• Homeschool Hangout: Buggin’ Out

    Homeschool Hangout at Eggers Grove 11251-11249 South Avenue B, Chicago, Illinois, United States

    Come hang out at Eggers Grove for a fun homeschool hangout all about bugs! Families will be led on a nature walk through Eggers with sweep nets in search of […]

  • Xylem Seed Garden Workdays

    North Branch Xylem Seed Garden 6633 W Harts Road, Niles, IL, United States

    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 […]

  • Oxbow Prairie Volunteer Workday

    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 […]

  • Mental Health Awareness Month: Spring Fling at Kickapoo Woods

    Kickapoo Woods Kickapoo Woods, Riverdale, Illinois, United States

    Join Friends of the Forest Preserves and Light of Loving Kindness for an invigorating day at Kickapoo Woods to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month! This event is perfect for families, friends, and anyone wanting to enjoy the springtime in perfect fashion! Activities will include a calming yoga session out in nature, light stewardship activities, an […]

  • Hofmann Dam River Rats Spring Cleanup

    Hofmann Dam R5CH+CJJ Lyons, Illinois

    Volunteers and friends of the Des Plaines River are invited to help clean up the Des Plaines riverbank. 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 […]

  • Miami Woods and Prairie Volunteer Workday

    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 […]

  • Sunflowers, Birds, Bees, and Beavers

    Kickapoo Woods Kickapoo Woods, Riverdale, Illinois, United States

    Join us for an interactive terrarium all about the connection between species! Learn about how different keystone species like beavers, bees, sunflowers, and ospreys interact with each other and help build the ecosystems around us.

  • Friends Photo Exhibit: A Celebration of the Forest Preserves in Cook County

    Bramble Arts Loft 5545 N Clark St FL 2, Chicago, Illinois, United States

    Join us to view the winning photos from our 2025 Photo Contest up close and personal! Enjoy a relaxed atmosphere with light refreshments, beverages, and conversations with some of the winning photographers. This event is free. Please register to help us plan. Donations are happily accepted to help support our advocacy work, conservation corps programs, and […]

  • Xylem Seed Garden Workdays

    North Branch Xylem Seed Garden 6633 W Harts Road, Niles, IL, United States

    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. […]

  • Bunker Hill North Flatwoods Volunteer Workdays

    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 […]

  • St. Paul Woods Volunteer Workday

    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 […]

  • Stewardship Volunteer Days – Healy Savanna

    Beverly Lake Trail Beverly Lake Trail, Hoffman Estates, Illinois, United States

    Meeting Location- Beverly Lake Trail, Hoffman Estates Summary of Event/Workday- Join Us for a Garlic Mustard Pull & Spring Ephemeral hunt! Help protect our woodlands by removing invasive garlic mustard, giving native plants the space they need to thrive. As we work, we’ll also keep an eye out for neat spring ephemeral plants.. We’ll collect […]

  • Homeschool Hangout: All About The Trees

    Eggers Grove Comfort Station MFQC+6Q Chicago, Illinois, Chicago, IL, United States

    Please join us at our Homeschool hangout, where we will learn more about trees and why tree rings are important. A nature walk and a story will be told. For any questions, contact Joy Bailey at: [email protected]

  • Xylem Seed Garden Workdays

    North Branch Xylem Seed Garden 6633 W Harts Road, Niles, IL, United States

    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. […]

  • Trailblazers: Des Plaines River Relics Walk

    Sunset Bridge Meadow Des Plaines River Trail, River Grove, Illinois, United States

    Join us as we admire the spring colors and beauty of the Des Plaines River. The 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 […]

  • Oxbow Prairie Volunteer Workday

    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 […]

  • Summer Solstice at Beaubien Woods

    Beaubien Woods Beaubien Woods Forest Preserve Pavillion, Chicago, Illinois, United States

    Summer Solstice gathering in nature with Light of Loving Kindness (LOLK) & Friends of the Forest Preserves (FOTFP). Join us for reflection, restoration, food, and community care. This public and free gathering is an invitation to slow down and connect with ourselves, one another, and the land in a way that feels grounded and accessible. […]

  • Miami Woods and Prairie Volunteer Workday

    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 […]

  • Xylem Seed Garden Workdays

    North Branch Xylem Seed Garden 6633 W Harts Road, Niles, IL, United States

    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. […]