration required! Visit https://citizensforconservation.org/get-involved/regular-workdays/ if you are interested in signing up for the CFC newsletter for weekly event emails. Meeting Location: […]
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 insects. We will then release them back onto the forest preserve. Note: please wear sturdy shoes and long pants!
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 seeds to collect! All are welcome to come, learn, and lead. Meeting location: Penny Road Pond, Barrington Hills […]
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 […]
Help us collect seed at Spring Creek Prairie to distribute back into the area. Enjoy nature, learn plant identification skills, and responsible seed collecting techniques. Tools and snacks provided. Location: […]
Join us for a free Sketch and Stroll nature journaling hike, perfect for all skill levels! This event invites you to explore and draw anything. Supplies are provided, but feel […]
Come learn about collecting plants at Flint Creek Savanna this Saturday from 9-11am! We will be learning, collecting, and maybe even spreading some of this seed. No registration required! Visit […]
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 […]
Enjoy the beginnings of the fall prairie as we continue to go after Leadplant, White and Purple Prairie Clovers, Side-oats Grama, and other prairie species. No registration required! Visit https://citizensforconservation.org/get-involved/regular-workdays/ […]
Join us for an end of summer bird walk as we explore the trails of Beaubien Woods Forest Preserve. Come discover local bird species, enjoy the outdoors, and celebrate the […]
Join us for a peaceful, one-hour taiji (tai chi) session led by Mia Park, a Korean American artist, teacher, and co-owner of Taiji in Chicago https://www.taijiinchicago.com . Set in the […]
Spring Creek Stewards will traverse this amazing restoration for various prairie seeds! Meeting location: Penny Road Pond, Barrington Hills Contact: Ken DeMuth at 312-316-5216
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 […]
Help us collect seed at Spring Creek Prairie to distribute back into the area. Enjoy nature, learn plant identification skills, and responsible seed collecting techniques. Tools and snacks provided. Location: […]