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PROPOSED MISCELLANEOUS ITEM OF BUSINESS
Department: Conservation and Experiential Programming
Summary: Forest Preserves of Cook County Calendar, 4/13/2016 - 5/10/2016
Saturdays in April and Sundays in May; 10 am
Canyon Tours, Sagawau Environmental Learning Center, Lemont
Sagawau Canyon will highlight the geology of Northeastern Illinois. Hike is over rough terrain, and wading through a stream is necessary. Registration in person or by phone, starts the Monday prior to the program date. No groups. Space is limited.
Friday - Sunday, 4/15 - 4/17; 10 am - 5 pm
Antiques Garden & Design Show; Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe
Come shop for the best in classical and contemporary garden furnishings, botanical art, and home and garden design. Admission fee applies.
Saturday, 4/16; 9 am - Noon
Swallow Cliff Stairs (North entrance), IL Rt 83 (Cal Sag Rd) & US Rt 45, Palos Park
Spring into action and refresh the senses! Reap the benefits of exercising outside in nature. Warm up your morning with a relaxing yoga session or an energetic workout. Get tips on nutrition to supplement a healthy lifestyle. Call 708-386-4121 for more information.
Saturday, 4/16; 10:30 am
Blooms and Blossoms, Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center, Willow Springs
Check out the array of wildflowers and learn some trivia, too!
Saturday, 4/16; 7 pm - 10 pm
Night Sky Programs, Little Red School House Nature Center, Willow Springs
Peak at the universe through telescopes; guided by the Chicago Astronomical Society.
Sunday, 4/17; 1 pm
Prime Real Estate, Crabtree Nature Center, Barrington Hills
See why and how we provide cavity nesting birds with accommodations, then stay to see the tree swallows compete.
Thursday, 4/21; 4 pm - 7 pm
Outdoor Art Workshop, Thatcher Woods, 8030 Chicago Ave, River Forest
Come create art inspired by nature. Try your hand at a variety of projects with a creative reuse focus. All Ages. No registration required.
Saturday, 4/23; 9am - 1 pm
Earth Day Celebration and Preserves Clean Up, Whistler Woods, 480 Acme Dr., Riverdale
Clean up the preserves in partnership with Friends of the Parks in the morning, and then afterward celebrate with fun nature activities and snacks.
Saturday, 4/23; 10 am - 3 pm
Earth Day, Sand Ridge Nature Center, South Holland
Join us for a day set aside as a reminder to be good stewards of our planet every day. Activities include hikes, puppet shows, a craft and Earth Day Jeopardy!
Saturday, 4/23; 1 pm
Earth Day Walk to McDonald Woods; Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe
Take a special guided walk through McDonald Woods to celebrate Earth Day. Learn about a variety of spring wildflowers and the restoration work underway. The walk is free and lasts from 45 minutes to an hour.
Sunday, 4/24; 12 noon - 3 pm
Earth Day, Nature Play, Crabtree Nature Center, Barrington Hills
Catch, craft, and climb! Special Earth Day family activities in our 3-acre nature play area.
Saturday, 4/30; Noon - 4 pm
Arbor Day Celebration, Bunker Hill, 6800 N Caldwell, Chicago
Celebrate the grandeur learn why they’re important to our community and our world. Enjoy tree planting, tree climbing, tree-caching and ID, scavenger hunts, art projects and more.
Saturdays, 4/30 and 5/7; 7 am - 8:30 am
Morning Bird Walk, Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center, Willow Springs
Spring migrants are in the air! Take an early morning walk through various habitats in search of birds making their way north. Dress for the weather. Bring binoculars if you have them.
Saturday, 4/30; 10 am - 12 noon - Teens and adults only
Sunday, 5/1; 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm - Children ages 7 and up
Birding Basics for All Ages, River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook
Residents are beginning to nest and migrants are passing through by the thousands. Learn the basics in bird watching. Limited binoculars available. Registration required by 4/28.
Saturday, 4/30; 1:30 pm
A Trail for All People, Sand Ridge Nature Center, South Holland
Come join a staff naturalist to explore nature along our new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible trail. People of all abilities are invited to attend.
Sunday, 5/1; 3 pm
Spring Festival, Trailside Museum of Natural History, River Forest
Celebrate spring with a day of activities for all ages, including animal encounters, kids’ tree climb, guided wildflower walks, bird banding, dip netting, seed planting, building a bird house, and more! Call 708-366-6530 for more information.
Saturday, 5/7; 5:30 am - 5 pm
THE BIG SIT, ALL NATURE CENTERS
All day long at all six of our Nature Centers we will be counting how many birds we can spot or hear without leaving a 17-foot circle. This ‘citizen science’ can help us make better decisions about the conservation of bird habitat. We need birders of any experience to help us for part or all of the day. Stop by anytime, grab a seat and join in.
Sunday, 5/8; 9 am
Mother’s Day Hike, Sand Ridge Nature Center, South Holland
Begin your day with a naturalist-guided walk to spy some spring wildflowers and migrating birds. Bring Mom and the family. We have binoculars to loan.
Sunday, May 8; 9 a.m., 11 a.m. or 1 p.m.
Mother’s Day Brunch; Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe Enjoy a special time with Mom at this buffet, which includes a carving state and made-to-order omelets. Reservations are required and fee applies
Sunday, 5/8; 9:30 am - 11 am
Mother’s Day Bird Walk, River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook
River Trail is habitat for waterfowl, shorebirds, and birds of prairies and forests. Join us for a morning stroll to watch for birds.
Sunday, 5/8; 9:30 am - 11 am
Night Hike, River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook
Join us for a night hike to learn about nocturnal animals that live at River Trail. Afterwards, stop inside for refreshments. Register by 4/13.
Sunday, 5/8; 1 pm
Flower Walk, Crabtree Nature Center, Barrington Hills
Walk the trails with a naturalist to see which of our woodland wildflowers are in bloom.
Sunday, 5/8; 1 pm
Mother’s Day Woodland Walk, Trailside Museum of Natural History, River Forest
Learn about wildlife mothers on a guided nature walk. Register by 5/6.
Monday and Tuesday, 5/9 and 5/10; 7:30 am
Weekday Bird Hikes, Sagawau Environmental Learning Center, Lemont
Catch the migration spirit and join us each day for a guided bird hike at Sagawau.
Tuesday, 5/10; 6:30 am - 8 am
Bird ID Canoe Cruise, Skokie Lagoons, tower Road Boat Launch, North Branch Trail, Winnetka
For rookie or advanced birders! Increase your identification skills with a morning of birding on the Skokie Lagoons. Forest Preserves staff will teach paddling instruction as well as provide birding expertise during the program. Limited number of boats; please reserve a space.
Saturday, 5/14 - Sunday, 5/15
Camping Leadership Immersion Course, Camp Sullivan, Oak Forest
Attention leaders of community and school groups, scouts and youth groups! This overnight training course teaches equipment use and care, campground cooking, outdoor activities, teamwork and nature-based education. After completing this training, your group of up to 30 are eligible to borrow tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads and cookware for a campout at Camp Sullivan. Training is required to gain access to gear. For more info, email experiencecamping@cookcountyil.gov <mailto:experiencecamping@cookcountyil.gov> for an application and more information.
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