Storytelling
Events
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Story Trail: Juneteenth
Caldwell Woods Wellness Center • Chicago, IL 60646Experience a story unfolding along a short trail. A craft is available to take home upon story trail completion.
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 -
Freedom Trail: Paddle Tour
Beaubien Woods Boat Launch • Chicago, IL 60827Join us on 10-person voyager canoes for a fascinating tale of the hundreds -perhaps thousands- of escaped slaves / "Freedom Seekers" that came through this […]
Free • Registration Required -
Story Trail: Juneteenth
Caldwell Woods Wellness Center • Chicago, IL 60646Experience a story unfolding along a short trail. A craft is available to take home upon story trail completion.
Free -
Nature Book Club: “Why Rats Laugh and Jellyfish Sleep” by D. Stipp
Forest Park Public Library • Forest Park, IL 60130Discuss the featured book and ponder the hidden depths of familiar animals and ordinary things. Ages 18 & up.
Free • Registration Required -
Juneteenth Reflection Hike
Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473Self-guided Juneteenth reflection hike exploring freedom, resilience and belonging through thoughtful prompts.
Free -
Juneteenth Walk
Sagawau Environmental Learning Center • Lemont, IL 60439Join us for a walk focusing on the contributions made by African-American naturalists.
Free -
Juneteenth Paddle
Beaubien Woods Boat Launch • Chicago, IL 60827Paddle along the African American Heritage Water Trail on 10-person canoes. Presented with Openlands. Registration opens one month prior to event date.
Free • Registration Closed -
Juneteenth Paddle
Beaubien Woods Boat Launch • Chicago, IL 60827Paddle along the African American Heritage Water Trail on 10-person canoes. Presented with Openlands. Registration opens one month prior to event date.
Free • Registration Closed -
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 -
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 -
Freedom Trail: Paddle Tour
Beaubien Woods Boat Launch • Chicago, IL 60827Join us on 10-person voyager canoes for a fascinating tale of the hundreds -perhaps thousands- of escaped slaves / "Freedom Seekers" that came through this […]
Free • Registration Required -
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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 -
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 -
Children’s Storytime
Thatcher Woods Pavilion • River Forest, IL 60305As part of America 250, listen to a children’s book read aloud, followed by an activity. An ASL interpreter will be present.
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 -
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 -
Story Time in Polish
Trailside Museum of Natural History • River Forest, IL 60305Program dla najmłodszych miłośników natury. Z pomocą znanych i lubianych wierszyków poznamy owady, ptaki i inne zwierzęta i poszukamy ich w lesie.
Free • Registration Required -
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Stories in the Forest
Trailside Museum of Natural History • River Forest, IL 60305Due to heat and air quality advisories, this event has been moved indoors. Join the River Forest Public Library for storytelling! Ages 0-5 w/ adult. […]
Free -
Canceled Campfire Stories
River Trail Nature Center • Northbrook, IL 60062Enjoy the lingering daylight with stories, songs and s’mores around the campfire.
$5 -
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 -
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 -
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 -
Movie Night
Caldwell Woods Wellness Center • Chicago, IL 60646Come watch the (local) Emmy Award-winning Forest Preserves documentary: "Chicago's True Nature". Popcorn and s'mores provided.
Free -
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Back-to-School Community Adventure Day
Featured Weekly Wellness ProgrammingCaldwell Woods Wellness Center • Chicago, IL 60646Ring in the school year with us! Presented with ICNA Chicago, Niles-Maine Library, Hive Center for the Book Arts and many others.
Free -
Children’s Storytime
Thatcher Woods Pavilion • River Forest, IL 60305Listen to a nature-themed children’s book read aloud, followed by an activity.
Free -
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 -
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 -
Story Time in Polish
Trailside Museum of Natural History • River Forest, IL 60305Program dla najmłodszych miłośników natury. Z pomocą znanych i lubianych wierszyków poznamy owady, ptaki i inne zwierzęta i poszukamy ich w lesie.
Free • Registration Required -
Wee Wonders: Hummingbirds
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 -
Canceled Cultural Presentation and Dance Exhibition
Schiller Woods-East • Chicago, IL 60634A showcase of Native dance forms and cultural presentations. Presented with the American Indian Center of Chicago.
