Events
Canceled Senior Fitness Walk
Thatcher Woods • River Forest, IL 60305Explore the wonders of nature with fellow seniors!
Wee Wandering Wednesdays
Crabtree Nature Center • Barrington, IL 60010A special program for little naturalists. Read a story, make a craft, and go on an adventure. Ages 3 to […]
International Bat Appreciation Folktale and Walk
Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480Join us for a folktale recited by a librarian from the LaGrange Park Library as we walk and discuss the […]
Family Bird Walk
Erickson Woods • Cook County, IL 60093 (near Winnetka)Start with a DIY binoculars craft then try it out while on a guided bird walk.
Thursdays In the Field – Drop In
Trailside Museum of Natural History • River Forest, IL 60305Join IL Ext. Master Naturalists for fun nature and inquiry-based activities.
Creative Sustainability Workshop
Possum Hollow Woods • Cook County, IL 60526 (near La Grange Park)Make chemical-free cleaning supplies, lavender pouches, and native seed bombs. Ages 10 & up.
Earth Day Cleanup
Jerome Huppert Woods • River Grove, IL 60171Celebrate Earth Day by doing your part in helping clean up litter in the Preserves. Supplies provided for check out.
Outdoor Cooking
Camp Bullfrog Lake • Willow Springs, IL 60480Cooking outdoors is easy and fun! Learn how to prepare food both over a fire and on a stove. Ages […]
Earth Day
Busse Lake Boating Center • Cook County, IL 60007 (near Elk Grove Village)Celebrate Earth Day by doing your part in helping clean up litter in the Preserves. Supplies available to check-out. Grove […]
Poetry in the Forest: A Forest Therapy Walk
Caldwell Woods • Chicago, IL 60646Join us for poetry in motion as we explore the forest through our senses. Participants will receive a journal and […]
Earth Day
Caldwell Woods • Chicago, IL 60646Celebrate Earth Day by doing your part in helping clean up litter in the Preserves. Litter pick-up supplies available to […]
Volunteer Workdays
River Trail Nature Center • Northbrook, IL 60062Help us work to make River Trail even better. Ages 10 & up; under 15 w/adult.
Celebrate Earth Day Activities
Trailside Museum of Natural History • River Forest, IL 60305Plant a tree, make your own bird feeder, pick up litter, and more. Family program.
Earth Day
Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473Celebrate Earth Day with themed games, self-guided litter cleanup and more.
Earth Day Celebration
Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480Art activities, scavenger hunts, food chain demonstrations, and free plant giveaways will delight visitors.
Earth Day Birthday
Sauk Trail Woods-Central • South Chicago Heights, IL 60411You can have your cake and eat it too! Celebrate planet Earth, play party games and better the environment.
Day Hiking Leadership Training
Bemis Woods-North • Cook County, IL 60523 (near Oak Brook)Calling all teachers, group leaders & youth educators! Our Day Hiking Leadership Training program gets youth and groups of all […]
Earth Day Cleanup
Miller Meadow-South • Cook County, IL 60130 (near Forest Park)Celebrate Earth Day by doing your part in helping clean up litter in the Preserves. Supplies provided for check out. […]
Earth Day Nature Play
Crabtree Nature Center • Barrington, IL 60010Play, plant, paint and pretend with family-fun activities.
Wellness Walk
Thatcher Woods Pavilion • River Forest, IL 60305Mindful and meditative guided nature walk. Ages 18 & up.
Fantastic Ferns
Sagawau Environmental Learning Center • Lemont, IL 60439Join us for a discussion and short walk to investigate this fascinating group of vascular plants.
Sustainability 101
Crabtree Nature Center • Barrington, IL 60010Drop by to learn about various ways to be more environmentally friendly.
Conservation@Home: No Mow May Talk
River Trail Nature Center • Northbrook, IL 60062Learn how delaying your spring clean-up can help backyard conservation.
Ecological Restoration: Garlic Mustard Pull
Sagawau Environmental Learning Center • Lemont, IL 60439Celebrate Earth Day by welcoming back native plants and wildlife by pulling invasive garlic mustard.
Tuesdays are for the Birds
Sand Ridge Nature Center • South Holland, IL 60473Join us as we seek out spring migrants. Binoculars available for loan.
Walk & Talk
Spears Woods • Cook County, IL 60480 (near Willow Springs)Walk & Talk hikes are for the curious mind who wants to know more about the Forest Preserves and natural […]
Full Moon Walk
Crabtree Nature Center • Barrington, IL 60010Walk under the light of the full moon.
Moon Walk
Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center • Willow Springs, IL 60480Let the full moon be our guide as we walk in the largest Urban Night Sky Place in the world.
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
- Animal Encounter
- Archery
- Arts & Crafts
- Astronomy
- Bicycling
- Birding
- Camping
- Cross-Country Skiing
- Education
- Film
- Fishing
- Fitness
- Food & Beverage
- Nature Play
- