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.
Celebrate the season and discover everything your forest preserves have to offer. This community gathering will include music, free food, a guided nature walk, an information booth, native seed collecting, and a relaxing yoga session with Neon Soul to help you unwind and move gently. For all ages. Contact Information- Please reach out to [email protected] […]
Join us for a fitness walk at Arie Crown Forest; Senior and kid friendly! What to wear/Bring: Walking shoes. Dress according to weather, a rain poncho just in case. Mosquito-tick repellent, […]
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: […]
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 […]
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: […]
Come hang out at Eggers Grove for a fun homeschool meet-up! Every third Thursday of the month from 10am-12pm All ages and families are invited to this free event at Eggers Grove. Whether you homeschool, unschool, or just want to hangout with other families, come for a monthly nature walk and other nature based activities.
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 […]
Meet in the forest preserve area east of the Barrypoint Bridge and the Hofmann Tower. Bring your kids, parents, neighbors, or friends! We accept AND recycle aluminum cans to raise money for future cleanups and events. Wear long pants, sleeves, and sturdy shoes. The Hofmann Dam River Rats is a registered 501(c)3 charitable organization. We […]
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 […]
Join us to enjoy the colors of the season and some fresh air in the woods. The group will walk through Caldwell Woods and cross over the river to reach Bunker Hill Woods. From there we’ll walk the paved path while enjoying fall colors and spotting a mushroom or two along the way. Difficulty level: The […]
Sand Ridge is a woodland and prairie site with a magnificent nature center attached. Join our volunteer crew for a restoration day to help restore our forest preserves. Meet outside of the pod on the service driveway NW of the Nature Center.
— THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED — Help us collect seed at Spring Creek Prairie to distribute back into the area. Enjoy nature, learn plant identification skills, and responsible seed […]
Join us for a festive all-ages afternoon of removing invasive tree species over a warm brush fire! Volunteers can come in costume to scare away the buckthorn, and enjoy Halloween candy and a cider beverage for volunteers 21+ after stewardship activities take place. (Note: Costumes must not be made of polyester, but heat-resistant fabrics like […]
Families and kids of all ages are invited to join us for pumpkin activities at Beaubien Woods! This event is designed to get families out into the forest preserves and to encourage our little ones’ creativity. Whether your child wants to carve a spooky face or paint a silly one, our team will be there […]
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 day celebrating trees at beautiful Whistler Woods. We’ll come together to care for our trees, learn something new, and enjoy a fall day outdoors in nature. Drop by or stay all day- everyone is welcome!
Join us at Whistler Woods for our volunteer days! We will be performing a variety of restoration activities in this woodland and prairie-dominant site. Meet at the end of the parking lot.
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: Spring Creek Longmeadow Contact Information: Please reach out to [email protected] with any questions!
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. […]
he 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 urban of urban rivers. Along the way, we’ll also talk about water quality, habitat conditions […]