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PROPOSED CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Department: Department of Conservation and Experiential Programming
Summary: Forest Preserves of Cook County Calendar 11/2/2021 - 12/14/2021
Please check the Forest Preserve of Cook County’s website, www.fpdcc.com/events, for updates and changes.
Saturdays and Sundays, 11/2 through 11/24
Boo! at the Zoo, Chicago Zoological Society/Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield
This not-so-scary and fun-filled event has something for the entire family to enjoy, including tons of themed activities.
Friday, 11/5; 5:30pm - 8:30pm
Songs, Stars and S’mores, Caldwell Woods Warming Shelter, Chicago
Join us for this annual night out in the Forest Preserves! Enjoy a cozy fire, s’mores, songs, astronomy, night hikes, bat sonar activity, and more. Stargazing provided by ‘Scopes in the City and music by Bach to Rock. Free. All ages. Facemasks required.
Saturday, 11/6; 10am
Bison Day Migration Hike, Little Red Schoolhouse, Willow Springs
Join a naturalist on a guided natural history hike by the prairie as we discuss bison and other fall migrants. Ages 8 and up. Registration and facemasks required.
Sunday, 11/7; 1pm
Queen Quest, Sagawau Nature Center, Lemont
Where do bumble bee queens overwinter? Join naturalists on a search for dormant queens. Registration and facemasks required.
Sunday, 11/7; 11am, 12:30pm, or 2pm
GPS Scavenger Hunt, River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook
Learn about and participate in a technology-inspired scavenger hunt. Limited space. Registration and facemasks required.
Friday, 11/12; 5:30pm - 8pm
Stars Stories and S’mores, Dan Ryan Woods, Chicago
Join us for s’mores by the fire, storytelling, astronomy, and more. Facemasks required.
Friday, 11/12; 5:30pm
Cooking 101, Camp Dan Beard, Northbrook
Join us around the campfire and learn how to cook some delicious meals for your next camping trip. Recipes will pay tribute to Native American Heritage Month. Ages 12 and up. Registration and facemasks required.
Saturday, 11/12-January 2, 2022 (select dates)
Lightscape, Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe
Bask in the glow of thousands of twinkling lights in favorites like the Winter Cathedral and new delights you’ve never seen before. Tickets for this event are timed in 15-minute increments to stagger visitors for a better experience. Visit the Chicago Botanic Garden’s website for more information.
Saturday, 11/13; 10am - 12pm
America Recycles Day, Deer Grove-East, Palatine
Join us in giving everyday items new life! Learn about recycling, turn trash into treasure with creative reuse projects, and save your gently used clothing from the landfill by contributing to our clothing drive benefiting WINGS Program, Inc. WINGS is a non-profit providing housing, integrated services, education and advocacy to end domestic violence. Donations accepted: gently used men’s, women’s (particularly tops, shirts, sweaters, dresses, and skirts), and children’s clothing free of stains and holes. Free. All ages. Facemasks required
Saturday, 11/13; 10am - 12pm
Nature Play Date: Earth Art, Sand Ridge Nature Center, South Holland
Let nature spark your creativity by creating art using natural materials for future visitors to enjoy. Facemasks required.
Sunday, 11/14; 1pm
Map and Compass Walk, Crabtree Nature Center, Barrington
In the age of GPS, using a map and compass for navigation may not seem necessary, but when batteries and signals fail, knowing how to read a map can save your life. Join us to learn how to use these survival tools and practice on a 1.5-mile hike. Registration and facemasks required.
Sunday, 11/14; 1:30pm
Changing Seasons, River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook
Learn how local nature adjusts to the changing seasons and prepares for winter. Facemasks required.
Sunday, 11/14; 1pm
Nature Still Life Drawing, Sagawau Nature Center, Lemont
Still life drawing is a great way to learn many basics and enhance your artistic skill. Learn basic shading and rendering techniques. Ages 14 and up. Registration and facemasks required.
Wednesday, 11/17; 12pm
Crafternoon, Swallow Cliff Woods, Palos Park
Let nature inspire your creativity. We will have various arts and crafts projects for you to take part in, all with a nature theme. All ages. Registration and facemasks required. Call 312.533.5751.
Thursday, 11/18; 5:30pm - 7pm
Camping 101, Camp Reinberg, Palatine
Free hands-on workshop designed to teach anyone basic camping skills. Topics include tent setup, campfire cooking, camping fun, dressing for camping, camping etiquette, and more. Have a tent from home you need to practice setting up? Bring it with and we will walk you through it. Registration and facemasks required.
Friday, 11/19; 3am- 5am
Partial Lunar Eclipse Viewing, Little Red Schoolhouse, Willow Springs
Join us as we view the maximum time of eclipse unfold in the early hours of the morning. Although the eclipse begins at midnight, we will keep watch during the most important time as the moon is closest to the center of the shadow. Bring a chair and binoculars if you have them; limited pairs to lend.
Registration and facemasks required.
Saturday, 11/20; 10am - 1pm
Explore: Cherry Hill Woods, Cherry Hill Woods, Palos Park
Adults and families come explore with us at Cherry Hill Woods! Grab a self-guided exploration activity or join our staff on one of our guided hikes. We will have a litter pickup if you would like to help in cleaning up the preserve, a fire to warm up by, and a fun nature craft. Facemasks required.
Sunday, 11/21; 1:30pm
Nocturnal Hunters Owls, River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook
Learn about the different attributes that make owls unique and fascinating. Facemasks required.
