Volunteer Events

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  • a volunteer removing garlic mustard, invasive species, at McClaughrey Springs Woods

    Restoration Workday

    Evans Field • River Grove, IL 60171

    Help restore natural habitats. Supplies & refreshments provided. Ages 13 & up; ages 13-14 w/adult.

    Free
  • A group of people participating in an event outdoors on a trail.

    Nature Block Party

    Eggers Grove • Chicago, IL 60617

    Join us for a day of celebration and exploration as we honor the incredible diversity of life at Eggers Grove. Family-Friendly Activities: Enjoy a variety […]

    Free
  • group of people kneeling around sweetgrass garden

    Green Lake Gardening

    Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473

    Help us restore the pollinator garden at Green Lake. Equipment provided. Ages 12 & up.

    Free • Registration Required
  • a group of volunteers at Wampum Lake. Photo by Xochitl Lopez.

    Restoration Workday

    Restoration Workdays at Trailside
    Trailside Museum of Natural History • River Forest, IL 60305

    Help us restore habitat and control invasive species. Equipment provided. Ages 12 & up; ages 12-17 w/ adult.

    Free • Registration Required

  • Trash Bash

    Featured
    Sagawau Environmental Learning Center • Lemont, IL 60439

    Make spring cleaning more sustainable! Our event partners will be collecting electronics, prescription drugs, household recyclables, bikes, clothing, plastic bags and much more. The first […]

    Free • Registration Required

  • A person in the field during a restoration event with a saw.

    Volunteer Workday

    Volunteer Workday
    River Trail Nature Center • Northbrook, IL 60062

    Help us work to make River Trail even better. Ages 8 & up; ages 8-14 w/adult.

    Free • Registration Required
  • a group of volunteers at Wampum Lake. Photo by Xochitl Lopez.

    R.I.P. Stewardship

    R.I.P. Stewardship
    Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480

    Help us restore native habitats - Remove Invasive Plants with bow saws or loppers. Tools, gloves & snack provided. Closed toed shoes & long pants […]

    Free • Registration Required
  • a group of volunteers at Wampum Lake. Photo by Xochitl Lopez.

    Restoration Workday

    Restoration Workdays at Trailside
    Trailside Museum of Natural History • River Forest, IL 60305

    Help us restore our natural communities of woodland and prairie. Equipment provided. Ages 10 & up. Ages 10-14 w/ adult.

    Free • Registration Required
  • a person cutting buckthorn with loppers at Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center

    Teen Restoration Sunday

    Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473

    Help us improve our wildlife habitat by cutting and removing invasive species. Ages 12 & up.

    Free • Registration Required

  • a group of volunteers at Wampum Lake. Photo by Xochitl Lopez.

    R.I.P. Stewardship

    R.I.P. Stewardship
    Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480

    Help us restore native habitats - Remove Invasive Plants with bow saws or loppers. Tools, gloves & snack provided. Closed toed shoes & long pants […]

    Free • Registration Required
  • Crabtree Nature Center building in Barrington Hills

    What is Restoration?

    Crabtree Nature Center • Barrington, IL 60010

    Due to heat and air quality advisories, this event has been moved indoors. Join us for an indoor presentation on what restoration is and why […]

    Free
  • a group of volunteers at Wampum Lake. Photo by Xochitl Lopez.

    Restoration Workday

    Restoration Workdays at Trailside
    Trailside Museum of Natural History • River Forest, IL 60305

    Help us restore our natural communities of woodland and prairie. Equipment provided. Ages 10 & up. Ages 10-14 w/ adult.

    Free • Registration Required

  • a person cutting buckthorn with loppers at Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center

    Canceled Teen Exploration Day: Restoration Workday

    Evans Field • River Grove, IL 60171

    Earn service hours by helping remove invasive species. Equipment provided. Ages 12 & up. Ages 12-15 w/parent or guardian.