Free -
Summertime Stories
Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480The Naperville Chinese Storytellers share stories in Chinese followed by nature-based art and activities. Ages 10 & under w/ adult.
Free • Registration Required -
Wee Wonders: Hummingbirds
Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473Learn about nature through sensory experiences, stories and artmaking. Ages 2-5 w/ adult.
Free • Registration Required -
Prairie Pages
Crabtree Nature Center • Barrington, IL 60010Join our adult nature book club with the Barrington Area Library! Discuss Eager: The Surprising Secret Life of Beaves and Why They Matter by Ben […]
Free • Registration Required -
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Nature Book Club: “I Contain Multitudes” by Ed Yong
Trailside Museum of Natural History • River Forest, IL 60305Discuss the featured book and ponder the hidden depths of familiar animals and ordinary things. Ages 18 & up.
Free • Registration Required -
Little Red Rocks
Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480Share or enjoy music and poetry as the sun sets during our open-mic night.
Free • Registration Required -
Twilight Creations: Open Art Space
Trailside Museum of Natural History • River Forest, IL 60305Musicians, poets and visual artists find inspiration during the twilight hours indoors or outdoors.
Free -
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“The Grown-Ups”
Featured Weekly Wellness ProgrammingCaldwell Woods Wellness Center • Chicago, IL 60646This funny, deeply human play invites audiences to gather close and “lose” themselves in the woods. Presented with The Tramps. (Begins at sunset.)
Free • Registration Required -
Tiny Tot Day
Dan Ryan Woods Visitor Center & Pavilion • Chicago, IL 60620Join your little ones and enjoy nature through movement, art and sensory play.
Free -
Twilight Creations: Open Art Space
Trailside Museum of Natural History • River Forest, IL 60305Musicians, poets and visual artists find inspiration during the twilight hours indoors or outdoors.
Free -
Small Serendipity
River Trail Nature Center • Northbrook, IL 60062Nature stories, crafts, and activities. Children ages 3-6 w/ adult.
Free -
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 -
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 -
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 […]
Free -
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 -
Children’s Storytime
Thatcher Woods Pavilion • River Forest, IL 60305Listen to a nature-themed children’s book read aloud, followed by an activity. (Story provided orally & in ASL.)
Free -
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Canceled Hike the Freedom Trail: Bus and Walking Tour
Beaubien Woods Boat Launch • Chicago, IL 60827Follow the tale of Freedom Seekers through the Calumet Region. Presented with Midwest Underground Railroad Network.
Free -
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.
Free -
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 -
Every Child Matters Powwow
Bunker Hill • Niles, IL 60714Celebrate Native American culture. Enjoy traditional Powwow, native food, and listen to stories. Register: call 773-883-9100. Grove 1.
Free -
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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.
Free -
Small Serendipity
River Trail Nature Center • Northbrook, IL 60062Nature stories, crafts, and activities. Children ages 3-6 w/ adult.
Free -
Children’s Yoga
Crabtree Nature Center • Barrington, IL 60010Discovering yoga through story, song and various yoga poses that will engage the use of imagination and all the senses. Program provided by Karen Fotopoulos, […]
Free • Registration Required -
Children’s Storytime
Thatcher Woods Pavilion • River Forest, IL 60305Listen to a nature-themed children’s book read aloud, followed by an activity.
Free -
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 -
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 -
Underground Railroad Tour
John Husar I&M Canal Bicycle Trail Parking Lot • Willow Springs, IL 60480Tour includes info about the historical significance of this corridor. Arrive at I&M Canal for a discussion of the site and then shuttle to Lyonsville […]
Free • Registration Required -
Hispanic Heritage Paddle
Powderhorn Lake • Burnham, IL 60633Join Friends of the Chicago River for bilingual bird paddling and storytelling on the water.
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 -
Indigenous Scary Storytelling
Thatcher Woods Pavilion • River Forest, IL 60305Enjoy listening to traditional and contemporary supernatural stories shared by the American Indian Center.
Free -
