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PROPOSED CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Department: Department of Conservation and Experiential Programming
Summary: Forest Preserves of Cook County Calendar- 2/24/2021 - 3/16/2021
Please check the Forest Preserves of Cook County’s website, www.fpdcc.com/events, for updates and changes.
Wednesday, 2/24; 10am (Facebook LIVE)
Creative Reuse to Reduce, River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook
In this tutorial demonstrating at-home projects to reduce waste and repurpose winter home goods, learn how to create planters from candle holders.
Thursday, 2/25; 10am
Twigs on the Trails, Little Red Schoolhouse, Willow Springs
Learn to identify all the different parts of a twig and what these features can tell you about the tree they are a part of while walking through the woods on one of our tree-lined trails. Registration and facemasks are required. Call 708-839-6897.
Thursday, 2/25; 2pm (Facebook LIVE)
Samplin’ Syrup, River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook
Trees provide us with an abundance of resources. Each week during the maple sap run we will talk trees and show you a new or interesting way to eat maple syrup. Send in your weird and crazy suggestions and see if our staff picks yours to try!
Friday, 2/26; 6pm
Moonwalk, Little Red Schoolhouse, Willow Springs
Let the moon be our guide as we hike the one-mile White Oak trail, and warm up by the fire while gazing at the night sky afterwards. Registration and facemasks are required. Call 708-839-6897.
Saturday, 2/27; 11am - 2pm
Explore: Westchester Woods, Westchester
Adults and families, come explore at Westchester Woods! Grab one of our provided self-guided nature activities. Roam around the preserve and try to discover animal tracks! If conditions are right, bring your sled and hit the sledding hill! Remember to take one of the take-home nature craft kits for you to continue your adventure at home. Facemasks required.
Saturday, 2/27; 1pm (Facebook Live)
This Old Birdhouse, Crabtree Nature Center, Barrington
Prepare your backyard for the upcoming nesting season with a birdhouse. Call to reserve your pre-cut kit and follow along with construction guidance on Facebook Live. Registration required. Call 847-381-6592. $5 per household.
Saturday, 2/27; 9am - 3pm
Black History Month: Underground Railroad Walks, Sandridge Nature Center, South Holland
Join us on a self-guided journey that follows the Underground Railroad route connected to the Calumet Region during the mid-1800s. Facemasks required.
Sunday, 2/28; 10am
House Hunting, Little Red Schoolhouse, Willow Springs
One of the necessities for survival is shelter. Where we have houses, condos, and apartments, in nature we find nests, lodges, dens, and other types of dwellings. Join us for a brisk walk along Farm Pond Trail. We encourage you to bring binoculars. Registration and facemasks are required. Call 708- 839-6897.
Thursday, 3/4; 10am
S.E.N.I.O.R.S., Little Red Schoolhouse, Willow Springs
Seniors Enjoying Nature Inside/Outside Rain or Shine! Join us for a nature inspired adventure for seniors. Ages 55+. Registration and facemasks are required. Call 708-839-6897.
Thursdays, 3/4, 3/11, 3/18; 2pm (Facebook LIVE)
Samplin’ Syrup, River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook
Trees provide us with an abundance of resources such as the sap used to make maple syrup. Each week during the sap run we’ll talk about this liquid gold and show you a new or interesting way to eat maple syrup. Send in your weird and crazy suggestions and see if our staff picks yours to try! All ages.
Friday, 3/5; 6pm
Evening Snowshoe 101, Camp Dan Beard, Northbrook
Come and learn the ins-and-outs of Snowshoeing, then participate in a short hike and look for animal tracks and listen for owls. Warm up afterword around a campfire. Snowshoes provided or bring your own. Requires four inches of hard snow. Registration and facemasks required. Visit https://tinyurl.com/y69malu2.
Saturday, 3/6; 10am
Walk and Talk, Thatcher Woods, River Forest
In celebration of Women’s Heritage Month, join us on a hike while we highlight conservation leader Isabel Bassett Wasson and the work and discoveries she made at Thatcher Woods and around the country. Space is limited. Registration and facemasks required. Call 312-533-5751 or visit hikethatcherwoods.eventbrite.com.
Sunday, 3/6; 10am
Fitness Walk: Having Fun Getting Fit in the Forest, Little Red Schoolhouse, Willow Springs
Getting fit is a common, and often repeated, new year resolution for many of us. To help inspire and support your efforts, we will be leading a fitness hike along our 1-mile White Oak Trail. Ten stations will be set up along the trail with suggested physical movements, mimicking something from nature that will help to enhance the fitness aspect of the hike. Registration and facemasks are required. Call 708-839-6897.
Saturdays and Sundays, 3/6, 3/7, 3/13, 3/14; 10:30am or 1:30pm
Sap’s Rising, River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook
Walk in the sugar maple forest to learn about the sweet process of maple syrup making. Registration and facemasks required. Call 847-824-8360. All ages.
