Southwest Cook County
Events
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Container Gardening
Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480Enjoy a talk and demonstration by University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners about planting herbs and flowers above ground.
Free • Registration Required -
Party for the Preserves
FeaturedCamp Bullfrog Lake • Willow Springs, IL 60480Celebrate National Public Lands Day with a variety of activities designed for all ages. Enjoy paddling adventures, games, fishing, stargazing and night hikes. Wilderness Inquiry […]
Free -
Hidden Lives of Fungi
Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480Discover the vital roles fungi play in our forest ecosystems during this engaging walk-and-talk. Ages 10 & up.
Free • Registration Required -
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Terrarium Building Workshop
Swallow Cliff Woods-North • Cook County, IL 60464 (near Palos Park)Learn how to build your own plant terrarium. Take home your own green ecosystem and watch it grow. Supplies provided. Ages 10 and up.
Free • Registration Required -
Hispanic Heritage Celebration
Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480Celebrate this special month by making unique skulls, flowers and banners in preparation for Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos). All materials provided.
Free • Registration Required -
Awe of Nature
FeaturedMidlothian Meadows • Cook County, IL 60428Join The Nature Conservancy as they connect people to nature through environmental engagement and community partners.
Free -
Oak Ecology Hike
Sagawau Environmental Learning Center • Lemont, IL 60439Hike under ancient oaks to learn about their natural history and why they are keystone species. Ages 18 & up.
Free • Registration Required -
Red Gate Woods: The Dawning of the Atomic Age
Red Gate Woods • Cook County, IL 60480 (near Willow Springs)Learn about the world’s first nuclear reactor. Presentation at Sagawau, followed by a moderate hike at Red Gate. Ages 18 & up.
Free • Registration Required -
Moonlight & Antlers
Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480As the Hunter’s Moon shines above, we’ll hike and discuss white-tailed deer in the world’s largest Urban Night Sky Place.
Free • Registration Required -
Breast Cancer Awareness
Swallow Cliff Woods-North • Cook County, IL 60464 (near Palos Park)Learn more about breast cancer, gain resources and more during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Presented by Advocate Health Care.
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S.E.N.I.O.R.S.
Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480Seniors Enjoying Nature Inside/Outside Rain or Shine! Ages 55 & up.
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R.I.P. Stewardship
Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480Remove Invasive Plants with bow saws/loppers. Ages 18 & up.
Free -
Arachtober
Sagawau Environmental Learning Center • Lemont, IL 60439October is a great time to observe our eight-legged friends. Sweep net for spiders as you learn about them.
Free • Registration Required -
Bird Hike
McClaughrey Springs • Cook County, IL 60464 (near Palos Park)Join a naturalist for a morning bird hike. Binoculars available for loan.
Free • Registration Required -
Tai Chi Hike
Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480Certified instructors from “Elevate Tai Chi” teach you how to make mindful movements on a guided walk along a trail.
Free -
Printmaking Workshop
Swallow Cliff Woods-North • Cook County, IL 60464 (near Palos Park)Learn how to carve your own linoleum block stamp. All materials provided. Ages 12 & up.
Free • Registration Required -
Camping 101
Camp Bullfrog Lake • Willow Springs, IL 604801.5-hour long workshop covering basic camping skills. All ages.
Free -
Spooky Shuffle 5k/10k
Swallow Cliff Woods-South • Cook County, IL 60464 (near Palos Park)In partnership with the Village of Palos Park, this race takes you through the Sag Valley Trail System.
Free • Registration Required -
Body Smart Gardening
Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480Learn about the clothing, tools and methods needed to stay healthy while gardening. A gardening tool or Smart Pot will be given as a door […]
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Fall Color Walk
FeaturedPalos Park Woods-North • Cook County, IL 60464 (near Palos Park)Travel through beautiful, wooded preserves as we look for the changing colors of fall on this 3.4-mile family-friendly walk.
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Nuts About Nature
Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480Explore for native nuts and learn how animals use them for food and survival. Games and snacks provided. Ages 7-10.
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Fall Color Walk
Sagawau Environmental Learning Center • Lemont, IL 60439Enjoy a leisurely nature hike with a naturalist to observe the fall colors.
Free -
Fall Color Walk
Sagawau Environmental Learning Center • Lemont, IL 60439Enjoy a leisurely nature hike with a naturalist to observe the fall colors.
Free • Registration Required -
Nightfall’s Web
Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480Stroll beneath the darkest night as we explore Search for spiders under the stars.
Free • Registration Required
