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Commit to a Day of Service in Honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.

a group of volunteers with full trash bags

The Forest Preserves of Cook County is honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. with a Day of Service.

Join us for a self-led volunteer litter cleanup on January 17, 2022 and make a direct impact on the health and beauty of your local forest preserves. From casually discarded cans to intentionally dumped tires, every bit of trash left in the Forest Preserves hurts our natural areas and the plants and animals that depend on them. Contact Credell.walls@cookcountyil.gov or Erin.Scheffler@cookcountyil.gov with questions.

Don’t forget to snap a selfie and share your service in action by tagging #fpdcc on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram!

We will provide bags and gloves for volunteers at the following locations:


Crabtree Nature Center
3 Stover Rd
847-381-6592

Jan. 17, 10 am – 2 pm


Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center
9800 Willow Springs Rd
708-839-6897

Jan. 17, 10 am – 2 pm


River Trail Nature Center
3120 Milwaukee Ave
847-824-8360

Jan. 17, 10 am – 2 pm


Sagawau Environmental Learning Center
12545 West 111th St
630-257-2045

Jan. 17, 10 am – 2 pm


Sand Ridge Nature Center
15891 Paxton Ave
708-868-0606

Jan. 17, 10 am – 2 pm. Includes ecological restoration and invasive species removal and a self-guided poetry trail walk.


Trailside Museum of Natural History
738 Thatcher Ave
708-366-6530

Jan. 17, 10 am – 2 pm


Dan Ryan Woods Visitor Center
S Western Ave & W 87th St

Jan. 17, 12 – 3 pm. Meet at Dan Ryan Woods Pavilion. Includes a self-guided storybook trail, tree walk and activity bags for learning at home.


Caldwell Woods
W Devon Ave & N Nagle Ave
Chicago, IL 60646 (view web map of Caldwell Woods)

Jan. 17, 1 – 3 pm


Miller Meadow-South
1st Ave, south of Roosevelt Rd
Cook County, IL 60130 (view web map of Miller Meadow-South)
(near Forest Park)

Jan. 17, 11 am – 2pm. Meet at Grove #6.


Sauk Trail Woods-North
W 26th St, west of Euclid Ave
South Chicago Heights, IL 60411 (view web map of Sauk Trail Woods-North)

Jan. 17, 10 am – 1 pm


Don’t see a location for you? You can help clean up anywhere! Our Select Organized Litter Obliterators (SOLO) opportunity is for anyone who wants to clean up at a forest preserve, any time from sunrise to sunset. Head out solo, with a partner or small group to help remove litter and improve the health and beauty of your local natural areas—and enjoy the physical and mental health benefits of spending time in nature.

Clean up at a favorite preserve, while walking a trail, or find a Litter Hotspot near you.