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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Department: Department of Conservation and Experiential Programming
Summary: Forest Preserves of Cook County Calendar - 4/11/2017 - 5/11/2017
TODAY, Tuesday, 4/11; 10 am - 2 pm
Spring Breakout Adventures, Dan Ryan Woods Pavilion, Chicago
Spring Breakout Adventures offer the chance to practice archery, explore bountiful wildlife and plant species, as well as improve your navigation skills. All ages. No registration required. For general information or to inquire about available bussing for groups of 25 or more, call 312-415-2970.
THIS EVENING, Tuesday, 4/11; 7:30 to 9 pm
Full Moon Frogs, Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center, Willow Springs
Assist a naturalist as we monitor frog activity under the full moon. Registration required. Ages 12 & up.
Wednesday, 4/12 and 5/3; 5:30 - 7 pm
Camping 101, Camp Dan Beard, 200 Portwine Rd, Northbrook
Camping 101 is a hands-on workshop series designed to teach basic camping skills. Learn tent set-up, campfire cooking, camping fun, dressing for camping, camping etiquette and more. Join us on select Wednesday evenings through May. No registration required. FREE!
Saturday, 4/15; 9 am - Noon
Navigation Unplugged, Wolf Road Woods, 9800 Wolf Rd, Willow Springs
Learn the basics of orienteering (using a map and compass), then put your skills to the test with orienteering courses on the trail. Appropriate for ages 8 & up. Call 312-415-2970 for more information.
Saturday, 4/15; 1 pm
Beginning Oils, Crabtree Nature Center, Barrington Hills
Let artist Bob Nielsen show you how to get started with oil painting.
Sunday, 4/16; 10 am
Canyon Tour, Sagawau Environmental Learning Center, Lemont
Sagawau Canyon hikes highlight the geology of Northeastern Illinois. The hike is over rough terrain, and wading through a stream is necessary. Registration starts the Monday prior to the program date, either in person or by phone. No groups. Space is limited.
Sunday, 4/16; 11 am - 2 pm
Family Fun Drop In, River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook
Stop in to explore nature through fun, hands-on activities including crafts, games and animals.
Sundays, 4/16 and 4/30; 1 pm
Spring Nature Hikes, Trailside Museum of Natural History, River Forest
Enjoy a guided spring nature hike on our trails. Family program.
Saturday, 4/22; 9 am - 1 pm
Earth Day Celebration and Preserve Clean Up, Kickapoo Woods, Riverdale
Clean up the Preserves in partnership with Friends of the Parks and enjoy activities and snacks too. Groups with 10 or more people, please register with Credell.Walls@cookcountyil.gov.
Saturday, 4/22; 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, crafts, and Earth Day Jeopardy!
Saturday, 4/22; 1 pm
Earth Day Walk in McDonald Woods, meet at the “What’s in Bloom” cart in front of the Visitor Center, Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe
Spend part of Earth Day exploring Mary Mix McDonald Woods, a 100-acre rare remnant of the oak woodlands once common in northeastern Illinois. April is a special time in the woods to see the rich variety of spring blooming ephemeral flowers. Volunteer Joanne Schmitz identifies spring wildflowers in bloom and explains their fleeting presence. How the woods have changed through the Garden’s history and the restoration efforts currently underway will also be part of this informative and timely walk in honor of Earth Day. Free.
Saturday, 4/22; 1:30 pm
Earth Day Wildflower Hike, Little Red Schoolhouse, Willow Springs
Check out the array of wildflowers as we walk the White Oak Trail. Hike will just exceed 1-mile in length. Registration required. Family program. Limit 20.
Sunday, 4/23; 10 am - 4 pm
Party for the Planet, Chicago Zoological Society/Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield
Celebrate Earth Day at Brookfield Zoo! Visit the Eco Expo featuring Earth friendly vendors, drop off recycling, enjoy live entertainment, plant a tree, and enjoy green activities and crafts. Party for the Planet is filled with educational, engaging, and fun activities for the entire family.
