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PROPOSED CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Department: Forest Preserves of Cook County Calendar 5/18/2018 - 6/5/2018
Summary: Friday, 5/18; 6pm - 8pm
Campfire Cooking Workshop; Camp Reinberg, Palatine
Learn how to make great tasting and easy meals over a fire using cast-iron and basic campfire cooking techniques. Ages 14 & up. Registration required, email experience.camping@cookcountyil.gov.
Friday, 5/18 - Sunday, 5/20; 10am - 4pm
Get Growing Weekend, Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe
Get Growing weekend includes a plant sale featuring one-of-a -kind plants and unique containers, spring marketplace, demonstration, and talks.
Saturday, 5/19; 6am - noon
“The Big Sit” Birdwatching; Trailside Museum of Natural History, River Forest
Join us for a relaxed bird-watching experience. Stop by anytime to see how many birds we can spot or hear. All ages.
Saturday, 5/19; 6am - noon
Big Sit; Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center, Willow Springs
Join us and help record all of the birds seen or heard from a 17-foot circle. No registration required.
Saturday, 5/19; 1:30pm
Frog Frenzy!; Sand Ridge Nature Center, South Holland
Come prepared to wade in the pond and dip one of our nets. Will you find a tadpole, adult bullfrog, or something that will surprise you? Forest Preserves staff to watch as many bird species as possible when viewed from a fixed location within a 17-foot circle.
Saturday, 5/19; 11am - 3pm
Nature Block Party: Biodiversity Celebration; Eggers Grove, Chicago
Discover the flora and fauna of the Calumet region and our urban forest preserves. Join us for restoration, nature walks, games, biking and more. All ages. Limited number of bikes. Registration required for groups over 20.
Sunday, 5/20; Race starts at 8am
Des Plaines Canoe and Kayak Marathon; Dam #2 Woods, Mount Prospect
Join the second oldest continual canoe race in the United States! Race begins at Oak Springs Road in Libertyville and ends at Dam #2 in Mount Prospect. Free for spectators. Race starts at 8am, activities at Dam #2 start at 11am. To register, visit canoemarathon.com.
Sunday, 5/20; 1 pm
Botanical Beverages; Crabtree Nature Center, Barrington Hills
Did you know some common medications and popular teas come from native wildflowers? Explore the medicinal purposes of these plants and make your own unique tea.
Sunday, 5/20; 1:30pm
Birds of Prey Series: Owls; River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook
Learn about the unique characteristics that help our native birds of prey survive. Live raptors will be on display.
Tuesday, 5/22; 5:30 - 7pm
Camping 101: For Outdoor Youth Organizations; Camp Dan Beard, Northbrook
Master the basics of camping during these free, hands-on workshops for camping skills and teamwork. Learn the basics of tent set-up, campfire building, proper dress, camping etiquette, and more. Registration and adult supervision required; space limited. Register at experience.camping@cookcountyil.gov.
Wednesday, 5/23; 10am - 2pm
Nature is Accessible!; Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center, Willow Springs
Visitors of all abilities are invited to celebrate nature through accessible activities. No registration required.
Thursday, 5/24; 6pm
Kayak 101; Trailside Museum of Natural History, River Forest
Enjoy learning the basics of kayaking and practice paddling on our pond at Trailside. All equipment provided. Ages 8 & up.
Saturday, 5/26; 10am
The Sun, Our Nearest Star; Sand Ridge Nature Center, South Holland
View the sun through a filtered telescope with our staff astronomer and learn amazing facts about our nearest star. A slide program will be presented in case of poor weather. Registration required.
Saturday, 5/26; season opening
Butterflies & Blooms, Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe
Immerse yourself in a garden habitat filled with hundreds of live butterflies. The popular, family-friendly destination returns to the Regenstein Learning Campus. Fee applies.
Saturday, 5/26; season opening
Garden Chef Series, Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe
Learn from top area chefs how to use seasonal, garden-fresh produce in creative ways. Seating is first come, first served for the free demonstrations on Saturdays and Sundays, 1:30 and 2:30 p.m., in the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden’s open-air amphitheater.
