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PROPOSED CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Department: Department of Conservation and Experiential Programming
Summary: Forest Preserves of Cook County Calendar of Events and Activities 4/16/2024 - 5/13/2024
Please check the Forest Preserves of Cook County’s website for updates and changes.
Wednesday, 4/17; 6pm
International Bat Appreciation Folktale and Walk, Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center, Willow Springs
Join us for a folktale recited by a librarian from the LaGrange Park Library as we walk and discuss the importance of these misunderstood flying mammals. Registration required. Please call (708)839-6897.
Thursday, 4/18; 9:30am - 11:30am
Family Bird Walk, Erickson Woods, Winnetka
Start with a DIY binoculars craft then try it out while on a guided bird walk. Registration required. Please call (773)758-8899.
Thursday, 4/18; 5pm - 7pm
Creative Sustainability Workshop, Possum Hollow Woods, Westchester
Make chemical-free cleaning supplies, lavender pouches, and native seed bombs. Ages 10 and up. For more information, please call (312)533-5751.
Friday, 4/19; 3pm - 5pm
Earth Day Clean-up, Jerome Huppert Woods, River Grove
Celebrate Earth Day by doing your part in helping clean up litter in the Preserves. The supplies will be provided for check-out. For more information, please call (312)533-5751.
Saturday, 4/20; 11:30am
Day Hiking Leadership Training, Bemis Woods-North, Western Springs
Calling all teachers, group leaders and youth educators! Our Day Hiking Leadership Training program gets youth and groups of all ages outside by empowering teachers and group leaders with the skills and resources that they will need to lead safe and fun outdoor experiences. Registration required. Ages 18 and up. Please visit the website for registration and more information.
Saturday, 4/20; 9am - 11am
Poetry in the Forest: A Forest Therapy Walk, Caldwell Wellness Center, Chicago
Join us for poetry in motion as we explore the forest through our senses. Participants will receive a journal and poetry by Mary Oliver. We will end the walk with a tea ceremony and poetry reading. Registration required. Please call (773)758-8899.
Saturday, 4/20; 9am - 11am
Earth Day, Busse Lake Boating Center, Elk Grove Village
Celebrate Earth Day by doing your part in helping clean up litter in the Preserves. The litter pick-up supplies will be available for check-out. For more information, please call (773)758-8899.
Saturday, 4/20; 9am - 11am
Earth Day, Caldwell Wellness Center, Chicago
Celebrate Earth Day by doing your part in helping to clean up litter in the Preserves. The litter pick-up supplies will be available for check-out. For more information, please call (773)758-8899.
Saturday, 4/20; 10am - 12pm
Celebrate Earth Day Activities, Trailside Museum, River Forest
Plant a tree, make your own bird feeder, pick up litter, and more. Family program. For more information, please call (708)366-6530.
Saturday, 4/20; 10am - 2pm
Earth Day, Sand Ridge Nature Center, South Holland
Celebrate Earth Day with themed games, self-guided litter cleanup and more. For more information, please call (708) 868-0606.
Saturday, 4/20; 11am - 1pm
Earth Day Celebration, Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center, Willow Springs
Art activities, scavenger hunts, food chain demonstrations, and free plant giveaways will delight visitors. Registration required. Please call (708)839-6897.
Saturday, 4/20; 11am - 2pm
Earth Day Birthday, Sauk Trail Woods-Central, South Chicago Heights
You can have your cake and eat it too! Celebrate planet Earth, play party games and better the environment. For more information, please call (312)415-2970.
Saturday, 4/20; 12pm - 2pm
Earth Day Clean-up, Miller Meadow-South, Maywood
Celebrate Earth Day by doing your part in helping clean up litter in the Preserves. Grove 6. The supplies will be provided for check-out. For more information, please call (312)533-5751.
Saturday, 4/20; 12pm - 3pm
Earth Day Nature Play, Crabtree Nature Center, Barrington
Play, plant, paint and pretend with family-fun activities. For more information, please call (847)381-6598.
