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  • a woodcock on the forest floor

    Timberdoodle Talk & Trek

    Crabtree Nature Center • Barrington, IL 60010

    Learn, then observe the American woodcock courtship display in the darkening sky. Ages 7 & up.

    Free • Registration Required
  • a woodcock on the forest floor

    Timberdoodle Talk & Trek

    Crabtree Nature Center • Barrington, IL 60010

    Learn, then observe the American woodcock courtship display in the darkening sky. Ages 7 & up.

    Free • Registration Required
  • view of Maple Lake at night with stars in the sky and reflecting on the water

    Look Up at the Sky Day

    Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480

    This special day during International Dark Sky Week encourages people to pause, admire the sky’s beauty, and reconnect with nature’s quiet wonder.

    Free • Registration Required
  • A night landscape with a full moon shining amongst an indigo sky.

    Women’s Night Out: New Moon Empowerment

    River Trail Nature Center • Northbrook, IL 60062

    Join us for an evening designed to empower, connect and inspire. Ages 18 & up. $10/person.

    $10 • Registration Required
  • A night landscape with a full moon shining amongst an indigo sky.

    Canceled Nature at Night

    River Trail Nature Center • Northbrook, IL 60062

    A special Earth Day evening program to explore the world of nature after the sun sets. $5/person. All ages.

    $5

  • view of Maple Lake at night with stars in the sky and reflecting on the water

    National Space Day Folktale and Walk

    Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480

    Join La Grange Park Library for a magical folktale under the sky as we walk and explore the wonders of space.

    Free • Registration Required
  • A night landscape with a full moon shining amongst an indigo sky.

    Night Walk

    River Trail Nature Center • Northbrook, IL 60062

    An evening walk to learn about nocturnal animals. $5/person. All ages.

    $5 • Registration Required
  • A couple of frogs perching on a log at night.

    Community Science: Frog Monitoring

    Crabtree Nature Center • Barrington, IL 60010

    Learn about frogs from their calls, then listen for them on a 2-mile walk with stops. Ages 10 & up.

    Free • Registration Required
  • A night landscape with a full moon shining amongst an indigo sky.

    Moon in the Twins

    Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480

    Join us for a stargazing night as a waxing gibbous moon glows near Jupiter and Venus in the constellation Gemini.

    Free • Registration Required
  • A group of people enjoying their time at an outdoor picnic pavilion.

    Family Campout

    Camp Shabbona Woods • South Holland, IL 60473

    Introduction to camping for families. Equipment and meals provided. Cost: $75/family (group up to 6).

    $75 • Registration Closed
  • A night landscape with a full moon shining amongst an indigo sky.

    Adult Night Hike

    Wolf Road Woods • Cook County, IL 60480 (near Willow Springs)

    BYOB (no glass) and learn about nocturnal animals and the night sky before taking part in a guided hike. 21 & up. 1.5 miles.

    Free
  • pavilion and nature play area at Camp Shabbona Woods

    Outdoor Asian Campout

    Camp Shabbona Woods • South Holland, IL 60473

    Spend a weekend with Outdoor Asian and build confidence and find comfort in community. Limited spots available.

    Free • Registration Closed

  • A night landscape with a full moon shining amongst an indigo sky.

    Moonlight Sound Workshop

    Crabtree Nature Center • Barrington, IL 60010

    Collaboration with the Midwest Society for Acoustic Ecology (MSAE) and Wandering Paths, LLC. Trail sonic excursion led by MSAE highlighting the acoustics within habitats and […]

    Free • Registration Required
  • A bat flying through the air during sunset above a forest preserve

    Fantastic Fireflies

    Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480

    Please note: This event was moved to Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center due to a power outage at Sagawau.

    Free • Registration Required
  • Two people walking through the woods in the evening.

    Naturalist Night Out: Bats

    Spears Woods • Cook County, IL 60480 (near Willow Springs)

    Join us for a themed stroll under the World’s Largest Urban Night Sky Place.

    Free
  • Traditional Native American dancing, food and vendors in an outdoor environment.

    American Indian Summer Solstice

    Schiller Woods-East • Chicago, IL 60634

    Celebrate the solstice with dancing, drumming, storytelling and a sun-themed art activity. Presented by American Indian Center of Chicago. Grove 13.

