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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: 1/23/2024 -2/27/2024.
Please check the Forest Preserves of Cook County’s website for updates and changes.
Thursday, 1/25; 10am - 12pm
Winter Workshop-Woodworking, Rolling Knolls, Elgin
Repurpose the common European buckthorn into something new. Registration required. Ages 10 and up. Equipment provided. Please call (773) 758-8899.
Thursday, 1/25; 7pm
Full Moon Walk, Crabtree Nature Center, Barrington
Discover Crabtree at night by the light of the Wolf Moon. Registration required. Ages 8 and up. Please call (847) 381-6592.
Friday, 1/26 through Friday 2/16; 9am - 4pm
Story Trail: “Over and Under the Snow, Trailside Museum, River Forest
Walk a short trail and read the posted story, then pick up a craft and activity bag.
Friday, 1/26; 4:30pm - 6:30pm
Woodburning & Watercolors, Sand Ridge Nature Center, South Holland
Be inspired by the winter landscape and create pieces of art using woodburning or pyrography techniques and watercolor paints. Registration required. Ages 21 and up. BYOB. Please call (708)868-0606.
Saturday, 1/27; 8am
Birds and Bagels, Dan Ryan Woods Visitor Center, Chicago
Start your morning with birds and bagels! Enjoy a treat while observing local birds at our feeders. Accessible site. Binoculars available to borrow Bagels and light refreshments provided.
Saturday, 1/27; 10:30am - 1:30pm
All About Fire, Thatcher Woods Pavilion, River Forest
Drop in to learn safe practices for fire building and containment, make fire-inspired art, build your own fire, and roast a marshmallow. All ages.
Saturday, 1/27; 1pm
Snowshoe Walk, Camp Reinberg, Palatine
Enjoy the Preserves of snowshoes. Snowshoes provided; 4” of snow required. If no snow is present, we will enjoy a winter walk. Registration Required. Please visit the website for more information.
Saturday, 1/27; 1:30pm
Walk with a Steward, Schiller Woods-West, Schiller Park
Learn about ecological gems and the restoration process with volunteer site steward, Cathy Bloom. Registration Required. Ages 18 and up. Grove 6. Please call (708)366-6530.
Saturday, 1/27; 1:30pm
Feeding Frenzy, Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center, Willow Springs
Learn what, why and how staff feed the great diversity of birds, fishes, reptiles, and amphibians at the nature center.
Sunday, 1/28; 11am - 3pm
Crabtree Hygge, Crabtree Nature Center, Barrington
Celebrate the Danish tradition of coziness with hot chocolate and nature books.
Sunday, 1/28; 1:30pm
Insects in Winter, River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook
Search our trails for the mighty snow flea and learn about other winter insects.
Wednesday, 1/31; 10am
Accessibility Trail Outing; Miller Meadow-South, Maywood
Walk with us on a short, 1.7-mile looped and paved trail with resting points throughout. The walk is designed for people using wheelchairs or with mobility issues and will be held at a slower pace. Grove 6.
Thursday, 2/1 through Tuesday 2/27; 8am - 4pm
Black History Month Exhibit, Sagawau Environmental Learning Center, Lemont
Learn about African American skiers and challenges faced in winter sports.
Thursday, 2/1; 4pm - 6pm
Prehistoric Play Day, Matthew Bieszczat Volunteer Resource Center, Chicago
Learn about the amazing world of Ice Age Illinois through a series of family-oriented games and activities. Ages 5 and up.
Friday, 2/2; 3pm - 5pm
Life in the Snow, Pulaski Woods, Willow Springs
Join a naturalist and explore the forest. We will investigate animal tracks, identify deciduous trees, and observe the winter birds. Grove 1.
Saturday, 2/3; 10am
Winter Whereabouts, Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center, Willow Springs
Learn how different native animals survive during the colder winter months.
Saturday, 2/3; 10am - 12pm
Winter Art Workshop- Phone-tography 101, Rolling Knolls, Elgin
Enjoy a morning in the Preserves and learn the basics of photography using a smartphone. Registration required. Please call (773)758-8899.
Saturday, 2/3; 6pm - 9pm
Sweetheart Night Hike, River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook
Couples and friends are invited to enjoy the nature center grounds at their leisure. Walk our candlelit trails, relax around a campfire, or warm up inside with dinner and drinks. Ages 21 and up. Cost: $25 per person. Registration required by 1/30. Please call (847) 824-8360.
Wednesday, 2/7; 10am - 12pm
Poetry Trail: Black History Month; Bemis Woods-South, Western Springs
In honor of Black History Month, walk a short, looped trail and read poetry for children written by African American authors along the way. Grove 7.
Wednesdays, 2/7 through 2/28; 10am - 3pm
Black History Month Story Trails; Dan Ryan Woods Visitor Center, Chicago
Join us in celebrating Black History Month with a story trail. Each story will showcase a prominent Black figure.
Thursday, 2/8; 10am - 12pm
Winter Workshop: Knitting, Matthew Bieszczat Volunteer Resource Center, Chicago
Join us for our themed sessions as we explore knitting. Ages 13 and up.
Saturday, 2/10; 9am - 2pm
Ski the White Winter Wave, Sagawau Environmental Learning Center, Lemont
Join the fun as we take a Polynesian spin on winter by skiing the “frozen wave,” relax and enjoy surfing videos and updates from Oahu’s North Shore.
