title
PROPOSED CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Department: Conservation and Experiential Programming
Summary: Forest Preserves of Cook County Calendar - 5/21/2019 - 6/25/2019
Coming in Spring
Bees & Beyond, Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe
Throughout the year, the Garden is focusing on Bees & Beyond, a program that inspires a genuine appreciation for the vital role pollinators play in our everyday lives and in maintaining a healthy, diverse plant. Look for pollinator-themed display gardens’ topiaries’ a months-long interactive exhibition. Pollinator’s Perspective; and more, including After Hours Buzz, a series of cocktail events with scientists. Explore the stunning diversity of pollinators and the ways you can help protect these important creatures. Learn more at the Chicago Botanic Garden website.
Fridays and Saturdays, 5/21 - 8/10; 5pm - 9pm
Summer Nights, Chicago Zoological Society, Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield
Brookfield Zoo’s summertime event is back for a sixth season! Enjoy the zoo in a new light with cooler evening weather, enhanced dining, beer and wine garden, live music, roaming performers, Animal Ambassadors, and a new laser light show, all surrounded by wildlife and nature.
Every Day, 5/22 - 9/29; (All day)
Brick Safari, Chicago Zoological Society/Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield
Brick Safari features more than 40 life-size animal sculptures created from millions of individual colored LEGO bricks! The menagerie of animals will be located along a winding, wooded pathway on the east side of the park, and many of the sculptures are based on some Brookfield Zoo favorites, such as the lion, giraffe, snow leopard, and pangolin. Open during zoo hours.
Saturday, 5/25; 10am - 5pm
Butterflies & Blooms, Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe
Immerse yourself in a garden habitat filled with hundreds of live butterflies from around the world, as well as some native to North America. Tickets are required.
Saturday, 5/25; 11am - 7pm
Aquatic Centers - Free Day (all locations)
Join us for opening day at our three aquatic centers, Cermak Family Aquatic Center, Green Lake Family Center, Whealan Pool Aquatic Center.
Saturday, 5/25; 12pm - 2pm
Sand Ridge by the Pool, Green Lake Aquatic Center, Calumet City
Nature Center staff will share animal artifacts and tools for nature exploration.
Sunday, 5/26; 1pm
Guided Spring Nature Hike, Trailside Museum, River Forest
Enjoy a naturalist-guided nature hike to discover signs of spring.
Sunday and Monday, 5/26 and 5/27; 1:30pm
Creature Feature, River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook
Stop in and say hello to one of the animals found in our Forest Preserves.
Saturday, 6/1; 6:30am
Plum Creek Forest Preserve Bird Walk, Plum Creek Meadow, Chicago Heights
Explore this ‘under-birded’ forest preserve as migration winds down. Targets include local breeding species like Acadian flycatcher, white-eyed vireo and yellow-breasted chat. Registration required.
Saturdays, 6/1 and 6/15; 10am
Canyon Tours, Sagawau Nature Center, Lemont
Sagawau Canyon highlights the geology of NE Illinois. Hike is over rough terrain; wading through a stream is necessary. Registration required. Call 630-257-2045. Starts the Monday prior to the program date.
Saturday, 6/1; 9:30am - 2:30pm
Little Calumet River Day at Kickapoo Woods, Kickapoo Woods Boat Launch, Riverdale
Canoe and kayak while helping clean the Little Calumet River. Registration required.
Sunday, 6/2; 12pm - 4pm
Explore the Forest, Crabtree Nature Center, Barrington
Celebrate the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Climb a tree, meet a critter, check out the restoration equipment, try archery and get your bike checked over.
Tuesday, 6/4 thru Monday, 9/2; 10am - 4pm
Nature Play Garden Family Drop-In Activities, Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe
Activities provide hands-on activities for families and children daily in the Regenstein Learning Campus.
Tuesday, 6/4 thru Monday, 9/2
Evenings, Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe
Long summer nights are the perfect time to unwind with friends and family during the Garden’s extended summer hours (until 9pm). Pack a picnic and enjoy special live music performances for all ages, 4 nights a week.
Thursday, 6/6; 10am - 1:30pm
Kayak the Des Plaines, Maywood Grove, Maywood
Kayak nearly 6 miles of the Des Plaines River from Maywood Grove to Plank Road Meadow. Instruction, equipment and kayaks provided. Registration required.
Saturday, 6/8; 11am - 3pm
Beaubien Woods Celebration, Beaubien Woods, Chicago
Have fun at this annual family event sponsored in partnership with Fishin’ Buddies, and the Calumet Stewardship Initiative. Fish, explore, and build with natural materials, hike, and more! Register at
Thursday, 6/13; 5pm - 7pm
Oriole Express, Sagawau Nature Center, Lemont
Enjoy watching the orioles while a naturalist discusses their behavior and how to attract them to your yard.
Friday, 6/14; 7:30pm
Twilight Hike, River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook
Learn about animals and more on a guided walk at night. Registration required. Call 847-824-8360.
Saturday, 6/15; 10am - 3pm
Juneteenth Celebration, Sand Ridge Nature Center, South Holland
Join us as we celebrate freedom, family, and Country with our historical Underground Railroad program. Enjoy history displays, an interactive interpretive hike, traditional music, wild edibles, crafts and much more.
Saturday, 6/15; 9am - 12pm
Busse Woods Earth, Air, Water & Fire Day, Busse Lake Boating Center, Elk Grove
Comm. Kevin B. Morrison invites everyone to explore Busse Woods. Join a fishing derby and enjoy casting lessons, kids tree climb, local eats and visits from the Shedd Aquarium and Brookfield Zoo. Free. Info and registration, call 773-485-8006.
Friday through Saturday, 6/21 - 6/22
Family Campouts, Camp Shabbona Woods, South Holland, Camp Dan Beard, Northbrook
Overnight intro to camping for families. Includes meals, all camping gear and outdoor fun. $75/family (of up to 6 people). Camperships available.
Friday, 6/21; 8pm
Frogs! Crabtree Nature Center, Barrington
Did you know frogs can be identified by their croak? We will search for and learn to identify the frogs that call Crabtree home. Registration required. Call 847-381-6592.
Saturday, 6/22; 11am - 2pm
Pride in the Preserves, Caldwell Woods Warming Shelter, Chicago
In partnership with the Northwest Side Coalition Against Racism & Hate, join us in celebrating Pride month and commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. Everyone is welcome!
Saturday, 6/22; 8am - 11am
Fishing Derbies, Maple Lake, Willow Springs
Join the Village of Palos Park and the Forest Preserves for a family-fun day of fishing.
end