Sunday, 3/7; 11am (Facebook Live)
Fascinating Fox Snake, Little Red Schoolhouse, Willow Springs
Learn what make the Fox Snakes of the Little Red Schoolhouse so fascinating on Facebook LIVE during a virtual animal encounter.
Sunday, 3/7; 1:30pm
Maple Tree Tapping, Trailside Museum, River Forest
Native Americans long ago discovered how to tap maple trees for sap, to make maple syrup and maple sugar. Join us on a short hike as we discuss the history of tapping. Tap a maple tree to taste some fresh sap and some finished syrup. Registration and facemasks required. Call 708-366-6530.
Sunday, 3/7; 10am, 10:45am, 11:30am, 12:15pm, 1pm, 1:45pm, 2:30pm
Winter Warm-Up, Crabtree Nature Center, Barrington
Warm yourself by the fire while treating yourself to s'mores and time with family. 30-minute time slots available for groups up to 10 people. Advanced registration and facemasks required. Call 847-381-6582. $3 per person, $10 per family of four.
Sunday, 3/7; 1:30pm
Conservation@Home: Composting and Soil, Sand Ridge Nature Center, South Holland
Composting is a great way to be sustainable at home. Join us as we go through the basics of composting and the importance of soil from personal gardens to entire ecosystems. Registration and facemasks required. Call 708-868-0606.
Tuesday, 3/9; 6:30pm (Zoom)
Nature Book Club: Highlighting Female Authors
Join us for a discussion of naturalist Lyanda Lynn Haupt's book Crow Planet, as we explore her research and perspective of humans and wildlife coexisting in an urbanizing world. Registration required.
www.eventbrite.com/e/nature-book-club-highlighting-female-authors.
Thursday, 3/11; 10am
Walk and Talk: Paw Paw Nature Preserve, Maple Lake-East, Willow Springs
Led by Illinois Extension Master Naturalist David Stang, this informative hike will take participants on a deep dive in the natural world around them. Meet at Maple Lake-East parking lot, the Mountain Bike Staging Area. Space is limited. Registration and facemasks required. Call 312-533-5751 or visit hikepawpaw.eventbrite.com.
Thursday, 3/11; 6pm (Zoom)
Birdwatching for Beginners
It is spring, which means the birds are back in town! In partnership with Blue Island Public Library, we will learn about birdwatching and how to spot the different species of birds that are native to Cook County. Registration required. Email scain@blueislandlibrary.org. The Zoom link will be sent to the email address used to register for the program the week of the event.
Saturday, 3/13; 10am - 2pm
Ecology for Kids! Sand Ridge Nature Center, South Holland
School-age children are invited to learn the basics of ecology, the relationships between living things and their environment, through various games and activities. Facemasks required.
Saturday, 3/13; 10am
Species Spotlight: Painted Turtles, Trailside Museum, River Forest
We will focus on a local turtle species to better understand their adaptations, behaviors and natural history in this outdoor program. We will also take a quick walk to our pond to see if any turtles are out! Facemasks required.
Saturday, 3/13; 7pm
New Moon Walk, Sand Ridge Nature Center, South Holland
Explore the peacefulness and darkness a new moon brings on this evening walk. Learn about the new moon cycle and its importance. Registration and facemasks required. Call 708-868-0606.
Sunday, 3/14; 1pm
Vernal Pools, Crabtree Nature Center, Barrington
Join us as we will learn more about this fleeting imperative ecosystem and the living things that depend on it for survival. Ages 12 and up. Registration and facemasks required. Call 847-381-6592.
Sunday, 3/14; 10am
Walk and Talk: Ella LaBagh Woods, LaBagh Woods-Grove 1, Chicago
Explore the diverse natural areas on North Branch Trail system at LaBagh Woods in a program led by and alongside other women on this 1.5-mile walk and talk hike. Registration and facemasks required. Visit
www.eventbrite.com/e/walk-and-talk-ella-labagh-woods.
Sunday, 3/14; 1pm - 3pm
DIY Salsa Garden Kit Pick Up, Maple Lake Boating Center, Willow Springs
Learn about seed life cycles and gardening by creating your own at home salsa garden. Pick up a kit to start seedlings indoors for spring planting, then harvest your ingredients to make homemade salsa. Kit will include seeds for cilantro, jalapeno plant, and tomato plant. Kit will include everything you need including biodegradable pots, soil, seeds, plant markers, plant care info and a recipe. Reserve your kit here https://tinyurl.com/1em8zoxi, facemask required at pick up..
Tuesday, 3/16; 1pm - 2pm
Signs of Spring-In Person Hike, Little Red Schoolhouse, Willow Springs
Search the Black Oak Trail for plants and animals that signify the arrival of spring. Registration and facemasks are required. Call 708-839-6897.
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