Saturday, 4/20; 1pm
Wildflower Walk, Sagawau Environmental Learning Center, Lemont
Enjoy a hike to look for wildflowers while learning how to identify these ephemeral beauties. Registration required. Please call (630)257-2045.
Sunday, 4/21; 1pm
Fantastic Ferns, Sagawau Environmental Learning Center, Lemont
Join us for a discussion and short walk to investigate this fascinating group of vascular plants. Registration required. Ages 18 and up. Please call (630)257-2045.
Sunday, 4/21; 1:30pm
Conservation@Home: No Mow May Talk, River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook
Learn how delaying your spring clean-up can help backyard conservation. Registration required. Please call (847) 824-8360.
Tuesday, 4/23; 7:30pm
Full Moon Walk, Crabtree Nature Center, Barrington
Walk under the light of the full moon. Registration required. Please call (847)381-6598.
Tuesday, 4/23; 9:15pm
Moon Walk, Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center, Willow Springs
Let the full moon be our guide as we walk in the largest Urban Night Sky Place in the world. Registration required. Please call (708)839-6897.
Thursday, 4/25; 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Night Hike: Stars and Stories, Dan Ryan Woods Pavilion, Chicago
Join in and listen to the story "Under the Drinking Gourd" and learn the significance of why reading the stars was important for survival.
Thursday, 4/25; 7pm
Nature Book Club: “An Immense World” by Ed Yong, Trailside Museum, River Forest
In partnership with Forest Park Public Library, join us for a lively discussion about this book on animal senses. Registration required. Ages 18 and up. Please call (708)366-6530.
Friday, 4/26; 7pm - 9pm
Frog Survey Night Walk, Sand Ridge Nature Center, South Holland
Come be a citizen scientist for an evening as we listen to and document our local frogs. Space is limited. Registration required. Ages 12 and up. Please call (708) 868-0606.
Friday, 4/26; 7:30pm
Nature at Night, River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook
Explore the world of nature after the sun sets. Registration and payment required by 4/24. The cost is $5 per person. Please call (847) 824-8360.
Saturday, 4/27; 12pm - 2pm
Wildflower Walk, Sand Ridge Nature Center, South Holland
Come along for a guided walk to explore spring ephemerals in bloom. Registration required. Please call (708)868-0606.
Saturday, 4/27; 1pm
Teen Shelter Building, Camp Dan Beard, Northbrook
Bring your friends and learn all about primitive shelter buildings and then build your own. Registration required. Ages 12 and up. Please visit the website for registration and more information.
Friday, 5/3; 7:30pm
Relax and Unwind Sunset Walk, Crabtree Nature Center, Barrington
Join us for a Mental Health Awareness Month walk. Registration required. Ages 18 and up. Please call (847)381-6598.
Saturday, 5/4; 10am - 1pm
Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month Trivia Walk, Dan Ryan Woods Visitor Center, Chicago
Enjoy a self-guided walk while learning about the role Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders play in conservation.
Saturday, 5/4; 10am - 1pm
Book Swap, Swallow Cliff Woods-North, Palos Park
Bring in gently used books and leave with some new-to-you books! Any genre and reading level; nature-themed books encouraged. Snacks and refreshments will be provided.
Saturday, 5/4; 12pm - 5pm
Community Powwow: Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women, Caldwell Wellness Center, Chicago
In partnership with the American Indian Health Services Center, St. Kateri Center, Trickster Cultural Center, American Indian Center-Chicago, and the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Join us to bring awareness to the obstacles the native communities have faced historically in seeking justice for these women and their families. Please visit the website for more information.
Saturday, 5/4 through Sunday, 5/5
Camping Leadership Immersion Course, Camp Sullivan, Oak Forest
Overnight training course to learn skills needed to plan and lead group camping trips. Covers safety, day-hiking, tent, and stove-set up, teambuilding and leadership skills, as well as educational offerings. After training, you will gain access to the gear library and group site. Registration required. The cost is $25 per person, which includes food and camping gear. Ages 18 and up. Please visit the website for registration and more information.