Sunday, 11/21; 1pm
Duck, Duck, Goose? Crabtree Nature Center, Barrington
Watching ducks on a lake can be a fun, relaxing and easy birdwatching activity. Learn to identify our resident waterfowl with close-up mounts to examine. Registration and facemasks required.
Friday, 11/26; 7pm
Gratitude Nature Night Hike, Little Red Schoolhouse, Willow Springs
Hike with a naturalist as we share what we are thankful for in nature. Gratitude improves our health, helps people feel positive emotions, and is strongly associated with greater happiness. Registration and facemasks required.
Friday through Sunday, 11/26 through 11/28
Holiday Magic, Chicago Zoological Society/Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield
Now in our 40th year, get ready to visit Chicagoland’s largest and longest-running lights festival featuring over two million twinkling LED lights!
Friday, 11/26; 1pm
Walk off the turkey, Sand Ridge Nature Center, South Holland
Rustle through the fallen leaves on a guided fitness walk. Registration and facemasks required.
Saturday, 11/27; 1pm
Dendrophilia: Love of Trees, Little Red Schoolhouse, Willow Springs
Celebrate your love of trees with grounding activities and a fall color walk along the 1-mile White Oak Trail. Registration and facemasks required.
Saturday, 11/27; 1pm
Fossil Hike, Sagawau Nature Center, Lemont
Find out why dinosaur fossils aren’t found in the Chicago region, but ancient marine fossils are. Be sure to bring sturdy shoes and bottled water to head out on a 2-mile hike to visit a fossil bed and learn how these fossils formed. Registration and facemasks required.
Tuesday, 11/30; 3:30pm - 5:30pm
Holly-day Crafternoon, Caldwell Woods Warming Shelter, Chicago
With the winter holidays around the corner, create homemade crafts and decorations while surrounded by a cozy indoor fire. Free. All ages. Facemasks required. For group registration, call 224-456-8602.
Wednesday, 12/1-12/31 (select dates); 4:30 - 11 pm
Holiday Magic, Chicago Zoological Society/Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield
Now in our 40th year, get ready to visit Chicagoland’s largest and longest-running lights festival featuring over two million twinkling LED lights!
Saturday, 12/4; 1:30pm
Hike: Isabel Bassett Wasson, Thatcher Pavilion, River Forest
Explore the rich history of local environmentalist Isabel Bassett Wasson, and her links to Trailside Museum and Thatcher Woods, on a mile-long hike. Ages 16 and up. Registration and facemasks required. Call 708-366-6530.
Saturday, 12/4; 10am - 12pm
Nature for Little Ones: No Snow? No Problem! Sand Ridge Nature Center, South Holland
Little ones with their families are invited to a nature drop-in program just for them! We will learn to make our own snow. Registration and facemasks required.
Sunday, 12/5; 11am - 2pm
GPS Scavenger Hunt, Little Red Schoolhouse, Willow Springs
Have some fun looking for the treasures hidden on our trails using GPS technology. Training and equipment available to registered participants. Registration and facemasks required.
Sunday, 12/5; 1pm
Winter Ramble, Crabtree Nature Center, Barrington
Enjoy a 1.4-mile stroll with a naturalist to enjoy the beauty of winter and discover what nature will reveal. Facemasks required.
Sunday, 12/5; 11am - 2pm
Bird Feeding, River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook
Stop by to learn the basics about winter bird feeding and pick up a do-it-yourself pinecone bird feeder craft. Facemasks required.
Thursday, 12/9; 2pm
Snowshoeing 101, River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook
Check in with us virtually to learn about snowshoeing opportunities. Facemasks required.
Friday, 12/10; 1pm - 3:45pm
Bird Painting Workshop Step-by-Step (Northern Cardinal), Trailside Museum, River Forest
Sketch and paint a local bird using a 9” x 12” canvas and acrylic paints. For both beginners and more experienced artists. All materials provided. $5 per person. Ages 15 and up. Registration and facemasks required. Call 708-366-6530.
Saturday, 12/11; 4pm - 8pm
Winter Bonfire, Camp Dan Beard, Northbrook
Celebrate the start of the winter season with a giant bonfire under the night sky. Enjoy a bonfire, crafts, night sky activities, and more. Park at Pottawatomie Woods and take shuttle. Facemasks required.
Saturday, 12/11; 12pm - 3pm
Stairs, Stories, and S ’mores, Swallow Cliff Woods, Palos Park
Stair climbing, story trail, sledding, snowshoeing, s’more making. Join us for a fun afternoon of winter activities, both inside and out. Sledding and snowshoeing only available if weather permits. For more information, call 312.533.5751. Facemasks required.
Saturday, 12/11; 10am - 2pm
DIY Green Holiday, Sand Ridge Nature Center, South Holland
Visit our pioneer cabins as we celebrate winter holiday traditions. Play with handmade toys, make a craft, and see what’s cooking on the open fire. Facemasks required.
Saturday, 12/11 and Sunday, 12/12; 9am - 3pm
The Giving Tree, Crabtree Nature Center, Barrington
Drop off new books and games all day to donate to Toys for Tots, then stay to make a seasonal craft out of natural/recycled materials. Facemasks required.
Sunday, 12/12; 11am - 3pm
Christmas Past, Sand Ridge Nature Center, South Holland
Visit our pioneer cabins as we celebrate winter holiday traditions. Play with handmade toys, make a craft, and see what’s cooking on the open fire. Facemasks required.
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