    Free
  • looking up at a large bur oak tree

    Canceled Together for Trees

    Kickapoo Woods • Riverdale, IL 60827

    Kick it at Kickapoo Woods & Prairie! From casual walks and invigorating paddling excursions to peaceful wildlife watching and more. Kickapoo Woods offers something for […]

    Free
  • A person in the field during a restoration event with a saw.

    Volunteer Workday

    Volunteer Workday
    River Trail Nature Center • Northbrook, IL 60062

    Help us work to make River Trail even better. Ages 8 & up; ages 8-14 w/adult.

    Free • Registration Required
  • a group of volunteers at Wampum Lake. Photo by Xochitl Lopez.

    R.I.P. Stewardship

    R.I.P. Stewardship
    Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480

    Help us restore native habitats - Remove Invasive Plants with bow saws or loppers. Tools, gloves & snack provided. Closed toed shoes & long pants […]

    Free • Registration Required
  • An array of fabrics colored via natural dyes, derived from invasive buckthorn.

    Natural Dyes Workshop

    Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473

    Learn how to turn natural materials into fabric dyes. Color a bandana or bring your own 100% cotton item. Ages 10 & up.

    Free • Registration Closed
  • a group of volunteers at Wampum Lake. Photo by Xochitl Lopez.

    Restoration Workday

    Restoration Workdays at Trailside
    Trailside Museum of Natural History • River Forest, IL 60305

    Help us restore our natural communities of woodland and prairie. Equipment provided. Ages 10 & up. Ages 10-14 w/ adult.

    Free • Registration Required
  • two people in a canoe on the Little Calumet River

    Plant and Paddle

    Little Calumet Boat Launch • Cook County, IL 60827 (near Riverdale)

    Help restore habitat by planting native species from canoes. Gear provided. Presented with Friends of the Chicago River.

    Free • Registration Required
  • two people in a canoe on the Little Calumet River

    Plant and Paddle

    Little Calumet Boat Launch • Cook County, IL 60827 (near Riverdale)

    Help restore habitat by planting native species from canoes. Gear provided. Presented with Friends of the Chicago River.

    Free • Registration Required

  • A bumble bee on a flower.

    Green Lake Gardening

    Green Lake Woods • Calumet City, IL 60409

    Restore the garden and help pollinators. No experience needed. Equipment provided. Ages 12 & up.

    Free • Registration Required
  • two people in a canoe on the Little Calumet River

    Paddle & Plant

    Kickapoo Woods • Riverdale, IL 60827

    Help restore habitat by planting native species from canoes. Presented with Friends of the Chicago River.

    Free • Registration Required
  • two people in a canoe on the Little Calumet River

    Paddle & Plant

    Kickapoo Woods • Riverdale, IL 60827

    Help restore habitat by planting native species from canoes. Presented with Friends of the Chicago River.

    Free • Registration Required
  • A person in the field during a restoration event with a saw.

    Volunteer Workday

    River Trail Nature Center • Northbrook, IL 60062

    Help us work to make River Trail even better. Ages 8 & up. Children under 15 w/ adult.

    Free • Registration Required
  • a group of volunteers at Wampum Lake. Photo by Xochitl Lopez.

    R.I.P. Stewardship

    R.I.P. Stewardship
    Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480

    Help us restore native habitats - Remove Invasive Plants with bow saws or loppers. Tools, gloves & snack provided. Closed toed shoes & long pants encouraged. […]

    Free • Registration Required
  • Two youth volunteers collect seed.

    National Clean Up Day

    River Trail Nature Center • Northbrook, IL 60062

    Care for our natural world by making River Trail and the surrounding preserves cleaner. Self-guided. Pick up supplies onsite.

    Free • Registration Required
  • An array of fabrics colored via natural dyes, derived from invasive buckthorn.

    Buckthorn Dyeing Workshop

    Dan Ryan Woods Visitor Center & Pavilion • Chicago, IL 60620

    Join Katelyn Patton to learn basics of plant-based dyes while deepening your relationship to local ecology.