Saturday, 2/10; 9:30am - 12:30pm
BIPOC Faces in Green Spaces, Dan Ryan Woods, Chicago
Shift your focus from daily hassles during an outdoor wellness and journaling session.
Saturday, 2/10; 10am - 1pm
Winter Exploration Day, Thatcher Woods, River Forest
In partnership with the Portage Creek Boy Scouts, join us for an afternoon of winter activities including hikes, broom hockey, orienteering and more.
Saturday 2/10; 1pm
Snowshoe Walk, Camp Bullfrog Lake, Willow Springs
Enjoy the Preserves of snowshoes. Snowshoes provided; 4” of snow required. If no snow is present, we will enjoy a winter walk. Registration Required. Please visit the website for more information.
Saturday, 2/10; 1:30pm
Owls of Trailside, Trailside Museum, River Forest
Bring the family and meet one of our ambassador owls. Learn about the fascinating owls that call Trailside home. Registration required. Please call (708) 366-6530.
Saturday, 2/10; 6pm - 7:30pm
Super Bowl/Superb Owl, Sand Ridge Nature Center, South Holland
Enjoy a brief introduction to owls and their amazing adaptations and skills followed by a short walk on our trails to see if we can spot any wintering owls!
Sunday, 2/11; 10am
Super Bowl Pregame Hike, Crabtree Nature Center, Barrington
See what makes Crabtree special on a 3-mile hike before the big game.
Sunday, 2/11; 1:30pm
Superb Owl Party, River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook
Help us celebrate owls and learn what makes them so unique!
Thursday, 2/15; 4pm - 7pm
Conservation@Home: Seed Swap & Plant Exchange, Dan Ryan Woods Pavilion, Chicago
Plant lovers unite! Native plant presentation followed by seed and plant sharing. Bring a mug; warm beverage provided. All Ages.
Thursday, 2/15; 6pm
Winter Fire Building Workshop, Camp Sullivan, Oak Forest
Learn fire building skills and stick around for a story and s’mores around the fire. Registration Required. Please visit the website for more information.
Saturday, 2/17; 6am - 9am
Sunrise Nature Photography, River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook
An outdoor workshop focusing on amazing winter scenes. Ages 13 and up. Registration required by 2/15. Please call (847) 824-8360.
Saturday, 2/17; 9am
Winter Bird Walk, Trailside Museum, River Forest
Join us for a casual bird walk to observe our resident birds and their behavior. Registration required. Binoculars available to borrow. Please call (708)366-6530.
Saturday, 2/17; 10am - 12pm
Celebration of Lunar New Year, Dan Ryan Woods Pavilion, Chicago
Activities to educate and celebrate the Lunar New Year-Year of the Dragon. All Ages.
Saturday, 2/17; 1pm
Fossil Lab, Sagawau Environmental Learning Center, Lemont
Have you ever wondered how paleontologists study fossils? Visit our lab as we break down features of invertebrate fossils.
Sunday, 2/18; 1pm
CSI: Critter Scene Investigation, Crabtree Nature Center, Barrington
An interactive adventure to learn about our animal neighbors. Can you guess what animals have been visiting from the clues they’ve left behind? Learn about tracks, scat and more during this adventure.
Wednesday, 2/21; 9:30am
Photography Walk, Spears Woods, Willow Springs
Join a naturalist for a walk around Spears Woods on a quest to capture some magical winter photos.
Thursday, 2/22; 10am - 12pm
Walk & Talk: Black History Month Celebration, LaBagh Woods, Chicago
Learn about the importance of Black environmentalists and how the Forest Preserves’ trails relate to the Underground Railroad Movement. Grove 1. Registration required. Please call (773) 758-8899.
Saturday, 2/24; 10am - 12pm
Winter Art Workshop: Pottery, Rolling Knolls, Elgin
Join us for our themed sessions as we explore pottery. Registration required. Ages 13 and up. Please call (773) 758-8899.
Saturday, 2/24; 10am - 12:30pm
Winter Pop-Up Fun, Cherry Hill Woods, Palos Park
Check out a pair of our snowshoes, help with litter pickup, warm up by a fire, and play in the snow!
Saturday, 2/24 through Sunday 2/25; 10am - 3pm
Underground Railroad Walks, Sand Ridge Nature Center, South Holland
Join us on a self-guided journey that follows the Underground Railroad route connected to the Calumet Region during the mid-1800s.
Saturday, 2/24; 10:30am (Zoom)
Conservation@Home: Go Native & Get Wild, Trailside Museum, River Forest
Learn about gardening using native plants and its benefits to you and to the environment. Registration required. Please call (708)366-6530.
Saturday, 2/24; 12pm - 2pm
Build a Birdhouse, Sand Ridge Nature Center, South Holland
Welcome back migrating birds by making a birdhouse just in time for spring nesting season. Registration required. Ages 18 and up or ages 13-17 with an adult. Please call (708) 868-0606.
Saturday, 2/24; 1pm
Black History Month Celebration, Crabtree Nature Center, Barrington
Learn about the importance of Black environmentalists and how the Forest Preserves’ trails relate to the Underground Railroad Movement.
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