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PROPOSED CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Department: Department of Conservation and Experiential Programming
Summary: Forest Preserves of Cook County Calendar- 10/20/2020 - 11/17/2020
Please check the Forest Preserves of Cook County’s website, www.fpdcc.com/events, for updates and changes.
Wednesdays in October; 10:30am- 11:30am
Open Nature Play Day, Dan Ryan Woods, Chicago
Register your play group, day care, or homeschool for this hour-long open nature play time. Enjoy the new Dan Ryan Woods Nature Play space while helping your children connect with nature. Registration and facemasks required.
Tuesday, 10/20; 10am - 12pm
Fall Color Hike: Skokie Lagoons, Forest Way Grove, Glencoe
Head outdoors, learn about your local forest preserves, and explore the Skokie Lagoons in the fourth installment of this walk and talk series (under 2 miles). Registration and facemasks are required.
Tuesday, 10/20; 7pm (Via Zoom)
Create Your Own Adventure in the Forest Preserves of Cook County
In partnership with the LaGrange Public Library, learn all about the Forest Preserves of Cook County through this virtual presentation. History, uses, amenities, and fall and winter offerings will be discussed. Q&A will end the presentation. Registration required. Call 312-533-5751. A Zoom link will be e-mailed to you the day of the presentation.
Thursday, 10/22; 6:30pm
Owl Prowl, Eggers Grove, Chicago
Join a naturalist for an evening walk while searching for owls. Registration and facemasks required.
Friday, 10/23 and Saturday, 10/24; 6pm - 8pm (Timed entry)
Hoot n’ Howl - Creatures of the Night Flashlight Hike, Trailside Museum, River Forest
As darkness falls, we give you a flashlight to head off on your own on a short trail. Look for hints along the way to help you spot some of the not-so-real creatures that come out at night. You might just spot some real ones too. For families. Registration and facemasks are required.
Saturday, 10/24; 10am - 2pm
The Great Sand Ridge (Tiny) Pumpkin Hunt, Sand Ridge Nature Center, South Holland
Find all the hidden pumpkins on a fun scavenger hunt on our trails. Costumes encouraged but not required. Take home a tiny pumpkin for finding them all (one pumpkin per child while supplies last). Facemasks required.
Saturday, 10/24; 1:30pm - 2:30pm (Facebook Live)
Let’s Talk Owls, Little Red Schoolhouse, Willow Springs
Learn why owls are not just iconic Halloween animals, but also amazing birds of prey, by joining a Facebook Live chat with a naturalist and an ambassador owl.
Saturday, 10/24; 6:30pm - 8:30pm
River Trail Nightlife: Scary Stories & Scavenger Hunt, River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook
River Trail’s annual Scary Storytelling around the campfire, physical distance edition!
Call for more information. Limited space available. Registration and facemasks required. Fee: $3/person.
Sunday, 10/25; 1:30pm
Out in Nature: Fall Color Walk, Sand Ridge Nature Center, South Holland
Join fellow LGBTQ+ nature lovers for a fall color walk. In partnership with Chicago Audubon Society's Out in Nature initiative. Registration and facemasks required.
Sunday, 10/25; 1pm (Via Zoom)
Insects and the Afterlife
Since our earliest ancestors we have placed special significance on Insects, particularly associating insects with death and the afterlife. Learn about these connections as we explore the biblical plagues of locusts and grasshoppers and the many myths surrounding fireflies. Registration required. Call 847-381-6592. A Zoom link will be sent after you register.
Thursday 10/29; 5:30pm - 7pm
Camping 101, Camp Reinberg, Palatine
Free demonstration-based workshop series teaching basic camping skills. Bring a folding chair/blanket for seating as well as your own skewers and marshmallows to roast during the program. Do you have your own tent, but need practice setting it up? Bring it and we will walk you through it! Registration and facemasks required.
Thursday, 10/29; 3:30pm - 5:30pm
Halloween Family Photography Night, Evans Field, River Forest
Kids and families dress up in your Halloween costume and join us for a walk along the Des Plaines River Trail. Take pictures in your costumes in nature or capture spooky nature pictures along the way. Advanced cameras or camera phones work just fine! After the guided walk, warm up by our physically-distanced fires. Registration and facemasks required.
Friday, 10/30; 12pm - 2pm (Timed entry)
Día de Lotería en la Escuelita Roja (Day of the dead celebration event), Little Red Schoolhouse, Willow Springs
Come play nature style Mexican bingo and learn how to say some of our native critters’ names in Spanish. Registration and facemasks required.
Saturday, 10/31; 1pm
Fall Hike, Sagawau Nature Center, Lemont
Enjoy a refreshing trail hike, winding through the woodlands and prairie. Registration and facemasks required.
Sunday, 11/1; 9am - 12pm
Heart Your Park: Day of Service, Sagawau Nature Center, Lemont
In celebration of National Bison Day, and in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association; join us in removing invasive species and help nature thrive during a Day of Service sponsored by CITGO. Registration and facemasks required.
Saturday, 11/7; 10am - 12:00pm
Bison Day Celebration, Little Red Schoolhouse, Willow Springs
Join us to celebrate North America's National Mammal! In conjunction with Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, we will be conducting in person activities including a bison scavenger hunt, hikes, and an opportunity to take a selfie with a life-sized bison cut out (#BisonCrawl). Registration and facemasks required.
Saturday, 11/14; 10am (Facebook Live)
Nature in Spanish, Sand Ridge Nature Center, South Holland
Learn some common nature words and phrases in Spanish as we explore a different nature topic each month. Beginners welcome.
Saturday, 11/14; 9am - 12pm
Thanksgiving Drive and Drop Food Drive, Thatcher Woods Pavilion , River Forest
Help your neighbors in a safe way! In partnership with Proviso Partners for Health and the Maywood Park District, we are collecting healthy non-perishable food to benefit local residents. There will be staff present to collect your food donations. Visit the Forest Preserves website for a specific list of most needed items.
Saturday through Sunday, 11/14 - 11/15 and 11/21 - 11/22; 10am - 4:30pm
Community Tree Trim, Chicago Zoological Society/Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield
Get into the holiday spirit early by registering a community group for the community tree trim. Assemble your group, make your ornaments, and head to the zoo to decorate your tree. Sponsoring a tree is a beautiful way to support the zoo and celebrate the 39th annual Holiday Magic! Register on Brookfield zoo website.
Tuesday, 11/17 (Various times and locations)
National Take a Hike Day
Vollmer Road Grove, Matteson; 8am
Plum Creek, Chicago Heights; 1pm
St. Mihiel, Tinley Park; 4pm
Celebrate National Take a Hike Day with a guided walk through the woods. Registration and facemasks required. Call 312-415-2970.
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