    Free
  • A night landscape with a full moon shining amongst an indigo sky.

    Night of Nature Play

    Dan Ryan Woods Visitor Center & Pavilion • Chicago, IL 60620

    Experience nature at night through open play, star gazing and s’mores.

    Free
  • A night landscape with a full moon shining amongst an indigo sky.

    Evening Firefly Walk

    Trailside Museum of Natural History • River Forest, IL 60305

    Join us for a guided walk as twilight settles in and the fireflies begin to twinkle. Family program.

    Free • Registration Required

  • Two people walking through the woods in the evening.

    Naturalist Night Out: Owls

    Spears Woods • Cook County, IL 60480 (near Willow Springs)

    Join us for a themed stroll under the World’s Largest Urban Night Sky Place.

    Free
  • A bat flying through the air during sunset above a forest preserve

    Dark Night Rising

    Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480

    Use binoculars and technology to look at and listen to bat signals on this 1-mile hike.

    Free • Registration Required
  • A night landscape with a full moon shining amongst an indigo sky.

    Flickering Fireflies

    Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480

    As part of America 250: See fireflies, nature's fireworks, glow in the dark before a 1-mile adventure to catch and release these incredible creatures.

    Free • Registration Required
  • Astrology photograph highlighting the night sky filled with stars.

    Summer Stargazing

    Camp Shabbona Woods • South Holland, IL 60473

    Take a short walk and learn how to read a sky map and identify summer constellations.

    Free • Registration Closed
  • Two moths on a blade of grass.

    Majestic Moths

    Sagawau Environmental Learning Center • Lemont, IL 60439

    Let’s celebrate these under-appreciated insects. Moths are one of the most diverse groups of insects on the planet. From stunning luna moths to rosy maple […]

    Free • Registration Required
  • Two people walking through the woods in the evening.

    Naturalist Night Out: Fireflies

    Spears Woods • Cook County, IL 60480 (near Willow Springs)

    Join us for a themed stroll under the World’s Largest Urban Night Sky Place.

    Free
  • A night landscape with a full moon shining amongst an indigo sky.

    Full Moon Paddle

    Tower Road Boat Launch • Cook County, IL 60093 (near Winnetka)

    Enjoy an exclusive after-hours sunset and moonlit paddle through the Skokie Lagoons.

  • A telescope photo of a full moon taken from the Palos Preserves.

    Women’s Night Out: Full Moon Empowerment

    River Trail Nature Center • Northbrook, IL 60062

    An evening designed to empower, connect and inspire. Led by Gayle Byck of InTune with Nature. Cost: $10/person. Ages 18 & up.

    $10 • Registration Required

  • Two people walking through the woods in the evening.

    Canceled Naturalist Night Out: Senses

    Spears Woods • Cook County, IL 60480 (near Willow Springs)

    Join us for a themed stroll under the World’s Largest Urban Night Sky Place.

    Free
  • #BirdThePreserves logo

    Nighthawk Watch

    Plum Creek Meadow • Cook County, IL 60411 (near Chicago Heights)

    Join us at Plum Creek for an evening spotting Common Nighthawks on their migration route to South America! A nighthawk watch is as laid back […]

    Free • Registration Required
  • The visitors center at the Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center

    Partial Eclipse of the Moon

    Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480

    Bring a chair and experience a breathtaking partial total lunar eclipse as it slowly transforms the night sky.

    Free • Registration Required
  • A night landscape with a full moon shining amongst an indigo sky.

    Night of Nature Play

    Featured
    Eggers Grove • Chicago, IL 60617

    Experience nature at night through open play, star gazing and s’mores.

    Free
  • A bat flying through the air during sunset above a forest preserve

    Bat & Nighthawk Walk

    Camp Shabbona Woods • South Holland, IL 60473

    Join us for a walk around our 1-mile dogwood trail and look for and listen to bats and nighthawks.

    Free • Registration Closed

  • Wellness in the Woods logo

    Autumn Equinox Celebration

    Weekly Wellness Programming
    Caldwell Woods Wellness Center • Chicago, IL 60646

    Experience the health benefits of being in nature with guided forest meditation. Led by Gayle Byck from InTune with Nature.

