Nature Play
Events
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Faire at the Square-Drop-in
FeaturedCummings Square • River Forest, IL 60305Enjoy our "creative-reuse carnival" with themed games made from repurposed materials! Win prizes and learn about local plants and animals.
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Magical Forest Houses
Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480Search for tiny, enchanted, homes built by mythical elves. These homes, built with natural materials, are hidden along our Farm Pond Trail. Scan the QR […]
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Fall Nature Fest
FeaturedLaBagh Woods • Chicago, IL 60630Engage with local environmental groups and businesses while enjoying food, games, Jesse White Tumblers, and animal ambassadors. Groves 1–4.
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Aztec Dance Performance: La Danza de los Concheros
Camp Shabbona Woods • South Holland, IL 60473Experience a journey into Mexico’s ancient Aztec culture of music, song and dance. Presented with Xochitl-Quetzal Danza Azteca.
Free • Registration Required -
Wee Wonders: Fall Colors
Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473Learn about nature through sensory experiences, stories and artmaking. Ages 2-5 w/ adult.
Free • Registration Required -
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Teen Exploration Day: Pond Dipping
Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473Drop in at the Redwing Trail pond to observe wetland inhabitants and macroorganisms. Geared towards teens & their families.
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Yoga and Storytime
Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480Join the Bridgeview Library for a short nature story followed by kid's yoga activities. Ages 3-6 w/adult.
Free • Registration Required -
Small Serendipity
River Trail Nature Center • Northbrook, IL 60062Nature stories, crafts, and activities. Children ages 3-6 w/ adult.
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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 […]
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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 -
Nature Play Day
Dan Ryan Woods Visitor Center & Pavilion • Chicago, IL 60620Help your children connect with nature through stories, art and exploration.
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Party for the Preserves
FeaturedRiver Trail Nature Center • Northbrook, IL 60062Celebrate National Public Lands Day at our annual Party for the Preserves. Arrive in the morning and make a toy boat with natural materials and […]
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Party for the Preserves
FeaturedCrabtree Nature Center • Barrington, IL 60010Celebrate the places that bring us together with a day of outdoor fun for all ages. Enjoy a bilingual prairie walk, family activities, hands-on seed […]
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Salsa Dance: Party for the Preserves
FeaturedThatcher Woods Pavilion • River Forest, IL 60305Dance into National Public Lands Day and Hispanic Heritage Month with an afternoon of live music, salsa dancing and festive outdoor fun. Bring your family and friends […]
Free • Registration Required -
Party for the Preserves
FeaturedCamp Bullfrog Lake • Willow Springs, IL 60480Celebrate 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 -
Party for the Preserves: Acoustics Under the Stars
FeaturedCamp Shabbona Woods • South Holland, IL 60473Celebrate 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 -
Sounds Like Fall
Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480Take your little one on a playful, music-filled nature walk. Ages 3-6 w/ adult.
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Sounds Like Fall
Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480Take your little one on a playful, music-filled nature walk. Ages 3-6 w/ adult.
Free -
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Doggie Date Night
FeaturedDan Ryan Woods Visitor Center & Pavilion • Chicago, IL 60620Calling all dog lovers! Costume dog parade, crafts, photo booth and raffle prizes. Dogs must be friendly and remain on leash.
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Halloween Hoot and Howl
FeaturedKeystone Park • River Forest, IL 60305Spooky family fun featuring live music, pumpkin painting and more. Presented with the River Forest Park District and River Forest Public Library.
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73rd Annual Powwow
Schiller Woods-East • Chicago, IL 60634Celebrate Native American culture and enjoy traditional Powwow, food and more. Presented with American Indian Center of Chicago. Grove 9
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Nuts About Nature
Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480Explore the grounds to find native nuts and learn how animals use them for food and survival.sq
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Pumpkinpalooza
Featured Weekly Wellness ProgrammingCaldwell Woods • Chicago, IL 60646Paint pumpkins and bowl, dye buckthorn, play ring toss, maneuver through a fall-themed obstacle course, and more! Supplies limited.
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Sounds Like Fall
Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480Take your little one on a playful, music-filled nature walk. Ages 3-6 w/ adult.
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Sounds Like Fall
Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480Take your little one on a playful, music-filled nature walk. Ages 3-6 w/ adult.
Free -
Small Serendipity
River Trail Nature Center • Northbrook, IL 60062Nature stories, crafts, and activities. Children ages 3-6 w/ adult.
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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 […]
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Teen Exploration Day: Archery
FeaturedDan Ryan Woods-Central • Chicago, IL 60620Learn from certified staff and try your hand at archery. Ages 10 & up. Junior archery available for children under 10. Grove 5.
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Trickster DaWaag (Fall) Camp
Rolling Knolls • Elgin, IL 60120Two-day camp for all ages featuring cultural teachings, storytelling, games, artmaking and more! Sponsored by Trickster Cultural Center’s Communities for Positive Youth Development. Free registration […]
Free • Registration Required -
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 -
Hispanic Heritage Celebration
Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by making decorative sugar skulls. Vibrantly colored sugar skulls represent the circle of life and are ornamental gifts for friends and […]
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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 -
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
