Events in Central Cook County
Central Cook County
- Events
- Central Cook County
Thursdays in the Field Drop In
Trailside Museum of Natural History • River Forest, IL 60305Drop in at Trailside on the 3rd Thursday of each month to connect to nature through fun themed activities for […]
Food is Medicine: A Small Taste of Native America
Thatcher Woods Pavilion • River Forest, IL 60305Participate in the American Indian Center's Food is Medicine event with the resident chef, who will showcase a sampling of […]
Fall Bird Walks
Trailside Museum of Natural History • River Forest, IL 60305Join us on a guided bird walk to see both resident and migratory birds, led by John Elliott of the […]
Chicago Portage Day
Chicago Portage National Historic Site • Lyons, IL 60402Celebrate this National Historic Site, its cultural significance, and the history of Chicago. Presentations, demonstrations, site tours, games and activities.
Wellness Walks in Thatcher Woods
Thatcher Woods Pavilion • River Forest, IL 60305Enjoy a mindful and meditative guided nature walk in Thatcher Woods, led by Roberta Jannsen, Univ. of IL Extension volunteer, […]
Accessible Autumnal Equinox Walk
Trailside Museum of Natural History • River Forest, IL 60305Join us for a talk about the equinox on a short, guided nature walk on a paved trail. ADA Accessible.
Salsa Dance: Party for the Preserves
Thatcher Woods • River Forest, IL 60305Enjoy music, salsa dance instruction, food trucks, bilingual hikes, yoga and more. Programa ofrecido en Espanol. Music and dance lessons […]
Autumn Nature Walks
Trailside Museum of Natural History • River Forest, IL 60305Join us for a guided walk as the autumn color intensifies. Family program.
Senior Fitness Walks in Thatcher Woods
Thatcher Woods Pavilion • River Forest, IL 60305Join other seniors for a moderately paced, one mile fitness walks in beautiful Thatcher Woods. Led by senior Roberta Jannsen, […]
ADA Trail Walk
Miller Meadow-South • Cook County, IL 60130 (near Forest Park)Enjoy a guided walk on 1.7-mile paved trail with resting points throughout. Wheelchair accessible; open to all. Presented with Opportunity […]
Halloween Hoot and Howl
Keystone Park • River Forest, IL 60305Join our partners the River Forest Public Library and River Forest Park District for an evening of slightly spooky family […]
Fall Bird Walks
Trailside Museum of Natural History • River Forest, IL 60305Join us on a guided bird walk to see both resident and migratory birds, led by John Elliott of the […]
Wellness Walks in Thatcher Woods
Thatcher Woods Pavilion • River Forest, IL 60305Enjoy a mindful and meditative guided nature walk in Thatcher Woods, led by Roberta Jannsen, Univ. of IL Extension volunteer, […]
Forest Therapy
Thatcher Woods • River Forest, IL 60305Immerse yourself in nature, fostering mindfulness and wellness with a certified guide. Ages 16 & up. Register: thatforestfeeling.com/register
Connecting Newcomers to Nature
Thatcher Woods Pavilion • River Forest, IL 60305Learn how nature helps refugees and immigrants heal from trauma. We'll explore how newcomer communities can connect with nature. To […]
Indigenous Peoples’ Day Celebration
Schiller Woods-East • Chicago, IL 60634Join us to celebrate Native American culture. Listen to drumming, enjoy Native dancing, explore the Serpent Mounds, & more. Presented […]
Seed Collecting
Wolf Road Prairie • Cook County, IL 60154 (near Westchester)Collect prairie seed while learning about the significance and history of Wolf Road Prairie. Ages 12 & up.
Autumn Nature Walks
Trailside Museum of Natural History • River Forest, IL 60305Join us for a guided walk as the autumn color intensifies. Family program.
Bird painting Step-by-Step: Red-Bellied Woodpecker
Trailside Museum of Natural History • River Forest, IL 60305For beginners and intermediate artists. All materials provided. $5/person. Ages 18 & up.
Senior Fitness Walks in Thatcher Woods
Thatcher Woods Pavilion • River Forest, IL 60305Join other seniors for a moderately paced, one mile fitness walks in beautiful Thatcher Woods. Led by senior Roberta Jannsen, […]
Access Adventure Multi-Sport Day
Miller Meadow-South • Cook County, IL 60130 (near Forest Park)Enjoy cycling and climbing while in this program specially designed for individuals with a primary physical disability or visual impairment. […]
Thursdays in the Field Drop In
Trailside Museum of Natural History • River Forest, IL 60305Drop in at Trailside on the 3rd Thursday of each month to connect to nature through fun themed activities for […]
Nature Book Club: “The Nature of Oaks”
Forest Park Public Library • Forest Park, IL 60130Discuss this timely and important book by Doug Tallamy. Register: www.fppl.org/
Kolory Jesieni /Fall Color Walk, In Polish
Thatcher Woods • River Forest, IL 60305Z okazji miesiąca pamięci dziedzictwa Polsko-Amerykańskiego zapraszamy na spacer z przewodnikiem po Thatcher Woods. Join us for a guided walk […]
Wellness Walks in Thatcher Woods
Thatcher Woods Pavilion • River Forest, IL 60305Enjoy a mindful and meditative guided nature walk in Thatcher Woods, led by Roberta Jannsen, Univ. of IL Extension volunteer, […]
Nature Navigator
Thatcher Woods • River Forest, IL 60305Join us for a fun day packed with interactive outdoor learning experiences led by refugee youth leaders from Refugee Education […]
Day Hiking Leadership Training
Bemis Woods-North • Cook County, IL 60523 (near Oak Brook)For teachers/youth educators! DHLT gives you all the tools to take groups out into the preserves for the day.
Intro to Orienteering
Trailside Museum of Natural History • River Forest, IL 60305Learn the basics of finding your way with maps and baseplate compasses. Ages 8 & up.
Event Locations
Nearly all Forest Preserves events are free; some require registration and/or a low fee. Residents may qualify for free admission opportunities at our partners: Brookfield Zoo Chicago and the Chicago Botanic Garden.
Event Categories
- All Events
- Adaptive
- Animal Encounter
- Archery
- Arts & Crafts
- Astronomy
- Bicycling
- Birding
- Camping
- Cross-Country Skiing
- Education
- Film
- Fishing
- Fitness
- Food & Beverage
- Nature Play
- Gardening
- Hiking & Walking
- History & Culture
- Music
- Paddling
- Photography
- Senior
- Storytelling
- Volunteer
- Wellness in the Woods
- Yoga
Events Guide
Printed copies of our quarterly Events Guide are available at our Nature Centers and General Headquarters. They may also be available at your local city hall or library. Know a location that should have our Events Guide? Contact us.
Events Guide (PDF)Nature Express Bus
Get free transportation to the Forest Preserves for your group.
Learn MoreMonthly Newsletter
Sign up for the Forest Way and receive the latest Forest Preserves news, events and volunteer opportunities each month. View past newsletters.
Sign UpEvent Accessibility
The Forest Preserves is committed to providing equal, integrated participation for individuals with disabilities. Please contact the Nature Center hosting your event or program 72 hours in advance to request reasonable accommodations or inquire about site accessibility.
Please contact Experience.Nature@cookcountyil.gov or 708-771-1573 about accommodations for specific camping and outdoor recreation activities.