Sunday 4/23; 1 pm
Wildflower Walk, Sagawau Environmental Learning Center, Lemont
Enjoy a hike to observe the first blooms of the year. Learn to identify and appreciate wildflowers as they continue to bloom through the spring. Adults and ages 12 & up.
Sunday, 4/23; 1 pm
Conservation@Home: Easy Care Natives, Crabtree Nature Center, Barrington Hills
Learn how to landscape using easy-care native plants that support pollinators. Presented by U of I Extension Master Gardeners. Adults only. Registration required.
Friday, 4/28; 7:30 pm
The Astronomer’s Night Sky, Sand Ridge Nature Center, South Holland
View the planets through a telescope, clear skies permitting. In the event of poor skies, an astronomy lecture and slide show will be presented. Register by 4/26.
Saturday, 4/29; 12 -4 pm
Arbor Day Celebration, Bunker Hill, Chicago
Celebrate the grandeur of trees and learn why they’re vital to our community and our world. Enjoy tree planting, tree climbing, tree ID hikes and more. Call 312-415-2970 for more information.
Daily, 5/6 - 9/17; 10 am - 5 pm
Dinos and Dragons, Chicago Zoological Society/Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield
Brookfield Zoo’s summer Dinos & Dragons exhibit will feature 17 animatronic creatures, including the Stegosaurus, Apatosaurus, Tyrannosaurus rex, and Chinese dragon. Zoo-goers can also get up-close views of live reptiles, including a 6-foot-long Komodo dragon. The exhibit will feature hands-on activities, as well as a dinosaur dissection lab, dino dig boxes, and an excavation site.
Saturday and Sunday, 5/6 and 5/7; 10 am - 4:30 pm
Central States Dahlia Society Sale; Burnstein Hall, Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe
The Central States Dahlia Society presents its annual plant and root sale. The sale features dahlias in an array of sizes, shapes, and colors. This is a great opportunity to purchase dahlias seen on display at the society's annual show in September. Society members will be available to answer questions and provide written information about dahlia planting and care.
Saturday, 5/6; 6 am - Noon
Big Sit, Sagawau Environmental Learning Center, Lemont
Join the Forest Preserves at Sagawau for a bird count. We will tally the number of birds in a specified area.
Saturday, 5/6; 3 pm
Garden Talks: Scott Sampson, Ph.D. “How to Raise a Wild Child”; Alsdorf Auditorium, Regenstein Center, Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe
The title of Dr. Sampson’s book - How to Raise a Wild Child: The Art and Science of Falling in Love with Nature - says a lot about how the dinosaur paleontologist and science communicator believes children learn. Experiences in science and nature are critical to a child’s development, and Sampson helps make that important connection. Registration required and a fee applies.
Sunday, 5/7; 10 am - 3 pm
Spring Festival at Trailside, 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, dip netting, seed planting, building a bird house to take home, and much more.
Sunday, 5/7; 10 am - Noon
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 of birdwatching. Limited binoculars available. Registration required by 5/5.
Saturday, 5/9; 6:30 - 8 pm
Full Moon Qigong, Little Red Schoolhouse, Willow Springs
Under the full moon, we will awaken our life force (Qi) to the energies of the earth. Alice Kornblum, a certified Qigong instructor, will guide us on a mindful walk and then a moving meditation. Registration required. Interested teens and adults. Limit 30.
Wednesday, 5/10; 4 - 6:30 pm
Outdoor Adventures: Nature Obstacle Course & Adventure Night, Bremen Grove, Tinley Park
Calling all outdoor adventurers! Meet up for wilderness skill building, hiking, exploring, nature-based art making and more. Please call 312-533-5751 to reserve your spot or for more information. Families, try our outdoor challenge! Attempt our nature obstacle course-created from all natural forest materials (you can help create). Also, join our staff for archery instruction, nature crafts and other surprises.
Wednesday, 5/10; 5:30 - 7 pm
Camping 101, Camp Reinberg, 1801 N. Quentin, Palatine
Camping 101 is a hands-on workshop series designed to teach basic camping skills. Learn tent set-up, campfire cooking, camping fun, dressing for camping, camping etiquette and more. Join us on select Wednesday evenings through May. No registration required. FREE!
District(s): Districtwide
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