The Forest Preserves of Cook County is seeking proposals from local individuals and organizations to partner with our Conservation & Experiential Programming (CEP) Department. We are looking for public programs—such as community campouts, fishing clinics and arts events—that educate and inspire the public to become lifelong users, stewards and advocates for the Forest Preserves. Applications are reviewed seasonally with a focus on building deep community relationships across Cook County. Priority is given to projects that connect local networks, underserved groups and non-traditional users to the Forest Preserves.
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About the CEP Department
The mission of the CEP Department is to connect diverse audiences to nature through a wide range of educational and outdoor recreation experiences, that build lifelong relationships with the Forest Preserves and the natural world.
To achieve its mission, the CEP Department provides public programming and community engagement for the Forest Preserves. Public programming focuses on education and outdoor recreation opportunities for people to learn about and enjoy the preserves. Examples of public programming include nature and conservation education, outdoor adventures, camping, paddling, swim lessons at our three aquatic centers, and cultural and seasonal special events. Community engagement focuses on developing relationships with residents to connect them to the Forest Preserves and to energize their active use, stewardship and advocacy of the preserves.
The CEP Department’s public programming is focused at six nature centers, three aquatic centers, five campgrounds, and at sites with new or recently upgraded facilities such as Eggers Grove, Dan Ryan Woods, Thatcher Woods, Rolling Knolls, Cummings Square, Caldwell Woods and Swallow Cliff. Additionally, the CEP Department develops and hosts numerous special events and outdoor adventure recreation activities throughout the Forest Preserves.
The CEP Department has aligned its educational and outdoor recreation programming with the Forest Preserves’ Next Century Conservation Plan (NCCP). The NCCP is an ambitious and visionary strategy that lays out a set of bold actions to ensure that the Forest Preserves will continue to thrive and that the people of Cook County will treasure and sustain this amazing resource now and in the future. These four goals, as outlined in the NCCP, center the CEP Department’s work:
- Provide programs in the Forest Preserves that emphasize the benefits of nature for healthy people and healthy communities.
- Invite, excite and engage diverse visitors to the Forest Preserves from all walks of life.
- Make the Forest Preserves accessible to all.
- Educate visitors and the community about the Forest Preserves’ natural treasures.
Together with partners, the CEP Department is focused on advancing these four goals through community outreach processes, development of new partnerships, and the continuation of experiential programs delivered by staff and partners that expose the community to the benefits and wonders of nature.
The CEP Department continues to develop and implement a diverse program menu even with limited staff. The challenge is to develop relationships with partners at the local level who can assist with programming and who will become long-term advocates, stewards and ambassadors of the Forest Preserves.
While all ideas are welcome, we prioritize partnerships that connect new communities and networks to the Forest Preserves. Applications are most successful when they detail how the project will expand our community reach and outline the applicant’s strategy for recruiting an audience.
Submit a Proposal
To further its mission and connect more people to nature, the CEP Department seeks proposals from individuals and organizations interested in partnering to expand existing programs or develop new initiatives with the Forest Preserves.
Beyond providing space or a location, the Forest Preserves has a limited amount of funding (under $5,000 per organization) to support select, mission-aligned partnership proposals.
Please note: Our capacity to host free wellness programs (such as yoga, Zumba or forest bathing) led by paid instructors is limited. While free programs hosted at our locations follow a specific fee structure and term limit, independent wellness programs can instead be run through the Permits, Rentals, and Concessions (PRC) Department via athletic events, field rental and fitness class permits.
Application Timeline
If you have a programming or engagement partnership idea, we accept proposals according to the seasonal timeline below.
Please note: Proposals seeking non-monetary support (space only) can be submitted at any time and will be reviewed within three weeks.
| Program Season | Application Window | Review Period |
| Spring (March, April, May) | Apply previous year: June 2 to September 1 | September and October |
| Summer (June, July, August) | Apply previous year: September 2 to December 1 | December and January |
| Fall (September, October, November) | Apply same year: December 2 to March 1 | March and April |
| Winter (December, January, February) | Apply same year: March 2 to June 1 | June and July |
Pre-proposal Application
If your pre‑proposal is selected, you will be asked to submit a formal proposed scope of work. Once the formal scope is reviewed and approved, individuals or organizations seeking funding will need to complete a contract form, provide a Certificate of Insurance and submit any additional required paperwork. You can expect an initial response from the Forest Preserves within the review periods listed above. Please note that this initial response serves as the start of a conversation about your idea.
Contact [email protected] with any questions.
Current Event Locations
In order to understand some of the Forest Preserves’ programming strategies, marketing processes, regional spaces, etc., please see the resources below, in addition to our online events calendar.
Nature Centers
- Crabtree Nature Center, Barrington
- Little Red Schoolhouse, Willow Springs
- River Trail Nature Center, Northbrook
- Sagawau Environmental Learning Center, Lemont
- Sand Ridge Nature Center, South Holland
- Trailside Museum of Natural History, River Forest
Campgrounds
- Camp Bullfrog Lake, Willow Springs
- Camp Dan Beard, Northbrook
- Camp Reinberg, Palatine
- Camp Shabbona, South Holland
- Camp Sullivan, Oak Forest
Aquatic Centers
- Cermak Family Aquatic Center, Lyons
- Green Lake Family Aquatic Center, Calumet City
- Whealan Pool Aquatic Center, Chicago
Program Sites With Indoor Options
- Rolling Knolls, Elgin
- Thatcher Woods, River Forest
- Swallow Cliff Woods, Palos Park
- Dan Ryan Woods, Chicago
- Caldwell Woods Wellness Center, Chicago
Sample Annual Forest Preserves Events
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, Dan Ryan Woods
- Winter Exploration Days, various sites
- Maple Syrup Festival, River Trail Nature Cente
- Women In the Wild, Sand Ridge Nature Center
- Earth Day Events, various sites
- Spring Celebration, Trailside Museum & Thatcher Woods
- Nature Block Party, Eggers Grove
- Migratory Bird Day, various sites
- Nature Is Accessible, Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center
- Explore the Forest, Crabtree Nature Center
- Juneteenth Celebration, Sand Ridge Nature Center
- Beaubien Woods Celebration, Beaubien Woods
- Insect Fest, Cummings Square
- Kids Fest, Wampum Lake
- Teen Exploration Days, variou sites
- Hummingbird Festival, Sagawau Environmental Learning Center
- Party for the Preserves, various sites
- Stars, Stories & S’mores, various sites
- Fall Fest, River Trail Nature Center