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 […]
The Yellow Trail - the trail we will be primarily walking - was rated the best trail in Illinois by Backpacker Magazine. The trails are in great shape! The walk will take approximately 2 hours and will be 3-4 miles in length, depending on the group size and fitness levels. Be assured that we'll cater […]
Cranberry Slough Halloween Hike Please join us as we explore the ecology of the Cranberry Slough Nature Preserve on Halloween! During the walk we’ll cover the following topics, among others: Differences between invasive and native species Interesting facts about the site Share spooky stories Challenge level: Moderate walking pace; the majority of the trail is […]
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 […]
Please join the Friends community along with many partner organizations for a family-friendly event featuring a traditional altar, activity tables, face painting, and more. Come enjoy time with your family and friends as we celebrate this special day. There will be a performance by Mariachi Sirenas! There will be pan de muerto, hot chocolate, hot […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
