The Skokie River and Middle Fork of the Chicago River come together to give Watersmeet Woods its name. But Watersmeet is also a wet place with numerous special types of wetlands that support rare plants and wildlife, including the only “calcareous seep” on the North Branch preserves. This seep environment is fed by cool groundwater […]
Collect seeds with us, enjoy the benefits of being out in nature, and do your part to help our forest preserves thrive! Seed collection is a vital part of ecological restoration, bringing health and resilience to natural landscapes. We’ll work together to identify native plants and collect some of their seeds. The seeds will be […]
Let’s have some fun, get exercise, and enjoy nature! This is a social hike where we can chat about the routine, the mundane, or some of the most unusual or funny things you have ever done, seen, or heard about! Could be something funny that happened at your kid’s school or at the office. Maybe […]
This site protects a large area of one of the rarest plant communities in Illinois, known as a Northern Flatwoods. Flatwoods are found where a dense layer of clay lies near the surface of the soil. This clay prevents rain from draining in the spring, although flatwoods can become very dry in the summer. Plants […]
Lake Avenue Woods East Forest Preserve - Calming Wellness Walk A relaxed walk with historical interest and immense trees. We will find calming techniques, increase sensory awareness, and learn about the power of nature on our health. Challenge Level: Easy- Duration is 1.5 hours, relaxed pace Parking/Meeting location: Park in the very last lot at […]
Collect seeds with us, enjoy the benefits of being out in nature, and do your part to help our forest preserves thrive! Seed collection is a vital part of ecological restoration, bringing health and resilience to natural landscapes. We’ll work together to identify native plants and collect some of their seeds. The seeds will be […]
Please join us as we explore the kettle moraine region around the Little Red School House and beyond. We will enjoy the fall colors, talk about the post- Ice Age growth of these woods, explore the kettle moraine features of the area, and observe the flora and fauna of the biodiversity along the trail. Challenge […]
Join us to enjoy the woods and sneak some peeks at mushrooms. This is the time of year to see mushrooms and other fungi in all sorts of shapes, colors and sizes. Difficulty level: The walk will be at a moderate pace in a wooded area. Stepping over stumps and fallen trees will be required. […]
Collect seeds with us, enjoy the benefits of being out in nature, and do your part to help our forest preserves thrive! Seed collection is a vital part of ecological restoration, bringing health and resilience to natural landscapes. We’ll work together to identify native plants and collect some of their seeds. The seeds will be […]
Help restore habitat for plants and wildlife at this historic forest preserve. Blue Star Woods was once the site of a Civilian Conservation Corps Camp and a WWII Prisoner of War Camp. During that period, most of the site was converted to barracks and buildings. Since then, the camp has been demolished and nature has […]
Collect seeds with us, enjoy the benefits of being out in nature, and do your part to help our forest preserves thrive! Seed collection is a vital part of ecological restoration, bringing health and resilience to natural landscapes. We’ll work together to identify native plants and collect some of their seeds. The seeds will be […]
The Skokie River and Middle Fork of the Chicago River come together to give Watersmeet Woods its name. But Watersmeet is also a wet place with numerous special types of wetlands that support rare plants and wildlife, including the only “calcareous seep” on the North Branch preserves. This seep environment is fed by cool groundwater […]