    Free • Registration Required
  • a group of volunteers at Wampum Lake. Photo by Xochitl Lopez.

    Restoration Workday

    Restoration Workdays at Trailside
    Trailside Museum of Natural History • River Forest, IL 60305

    Restore habitat and control invasive species. Equipment provided. Ages 8 & up. Ages 15 & under w/ adult.

    Free • Registration Required
  • a person cutting buckthorn with loppers at Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center

    Restoration Sunday

    Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473

    Help us improve our wildlife habitat by cutting and removing invasive species. Ages 8 & up. Ages 15 & under w/ adult.

    Free • Registration Required
  • A person in the field during a restoration event with a saw.

    Restoration Workday

    Restoration Workdays at Crabtree
    Crabtree Nature Center • Barrington, IL 60010

    Help us restore healthy habitats. Ages 8 & up. Children under 15 w/ adult. High schoolers may earn service hours.

    Free • Registration Required
  • Banner image for "Party for the Preserves" featuring the heading "National Public Lands Day."

    Ecological Restoration Weekend

    Sagawau Environmental Learning Center • Lemont, IL 60439

    Help restore Sagawau’s diverse ecosystems by removing invasive plant species.

    Free • Registration Required
  • Banner image for "Party for the Preserves" featuring the heading "National Public Lands Day."

    Party for the Preserves

    Featured
    Crabtree Nature Center • Barrington, IL 60010

    Celebrate 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 […]

    Free
  • Banner image for "Party for the Preserves" featuring the heading "National Public Lands Day."

    Party for the Preserves

    Featured
    Camp Bullfrog Lake • Willow Springs, IL 60480

    Celebrate 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

  • A close-up of activities at a native seed collection volunteer event.

    Roving Seed-Collecting Team

    Tuma Lake • Cook County, IL 60480 (near Willow Springs)

    Join the roving seed-collecting team! You’ll explore different preserves, learn to identify native plants and make a direct impact on habitat restoration efforts. No experience […]

    Free • Registration Required
  • A close-up of activities at a native seed collection volunteer event.

    Roving Seed-Collecting Team

    Schubert’s Woods • Cook County, IL 60475 (near Steger)

    Join the roving seed-collecting team! You’ll explore different preserves, learn to identify native plants and make a direct impact on habitat restoration efforts. No experience […]

    Free • Registration Required
  • A bumble bee on a flower.

    Green Lake Gardening

    Green Lake Woods • Calumet City, IL 60409

    Restore the garden and help pollinators. No experience needed. Equipment provided. Ages 12 & up.

    Free • Registration Required
  • A close-up of activities at a native seed collection volunteer event.

    Roving Seed-Collecting Team

    Sundown Meadow • Countryside, IL 60525

    Join the roving seed-collecting team! You’ll explore different preserves, learn to identify native plants and make a direct impact on habitat restoration efforts. No experience […]

    Free • Registration Required
  • A group of people standing in a grassy meadow during a seed collecting event.

    NEWTS: Stewardship Days for New Volunteers

    Native Seed Nursery • Western Springs, IL 60558

    Learn how to collect seeds of native plants. You’ll experience nature in a whole new way and help conserve biodiversity. Beginners welcome!

    Free • Registration Required
  • a group of volunteers at Wampum Lake. Photo by Xochitl Lopez.

    R.I.P. Stewardship

    R.I.P. Stewardship
    Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480

    Help us restore native habitats - Remove Invasive Plants with bow saws or loppers. Tools, gloves & snack provided. Closed toed shoes & long pants encouraged. […]

    Free • Registration Required
  • A person in the field during a restoration event with a saw.

    Restoration Workday

    Restoration Workdays at Crabtree
    Crabtree Nature Center • Barrington, IL 60010

    Help us restore healthy habitats. Ages 8 & up. Children under 15 w/ adult. High schoolers may earn service hours.

    Free • Registration Required