Arts & Crafts
Events
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Canceled Fall Artisan Series: Felting
Crabtree Nature Center • Barrington, IL 60010Get crafty on select Wednesday evenings. Ages 18 & up.
Free -
Spooky Shuffle 5k/10k
Swallow Cliff Woods-South • Cook County, IL 60464 (near Palos Park)Race through then pristine Sag Valley Trail System. Presented with Village of Palos Park.
Free • Registration Required -
Animal Enrichment Studio for Teens
Crabtree Nature Center • Barrington, IL 60010Create enrichment items for our ambassador animals, then see how they are used as an important part of their care.
Free -
REACH Nature Navigators
Caldwell Woods Wellness Center • Chicago, IL 60646A high-energy outdoor adventure guiding visitors through a Leave No Trace scavenger hunt, shelter building and backpack challenges, wilderness first aid demos, river critter investigations, […]
Free -
Sounds Natural Creative Retreat
Camp Shabbona Woods • South Holland, IL 60473Enjoy art, wellness workshops, food and music. Limited camping spaces available for optional overnight. Presented with Sounds Natural.
Free • Registration Required -
Fall Festival
FeaturedRiver Trail Nature Center • Northbrook, IL 60062Celebrate the season with a special autumn fun day. Beekeeping demonstrations, animal encounters, pumpkin painting, honey sales, activities and more! Admission is free; there may […]
Free -
Wee Wonders: Owls
Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473Learn about nature through sensory experiences, stories and artmaking. Ages 2-5 w/ adult.
Free • Registration Required -
Wee Wandering Wednesdays
Crabtree Nature Center • Barrington, IL 60010Read a story, make a craft and go on an adventure. Ages 2 to 6 with an adult. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served […]
Free -
Recycled Fairy Gardens
Caldwell Woods Wellness Center • Chicago, IL 60646Bring old plant pots, toys and other items to create fun planters. Led by Navraaz Kaur Basati from Wandering Paths.
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Cicada Pinning Class
Crabtree Nature Center • Barrington, IL 60010Learn the process and importance of entomology: what it is, why it's important, and how it's done. This class will teach students the process of […]
$5 • Registration Required -
Spooky Stories & S ’mores
FeaturedThatcher Woods Pavilion • River Forest, IL 60305Trick-or-treat, paint a pumpkin, listen to spooky stories and more. Costumes encouraged! Presented with the Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library.
Free -
Trunk or Treat
FeaturedEggers Grove • Chicago, IL 60617Sponsored by the Forest Preserves and East Side Chamber of Commerce. Enjoy a family-friendly Halloween event, complete with candy!
Free -
Cornhusk Doll and Storytelling Workshop
Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473This workshop will be centered on Indigenous teachings related to land and connection. Participants will engage in creating corn husk dolls and experience traditional storytelling.
Free • Registration Required -
Little Red Rocks
Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480Perform or listen to music and poetry during open-mic night.
Free • Registration Required -
Hike, Read & Write
Thatcher Woods Pavilion • River Forest, IL 60305Join a naturalist for a hike, followed by a poetry writing workshop. Presented with Poets & Patrons.
Free -
Nature’s Art Box
Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480Explore the wild side of creativity! Kids ages 3–6 with an adult can enjoy hands-on nature-inspired art and activities. Supplies provided.
Free • Registration Required -
The Great Sand Ridge (Tiny) Pumpkin Hunt
Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473Discover hidden pumpkins on a fun scavenger hunt and take home your own pumpkin. While supplies last. Costumes encouraged!
Free -
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The Great Sand Ridge (Tiny) Pumpkin Hunt
Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473Discover hidden pumpkins on a fun scavenger hunt and take home your own pumpkin. While supplies last. Costumes encouraged!
Free -
Nature Journaling
Sagawau Environmental Learning Center • Lemont, IL 60439Express yourself and the world around you! Learn how to create a nature journal with an art instructor.
Free • Registration Required -
Día de los Muertos Craft
Crabtree Nature Center • Barrington, IL 60010Decorate a sugar skull to celebrate Day of the Dead. While supplies last.
Free -
Wee Wandering Wednesdays
Crabtree Nature Center • Barrington, IL 60010Read a story, make a craft and go on an adventure. Ages 2 to 6 with an adult. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served […]
Free -
Nature Story Trail “Giving Thanks” by Chief Jake Swamp
Trailside Museum of Natural History • River Forest, IL 60305Walk a short trail while reading a story.
Free -
Sacred Clay Workshop: The Tradition and Protection of African American Face Jugs
Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473This workshop will explore the history, cultural significance and ecological knowledge embedded in the African American tradition of face jugs. Originating from African ceramic practices […]
Free • Registration Required -
Little Sprouts Sound Lab
Crabtree Nature Center • Barrington, IL 60010Explore nature through sensory activities, outdoor listening and sound‑making. Ages 2-6 w/ adult. Siblings welcome.
Free • Registration Required -
Small Serendipity
River Trail Nature Center • Northbrook, IL 60062Nature stories, crafts, and activities. Children ages 3-6 w/ adult.
Free -
Wee Wonders: Snakes
Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473Learn about nature through sensory experiences, stories and artmaking. Ages 2-5 w/ adult.
Free • Registration Required
