Watersmeet Woods Volunteer Workday

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 […]

Nature Exploration: Yoga at Whistler Woods with Donisha Reed

There are so many different ways you can enjoy being out in the forest preserves! Visit Whistler Woods with us as Donisha Reed, of Wealthy Living Coaching and Consulting, LLC, guides us in Slow Flow Vinyasa Yoga.* We will then take a short walk to observe the natural space around us. You won’t want to […]

Bunker Hill North Flatwoods Volunteer Workday

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 […]

Trailblazers Walk: Beck Lake

Join us as we walk the segment of the Des Plaines River trail between Central and Euclid! This stretch is from Beck Lake to Camp Pine Forest in Des Plaines. This is a there and back route, 2 miles one way and 2 the other. We'll start out on the green trail then go north […]

Canceled Watersmeet Woods Volunteer Workday

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 […]

Trailblazers Walk: Swallow Cliff Woods

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 and currently the wild geraniums and the woodland phlox are in full bloom! The walk will take approximately 2 hours and will be 3-4 miles in length, […]

Trailblazers Walk: Red Gate Woods

Discover the history behind the first nuclear reactor in the world. We will cover the atomic age during WWII, the impact on the Forest Preserve Site M, and the closure, clean up and reopening of Red Gate Woods. Depending on trail conditions, a brief trail hike will follow. The trail is single file on rugged […]

Friends Golf Outing

George W. Dunne National Golf Course

Registration is open! Tickets start at $150 individual / $600 foursome We offer various ticket levels so that you can show some extra love for Friends and our work - we appreciate your generosity. At the Forest Preserves’ premier course: George W. Dunne National Golf Course 16310 Central Ave., Oak Forest, Illinois 60452 Friday, June […]

Nature Exploration: Yoga at Eggers Grove with Donisha Reed

There are so many different ways you can enjoy being out in the forest preserves! Visit Eggers Grove Forest Preserve with us as Donisha Reed, of Wealthy Living Coaching and Consulting, LLC, guides us in Slow Flow Vinyasa Yoga.* We will then take a short walk to observe the natural space around us. You won’t […]

Blue Star Woods Volunteer Workday

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 […]

Trailblazers Walk: Watersmeet Woods

Please join us as we look for birds and odonates a.k.a. dragonflies and damselflies. Let’s see how many species we can find! Difficulty level: intermediate-advanced hikers. Watersmeet Woods has few, if any, paved trails, so we will be hiking on rough terrain. Please plan accordingly. Sturdy hiking shoes are recommended. Parking: Street parking is available […]

Nature Exploration: Yoga at Whistler Woods with Donisha Reed

There are so many different ways you can enjoy being out in the forest preserves! Visit Whistler Woods with us as Donisha Reed, of Wealthy Living Coaching and Consulting, LLC, guides us in Slow Flow Vinyasa Yoga.* We will then take a short walk to observe the natural space around us. You won’t want to […]