Sunday, 5/5; 10am - 12pm
Bird Banding, Sagawau Environmental Learning Center, Lemont
Join us at Sagawau for our 27th year of bird banding. You can see the birds up close while learning about this scientific study method.
Sunday, 5/5; 12pm - 3pm
Spring Festival, Trailside Museum, River Forest
Enjoy interactive programs, kids’ tree-climb, guided wildflower walks, bird banding, kid’s nature crafts, gardening info and much more!
Tuesday, 5/7; 9pm
Dark Sky Walk, Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center, Willow Springs
Enjoy an evening walk through our woods and get a close-up view of the night sky. Registration required. Please call (708)839-6897.
Thursday, 5/9; 3pm - 5pm
Teen Exploration Day: Crafternoon, Eggers Grove, Chicago
Try your hand at a variety of arts and crafts and use nature as inspiration.
Thursday, 5/9; 6pm - 8pm
Adult Game Night, Caldwell Wellness Center, Chicago
A night of outdoor games, trivia, and nature play. Registration required. Ages 21 and up. Bring Your Own Bottle, which cannot be glass. Please call (773)758-8899.
Friday, 5/10; 5pm - 7pm
Printmaking Workshop, Evans Field, River Grove
Bring items you wish to decorate and learn about basic printmaking techniques while using natural materials. The supplies will be provided. Registration required. Please call (312)533-5751.
Saturday, 5/11; 8am
World Migratory Bird Day: Bird Walk and Little Sit, Sand Ridge Nature Center, South Holland
Join us for activities dedicated to our feathered neighbors! The walk begins at 8am and the little sit portion begins at 10am. Registration required. Please call (708) 868-0606.
Saturday, 5/11; 9am - 2pm
World Migratory Bird Day, Sagawau Environmental Learning Center, Lemont
Celebrate migratory birds and watch bird banding demonstrations while learning how insects affect bird populations. Registration required. Please call (630)257-2045.
Saturday, 5/11; 10am
Teen Exploration Day: Volunteer Day, Trailside Museum, River Forest
Help remove invasive garlic mustard. You will earn service-learning hours. The supplies will be provided. Registration required. Ages 15-17. Please call (708)366-6530.
Sunday, 5/11; 10am - 12pm
Migratory Bird Day, River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook
Learn the basics of bird watching. Registration required, Ages 8 and up. Please call (847) 824-8360.
Saturday, 5/11; 1pm
World Migratory Bird Day: Bird Feeder Craft, Sand Ridge Nature Center, South Holland
Join us for activities dedicated to our feathered neighbors! Registration required. Please call (708) 868-0606.
Saturday, 5/11; 7pm - 9pm
Star Party, Deer Grove-East, Palatine
Explore astronomy on this family-friendly night in the Preserves. Grove 3. Crafts, stargazing, and refreshments will be provided. For more information, please call (773)758-8899.
Sunday, 5/12; 12pm - 4pm
Mother’s Day Art Fair, Sand Ridge Nature Center, South Holland
Come see some amazing art inspired by mother earth and mother figures alike. There will be great conversation and food onsite.
Sunday, 5/12; 1pm
Mother’s Day Woodland Wildflower Walk, Crabtree Nature Center, Barrington
Join us for a walk in the woodland. For more information, please call (847)381-6598.
Sunday, 5/12; 1pm
Wildflower Walk, Sagawau Environmental Learning Center, Lemont
Enjoy a hike to look for wildflowers while learning how to identify these ephemeral beauties. Registration required. Please call (630)257-2045.
Sunday, 5/12; 1:30pm
Wildflower Walk, River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook
Learn about spring woodland wildflowers on a casual walk. Registration required. Please call (847)824-8360.
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