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Celebrate Earth Day with the Forest Preserves

an Earth Day banner at Sand Ridge Nature Center

Cook County is home to nearly 70,000 acres of wild and wonderful forest preserves, which help clean our air and water and absorb carbon emissions and stormwater. The Forest Preserves of Cook County is hosting events across Cook County in celebration of Earth Day to encourage and inspire residents of all ages to give back to nature or just enjoy time outdoors! 

“Celebrating Earth Day is an easy and meaningful way for folks to learn more about and enjoy the local habitats in the Forest Preserves, which are the home to millions of plants, animals and other living things. And participating in a cleanup is a great way to explore the Forest Preserves while renewing a commitment to the natural environment,” said Forest Preserves General Superintendent Arnold Randall.


Earth Day Events


a group of volunteers standing around the trash they collected from the forest preserves
Fri, Apr 19 • 3 pm

Earth Day Cleanup

Jerome Huppert Woods • River Grove, IL 60171
a group of volunteers standing around the trash they collected from the forest preserves
Sat, Apr 20 • 9 am

Earth Day

Busse Lake Boating Center • Cook County, IL 60007 (near Elk Grove Village)
a group of volunteers with full trash bags
Sat, Apr 20 • 9 am

Earth Day

Caldwell Woods • Chicago, IL 60646
an Earth Day banner at Sand Ridge Nature Center
Sat, Apr 20 • 10 am

Celebrate Earth Day Activities

Trailside Museum of Natural History • River Forest, IL 60305
a group of volunteers standing around the trash they collected from the forest preserves
Sat, Apr 20 • 10 am

Earth Day

Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473
an Earth Day banner at Sand Ridge Nature Center
Sat, Apr 20 • 11 am

Earth Day Celebration

Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480
A naturalist shows and discusses a tiny owl and owl feathers at an Earth Day event.
Sat, Apr 20 • 11 am

Earth Day Birthday

Sauk Trail Woods-Central • South Chicago Heights, IL 60411
a group of volunteers standing around the trash they collected from the forest preserves
Sat, Apr 20 • 12 pm

Earth Day Cleanup

Miller Meadow-South • Cook County, IL 60130 (near Forest Park)
A naturalist shows and discusses a tiny owl and owl feathers at an Earth Day event.
Sat, Apr 20 • 12 pm

Earth Day Nature Play

Crabtree Nature Center • Barrington, IL 60010
a volunteer removing garlic mustard, invasive species, at McClaughrey Springs Woods
Mon, Apr 22 • 9:30 am

Ecological Restoration: Garlic Mustard Pull

Sagawau Environmental Learning Center • Lemont, IL 60439

After Earth Day

Anyone can commit to regularly volunteering in the Forest Preserves through the Select Organized Litter Obliterators (SOLO) program. SOLO volunteers can help by collecting litter on their own, or with a small group of family or friends, at one of our Litter Hotspots or any Forest Preserves location they choose. Explore even more opportunities to join our volunteer community on our Volunteer Page.