South Cook County
Spring Wildflower Walk
Sauk Trail Woods-Central • South Chicago Heights, IL 60411Join a staff person as you search for unique spring wildflowers.
Family Campout
Camp Shabbona Woods • South Holland, IL 60473Intro to camping for families. Includes meals, all camping gear and outdoor fun. $75/family (group up to 6).
Wellness Days at Kickapoo
Kickapoo Woods • Riverdale, IL 60827Reconnect with nature during relaxing mindfulness and meditative practices.
Wellness Days at Whistler
Whistler Woods • Riverdale, IL 60827Reconnect with nature during relaxing mindfulness and meditative practices.
Little Calumet River Clean-up
Kickapoo Woods • Riverdale, IL 60827Clean up the river while paddling. Register at lholden@openlands.org.
Live Healthy, Discover Nature! Walk
Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473Venture out on our scenic trails for a guided 3- to 4-mile walk.
Cicada Celebration
Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473This year’s cicada emergence is a once-in-a-lifetime event! Join us for crafts, games and refreshments and learn what makes this […]
Wellness Days at Kickapoo
Kickapoo Woods • Riverdale, IL 60827Reconnect with nature during relaxing mindfulness and meditative practices.
Wellness Days at Whistler
Whistler Woods • Riverdale, IL 60827Reconnect with nature during relaxing mindfulness and meditative practices.
Night of the Frogs/ Noche de las Ranas
Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473Join our bilingual night walk to hear seasonal frog calls and other nocturnal creatures. Spanish native speakers encouraged! Ages 16 […]
Bilingual Community Series/ Serie de la Comunitaria Bilingüe
Eggers Grove • Chicago, IL 60617Join Friends of the Forest Preserves and Chicago BIPOC Birders for an early morning birding adventure. Únase a Friends of […]
Restoration Saturdays
Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473Help restore our woodlands by cutting down invasive species and having a brush pile burn. Then enjoy s’mores and light […]
Self-Love in Nature
Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473Week 1: Create a Self-Love Kit (Jun 8) Week 2: Peace and Drum Circle (Jun 22) Week 3: Sensory Experience […]
Beaubien Woods Celebration
Beaubien Woods • Chicago, IL 60827Join us for archery, canoeing, and more.
Wee Wonders
Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473Learn about nature through music, stories, and artmaking. Ages 2-5 w/adult. Jun 9: Cicadas! Jun 12: Cicadas! Jul 10: Snakes! […]
Wellness Days at Kickapoo
Kickapoo Woods • Riverdale, IL 60827Reconnect with nature during relaxing mindfulness and meditative practices.
Wellness Days at Whistler
Whistler Woods • Riverdale, IL 60827Reconnect with nature during relaxing mindfulness and meditative practices.
Wee Wonders
Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473Learn about nature through music, stories, and artmaking. Ages 2-5 w/adult. Jun 9: Cicadas! Jun 12: Cicadas! Jul 10: Snakes! […]
Juneteenth Paddling
Little Calumet Boat Launch • Cook County, IL 60827 (near Riverdale)Experience the African American Heritage Water Trail.
Juneteenth Celebration
Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473Celebrate freedom, family and country with various activities, presentations, performances and exhibits highlighting Black history, arts and culture.
Wellness in the Woods: Senior Fitness
Beaubien Woods • Chicago, IL 60827Get active outdoors with Gigi’s Fitness at Flatfoot Lake.
Juneteenth Paddling
Little Calumet Boat Launch • Cook County, IL 60827 (near Riverdale)Experience the African American Heritage Water Trail.
Wellness Days at Kickapoo
Kickapoo Woods • Riverdale, IL 60827Reconnect with nature during relaxing mindfulness and meditative practices.
Wellness Days at Whistler
Whistler Woods • Riverdale, IL 60827Reconnect with nature during relaxing mindfulness and meditative practices.
Juneteenth Freedom Ride
Dan Ryan Woods Visitor Center • Chicago, IL 60620Cycling celebration with Major Taylor Trail Keepers and Black Girls Bike. 16 miles roundtrip. Bring your own bike and helmet.
Intro to Birding
Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473Join us for a stroll looking for birds while we learn basic ID tips. All skill levels welcome.
Self-Love in Nature
Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473Week 1: Create a Self-Love Kit (Jun 8) Week 2: Peace and Drum Circle (Jun 22) Week 3: Sensory Experience […]
Outdoor Education Camp
Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473Discover nature and enjoy experiences through exploration and recreation. Group 1: Ages 6-8 Group 2: Ages 9-11
Wellness Days at Kickapoo
Kickapoo Woods • Riverdale, IL 60827Reconnect with nature during relaxing mindfulness and meditative practices.
Wellness Days at Whistler
Whistler Woods • Riverdale, IL 60827Reconnect with nature during relaxing mindfulness and meditative practices.
Night of Nature Play
Dan Ryan Woods Visitor Center • Chicago, IL 60620Open play, star gazing and s’mores.
Birding is Accessible
Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473Join us for a short, slow-paced birdwatching experience on our ADA-accessible trail with a stop at a marsh overlook. Total […]
“Hike the Freedom Trail” Tour
Beaubien Woods • Chicago, IL 60827Part bus ride, part moderate walk, experts will share a historically accurate story of “Freedom Seekers” who traveled the Underground […]
Wellness in the Woods: Senior Fitness
Beaubien Woods • Chicago, IL 60827Get active outdoors with Gigi’s Fitness at Flatfoot Lake.
Queer Family Day
Dan Ryan Woods Visitor Center • Chicago, IL 60620Celebrate love and inclusion with nature play, games, art and more! In partnership with Out in Nature, Feminist Bird Club, […]
Friends of the Forest Preserves: Paddling at Kickapoo
Kickapoo Woods • Riverdale, IL 60827Enjoy an afternoon out paddling.
Meet Our Birds
Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473Learn more about our flighted ambassador animals and discover their unique adaptations.
Wellness Days at Kickapoo
Kickapoo Woods • Riverdale, IL 60827Reconnect with nature during relaxing mindfulness and meditative practices.
Wellness Days at Whistler
Whistler Woods • Riverdale, IL 60827Reconnect with nature during relaxing mindfulness and meditative practices.
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 Recreation
- Animal Encounter
- Archery
- Arts & Crafts
- Astronomy
- Bicycling
- Birding
- Camping
- Education
- Film
- Fishing
- Fitness
- Food & Beverage
- Games & Nature Play
- Gardening
- Hiking & Walking
- History & Culture
- Music
- Paddling
- Photography
- Senior
- Snow Sports
- Storytelling
- Sustainability
- Restoration
- 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.