Central Cook County Events

Central Cook County

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  • #BirdThePreserves logo

    Bird Walk

    Bird Walk
    Trailside Museum of Natural History • River Forest, IL 60305

    Learn about fall bird migration patterns and look for local and migrant birds. Limited supply of binoculars available for loan at select events.

    Free • Registration Required
  • Thatcher Woods Pavilion building

    Native American Fall Equinox

    Thatcher Woods Pavilion • River Forest, IL 60305

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

    Free
  • Wellness in the Woods logo

    Walk & Talk

    Walk & Talk
    Wolf Road Prairie • Cook County, IL 60154 (near Westchester)

    Walk & Talk Hikes are for the curious mind who wants to know more about the Forest Preserves and natural areas. These walks will be […]

    Free
  • Party for the Preserves event logo

    Salsa Dance: Party for the Preserves

    Featured
    Thatcher Woods • River Forest, IL 60305

    Celebrate National Public Lands Day with a Salsa Dance Party. Enjoy live music, dance lessons, food and more. Programa ofrecido en Espanol y English.

    Free

  • Terrarium Building Workshop

    Evans Field • River Grove, IL 60171

    Learn how to build your own plant terrarium. Take home your own green ecosystem and watch it grow. Supplies and instruction provided. Ages 10 and […]

    Free • Registration Required
  • Halloween Hoot n Howl logo

    Halloween Hoot and Howl

    Featured
    Keystone Park • River Forest, IL 60305

    Join our partners, River Forest Park District and River Forest Public Library for slightly spooky family activities, live music, pumpkin painting and more. Free!

    Free
  • A group of volunteers.

    Walk With a Steward

    Schiller Woods-West • Schiller Park, IL 60634

    Join us for a prairie/woodland nature walk with Master Naturalist and Site Steward Cathy Bloom. Ages 12 & up. Grove 2.

    Free • Registration Required
  • a Native American dancer at Busse Woods

    72nd Annual Powwow

    Schiller Woods-East • Chicago, IL 60634

    Celebrate Native American culture and enjoy traditional Powwow, food and more. Presented with American Indian Center of Chicago. General admission tickets: $10 Children 5 & […]

    $10
  • trees with orange and yellow leaves at Trailside Museum

    Autumn Nature Walk

    Trailside Museum of Natural History • River Forest, IL 60305

    Join us for naturalist-guided walks along our trails as the autumn color intensifies. For families.

    Free • Registration Required
  • #BirdThePreserves logo

    Bird Walk

    Bird Walk
    Bemis Woods-South • Cook County, IL 60558 (near Western Springs)

    Learn about fall bird migration patterns and look for local and migrant birds. Limited supply of binoculars available for loan at select events. Grove 7.

    Free
  • A group of Day Hiking Leadership Training participants hold up their certifications.

    Day Hiking Leadership Training

    Bemis Woods-North • Cook County, IL 60523 (near Oak Brook)

    For teachers/youth educators! This event gives you all the tools to take groups out into the preserves for the day.

    Free • Registration Required
  • Trailside Museum building in River Forest

    Weaving with Weeds: Cattail Mat

    Trailside Museum of Natural History • River Forest, IL 60305

    Learn about the history of basketry/weaving techniques and create a small project with a common invasive plant - cattails. Ages 18 & up.

    Free • Registration Required
  • trees with orange and yellow leaves at Trailside Museum

    Autumn Nature Walk

    Trailside Museum of Natural History • River Forest, IL 60305

    Join us for naturalist-guided walks along our trails as the autumn color intensifies. For families.

    Free • Registration Required

  • Printmaking Workshop

    Evans Field • River Grove, IL 60171

    Learn how to carve your own linoleum block stamp. All materials provided. Ages 12 & up.

    Free • Registration Required
  • a great horned owl in a tree at Crabtree Nature Center

    Bird painting Step-by-Step: Great Horned Owl

    Thatcher Woods Pavilion • River Forest, IL 60305

    Sketch and paint a great horned owl using acrylic paints. For beginners and experienced artists. Materials provided. $5/person. Ages 18 & up.

    $5 • Registration Required
  • #BirdThePreserves logo

    Bird Walk

    Bird Walk
    Trailside Museum of Natural History • River Forest, IL 60305

    Learn about fall bird migration patterns and look for local and migrant birds. Limited supply of binoculars available for loan at select events.

    Free • Registration Required
  • volunteers collecting seeds in a field at Deer Grove

    Seed Collecting at Wolf Road Prairie

    Wolf Road Prairie • Cook County, IL 60154 (near Westchester)

    Join us for a prairie seed collecting workday. Ages 12 & up. Children 12-17 w/ adult.

    Free • Registration Required

  • Spooky Stories & S ’mores

    Featured
    Thatcher Woods • River Forest, IL 60305

    Trick-or-treat through different Halloween-themed activity stations. Paint a pumpkin, make s’mores, and listen to Indigenous spooky children’s stories. Costumes encouraged!

    Free
  • Wellness in the Woods logo

    Forest Therapy Walk

    Thatcher Woods Pavilion • River Forest, IL 60305

    Enjoy a peaceful, meditative walk in the woods with a trained Forest Bathing guide - relaxing for both body and soul!

    Free • Registration Required
  • Children at a pumpkin hunt

    Costumed Scavenger Hunt Hike

    Trailside Museum of Natural History • River Forest, IL 60305

    Wear your costume on this dress-up hike. We’ll walk through our autumn woods while finding hidden (nut-free) treats.

    Free • Registration Required

  • Fall Ceramics

    Thatcher Woods Pavilion • River Forest, IL 60305

    Create a leaf impression bowl out of clay and learn why leaves change colors. Ages 13 & up.

    Free • Registration Closed