Saturday, 5/26-Monday 09/03
Zoo Express PACE Bus
Four routes provide summer weekend express bus service to Brookfield Zoo-Route 770 CTA Green Line Harlem Station via CTA Blue Line Forest Park Transit Center - Brookfield Zoo; Route 771 CTA Pink Line 54th/Cermak Station - Brookfield Zoo; Route 772 CTA Red Line 95th/Dan Ryan Station - Brookfield Zoo; Route 778 Northwest Chicago - Brookfield Zoo (one Saturday each month June - August) - Fare is $2.00 with a Ventra Card or $2.25 without.
Sunday, 5/27; 1pm Bird Walks
Pollinator Super Powers; Crabtree Nature Center, Barrington Hills
If you enjoy things like coffee, tea or even chocolate covered strawberries, then you owe it to pollinators. Join us in learning all about super pollinators.
Sunday, 5/27; 1pm
Tallgrass Prairie Hike; Sagawau Environmental Learning Center, Lemont
Join us for a hike around the Blenz Prairie. See what is blooming and how the prairie is responding to restoration efforts.
Sunday & Monday, 5/27 - 5/28; 1:30pm
Creature Feature; River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook
Stop in and say hello to one of the animals found in our forest preserves.
Thursday, 5/31; Noon - 2pm
Adult Archery and Nature Hike; Thatcher Woods, River Forest
Adults are invited to stay active and try their hand at a new or old pastime. Enjoy a brief nature hike on the trails while you wait for your next turn. Ages 18 & up. Groups of 10 or more, registration required. 708-386-4042
Saturday, 6/2; 9:30am - 2:30pm
Little Calumet River Day; Kickapoo Woods, Riverdale
Sharpen your canoe and kayak skills while helping clean one of Chicagoland’s main waterways. All ages. Register by emailing lbarghusen@openlands.org
Saturday, 6/2; 10am
Shinrin-Yoku; Forest Bath; Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center, Willow Springs
Explore the many benefits of forest bathing before immersing ourselves among the trees and awakening our senses to the sights, smells and sounds of nature. Ages 18 & up. Registration required.
Sunday, 6/3; 1pm
Sagawau Science: Spotting Bees in the Field; Sagawau ELC, Lemont
Help conserve bumblebees and honey bees by taking pictures of them. Sagawau staff will help you submit them to Bee Spotter.
Sunday, 6/3; 9:00am - noon
Commissioner Schneider’s Fishing Derby; Busse Woods/Lake, Grove 25, Elk Grove
Bring your friends, family and fishing gear and try to catch the largest, smallest or squirmiest fish. To register, call 847-640-1632 or email tim.schneider@cookcountyil.gov and provide a name, address, email, phone number and number attending. All Ages.
Sunday, 6/3; Noon - 4pm
Explore the Forest, 100 Years and Growing; Crabtree Nature Center, Barrington Hills
Climb a tree, touch a truck, try archery, meet a critter, get a bike check-over and more. See the many ways to enjoy your Forest Preserves.
Monday, 6/4; 9:30 - 11:30am
Family Nature Play Day; Skokie Lagoons, Erickson Woods, Winnetka
Kick-off the summer with nature activities, pop-up nature play area, story time, and loose parts play for all ages! This event is in partnership with The Winnetka Alliance for Early Childhood, Back Yard Nature Center, Chicago Botanic Garden, Lincoln Park Zoo, North Suburban Special Education District, and Winnetka Public Library. Nature play activities 9:30-11am; Story time 11-11:30am. Group registration required.
Tuesday, 6/5; 5:30 - 7pm
Camping 101 for Outdoor Youth Organizations; Camp Sullivan, Oak Forest
Master the basics of camping during these free, hands-on workshops for camping skills and teamwork. Learn the basics of tent set-up, campfire building, proper dress, camping etiquette, and more. Registration and adult supervision required; space limited. Register at experience.camping@cookcountyil.gov.
SAVE THE DATE: Tuesday, 6/12, 10 am to 2 pm
Live Healthy Discover Nature, Daley Plaza, Chicago
The Forest Preserves comes downtown and takes over Daley Plaza with birds of prey, reptiles and information and prizes from many of our partners. This year a Forest Jam Band will perform along with young poets who have created poetry about nature and the preserves for a special 1 pm performance.
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