    Free • Registration Required
  • Two moths perching on a blade of grass.

    Moth Picnic

    Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480

    Join us for a nighttime moth attraction hike and see which moths appear on our white sheet under black light.

    Free • Registration Required
  • view of Maple Lake at night with stars in the sky and reflecting on the water

    Canceled Adult Night Hike

    Spears Woods • Cook County, IL 60480 (near Willow Springs)

    BYOB (no glass) and enjoy the night sky before taking part in a guided hike. Ages 21 & up. 1.5 miles.

    Free
  • Astrology photograph highlighting the night sky filled with stars.

    Palos Night Sky Picnic

    Featured
    Pioneer Woods • Cook County, IL 60480 (near Willow Springs)

    Join us for the 3rd Annual Palos Night Sky Picnic! Explore the Palos Preserves at night, nestled within the largest Urban Night Sky Place. Bring your […]

    Free • Registration Required
  • Two people walking through the woods in the evening.

    River Trail Nightlife: Night Hike

    River Trail Nature Center • Northbrook, IL 60062

    Learn about nocturnal animals and more on a guided hike. Cost: $5/person. Ages 6 & up.

    $5 • Registration Required
  • Crabtree Nature Center building in Barrington Hills

    Canceled Solar Day – Drop-in

    Crabtree Nature Center • Barrington, IL 60010

    Meet our partners from NW Suburban Astronomy as we safely view our nearest star. Scopes will be setup near the parking lot.

    Free
  • Thatcher Woods Pavilion building

    Native American Fall Equinox

    Thatcher Woods Pavilion • River Forest, IL 60305

    A green corn celebration focused on traditional foods and the harvest season. Presented with the American Indian Center of Chicago.

    Free
  • A night landscape with a full moon shining amongst an indigo sky.

    Fall Equinox Forest Bath

    Crabtree Nature Center • Barrington, IL 60010

    Welcome fall with a guided forest therapy walk with certified forest therapy guide Gayle Byck.

    Free • Registration Required
  • A night landscape with a full moon shining amongst an indigo sky.

    Harvest Moon Evening Walk

    Trailside Museum of Natural History • River Forest, IL 60305

    Celebrate the September harvest moon with a peaceful walk through the woods as twilight descends. Ages 18 & up.

    Free • Registration Required
  • An owl sitting atop a fence pole.

    Owl Prowl

    Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473

    Introduction to owls followed by a relaxing walk to search for owls.

    Free • Registration Required
  • A telescope photo of a full moon taken from the Palos Preserves.

    Moon Festival

    Featured
    Crabtree Nature Center • Barrington, IL 60010

    Celebrate the season under the glow of the full moon with guided forest‑therapy walks, moon‑viewing and sharing of traditional mooncakes during this Asian cultural festival. […]

    Free • Registration Required
  • Banner image for "Party for the Preserves" featuring the heading "National Public Lands Day."

    Party for the Preserves

    Featured
    Camp Bullfrog Lake • Willow Springs, IL 60480

    Celebrate National Public Lands Day with a day of activities. Paddle in 10-person canoes with Wilderness Inquiry. Funkadesi brings joyful tunes blending music from around the world. View the night sky with telescopes and walks. Noon–3 pm: 4H Kick off, […]

    Free • Registration Required
  • A night landscape with a full moon shining amongst an indigo sky.

    Full Moon Paddle

    Tower Road Boat Launch • Cook County, IL 60093 (near Winnetka)

    Enjoy a sunset and moonlit paddle through Skokie Lagoons.

    Free • Registration Closed
  • Banner image for "Party for the Preserves" featuring the heading "National Public Lands Day."

    Party for the Preserves: Acoustics Under the Stars

    Featured
    Camp Shabbona Woods • South Holland, IL 60473

    Celebrate the connection between public lands and folk music with performances, a guided walk and hot dog roast. Bring your own instruments and join in […]

    Free • Registration Required

  • An owl sitting atop a fence pole.

    Owl Prowl

    Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473

    Introduction to owls followed by a relaxing walk to search for owls.

    Free • Registration Required