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.
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. […]
Kick it at Kickapoo Woods and Prairie! Grab a coffee and pastry and enjoy the forest preserves. You can learn how volunteers care for this incredible community space through tree care, invasive plant removal, and more. Join the fun with line dancing, hands on activities, and giveaways!
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 morning full of activities, with a 1-mile walk, followed by a yoga session at the preserve.
Enjoy a relaxed midweek nature walk through the scenic trails of 40 Acre Woods. Bring your kids and wagons! This guided wagon walk is designed for adults and children who are looking to stay active, connect with others, and experience the beauty of the preserve at a comfortable pace. Participants can expect peaceful paths and […]
Join us for a morning full of activities, with a 1-mile walk, followed by a yoga session at the preserve.
Location- Spring Creek Longmeadow Meeting Location- 152 W Dundee Rd, Barrington Summary of Event/Workday- Set against the stunning backdrop of Longmeadow, this beginner-friendly outing invites you to connect with nature, community, and conservation. You’ll get hands-on with native plant restoration by learning to identify prairie species and collect their seeds. Vital work that helps restore […]
Join Chicago BIPOC Birders, Friends of the Forest Preserves, Black People Outside, and Southeast Environmental Task Force for a day at Eggers Grove! You can join for a bike bus from Colibri Coffee to Eggers Grove, followed by a nature walk, bird sighting, seed collecting, and hands on crafts! Registration required below.
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 and trees to restore the original structure. With increased sunlight, the wildflowers and grasses will once again add to the beauty of the woods. Join […]
Join us for a guided Trailblazer Walk along the Lost Beach Trail and through the beautiful surroundings of Sand Ridge Nature Center. This experience combines a leisurely nature walk with storytelling, offering participants the opportunity to connect with local landscapes, wildlife, and the region’s history. Along the way, we’ll pause to observe native plants and […]
Description: Join us for a morning full of activities, with a 1-mile walk, followed by a yoga session at the preserve.
Location- Spring Creek Galloping Hill Meeting Location- Penny Road Pond, Barrington Hills Summary of Event/Workday- Set against the stunning backdrop of Galloping Hill, this beginner-friendly outing invites you to connect with nature, community, and conservation. You’ll get hands-on with native plant restoration by learning to identify prairie species and collect their seeds. Vital work that […]
Join us at Whistler Woods to discover the beauty of its native prairie! We will provide all tools and instructions to collect native seeds and help restore the site’s natural areas.
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 and slightly higher mesic prairie soils. A small open savanna lies on what was once the east bank of the river. The mesic prairie had […]
Join us for a morning full of activities, with a 1-mile walk, followed by a yoga session at the preserve.
Join us for a morning full of activities, with a 1-mile walk, followed by a yoga session at the preserve.
Location- Spring Creek Longmeadow Meeting Location- 152 W Dundee Rd, Barrington Summary of Event/Workday- Set against the stunning backdrop of Longmeadow, this beginner-friendly outing invites you to connect with nature, community, and conservation. You’ll get hands-on with native plant restoration by learning to identify prairie species and collect their seeds. Vital work that helps restore […]
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 bounded on the west side by Caldwell Avenue, Waukegan Road and development at the intersection of Waukegan Road and Dempster Street. The land on the […]
Join us at Whistler Woods to discover the beauty of its native prairie! We will provide all tools and instructions to collect native seeds and help restore the site’s natural areas.
Location- Spring Creek Galloping Hill Meeting Location- Penny Road Pond, Barrington Hills Summary of Event/Workday- Set against the stunning backdrop of Galloping Hill, this beginner-friendly outing invites you to connect with nature, community, and conservation. You’ll get hands-on with native plant restoration by learning to identify prairie species and collect their seeds. Vital work that […]
