Nature Play
Events
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Busse Lake Outdoors Day & Fishing Derby
Busse Lake Boating Center • Cook County, IL 60007 (near Elk Grove Village)Free fishing derby, nature play, animal encounters and more! Enjoy local food and win prizes. Join Commissioner Kevin Morrison for Outdoors Day and the annual […]
Free • Registration Required -
To Catch a Crayfish
Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480We’ll set out traps and explore the amazing arthropods we discover. Ages 7 & up.
Free -
American Indian Summer Solstice
Schiller Woods-East • Chicago, IL 60634Celebrate the solstice with dancing, drumming, storytelling and a sun-themed art activity. Presented by American Indian Center of Chicago. Grove 13.
Free -
Juneteenth Jubilee
FeaturedSand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473Celebrate freedom, family and country with activities, refreshments and performances highlighting Black history. Juneteenth Jubilee transforms the Sand Ridge Nature Center Campus into a vibrant […]
Free -
The Un-buried Treasure Hunt
River Trail Nature Center • Northbrook, IL 60062Pick up a treasure map then decode the clues along the trails to find the un-buried treasure.
Free -
Jr. Naturalist Camp
Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480Running from 9:30 am to 1 pm each day, this day camp is perfect for kids who love nature and want to become junior naturalists! […]
$50 • Registration Required -
Teen Biodiversity Day
Sagawau Environmental Learning Center • Lemont, IL 60439Spend the day in the field with naturalists to discover the diversity of life in the Forest Preserves. Ages 13 & up.
Free • Registration Required -
Night of Nature Play
Dan Ryan Woods Visitor Center & Pavilion • Chicago, IL 60620Experience nature at night through open play, star gazing and s’mores.
Free -
Stories in the Forest
Trailside Museum of Natural History • River Forest, IL 60305Join the River Forest Public Library for storytelling! Ages 0-5 w/ adult. Drop in.
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 -
International Mud Day Celebration
Featured Weekly Wellness ProgrammingCaldwell Woods Wellness Center • Chicago, IL 60646Dress for a mess as you splash and squish in the mud! Presented with Hive Center for the Book Arts and Niles-Maine Library.
Free -
International Mud Day
Crabtree Nature Center • Barrington, IL 60010Play and create with mud! Please dress for a muddy experience.
Free -
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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 […]
Free -
Canceled Open Nature Play Day
Dan Ryan Woods Visitor Center & Pavilion • Chicago, IL 60620Children can connect to nature and enjoy open nature play.
Free -
Stories in the Forest
Trailside Museum of Natural History • River Forest, IL 60305Join the River Forest Public Library for storytelling! Ages 0-5 w/ adult. Drop in.
Free -
What’s in the River?
Caldwell Woods Wellness Center • Chicago, IL 60646Discover the hidden life of the Chicago River as we dip our nets and meet our macroinvertebrate neighbors. Supplies provided.
Free -
Nature Play-Date
Crabtree Nature Center • Barrington, IL 60010Join other families in our nature play area for fun and socializing.
Free -
Wee Wonders: Pollinators
Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473Learn about nature through sensory experiences, stories and artmaking. Ages 2-5 w/ adult.
Free • Registration Required -
Stories in the Forest
Trailside Museum of Natural History • River Forest, IL 60305Join the River Forest Public Library for storytelling! Ages 0-5 w/ adult. Drop in.
Free -
Flickering Fireflies
Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480As 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 -
Kids’ Fest
FeaturedWampum Lake • Cook County, IL 60476 (near Thornton)Get ready to embrace the beauty of summer, the great outdoors and the wonders of nature at Kids' Fest 2026! This exciting festival is the […]
Free • Registration Required -
Pond Dip
Crabtree Nature Center • Barrington, IL 60010Discover what tiny critters are living in the pond in this hands-on science program. Ages 5 & up.
Free -
Wee Wonders: Pollinators
Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473Learn about nature through sensory experiences, stories and artmaking. Ages 2-5 w/ adult.
Free • Registration Required -
Bug-a-Palooza
River Trail Nature Center • Northbrook, IL 60062Learn about the amazing diversity of insects as we catch and release them.
Free
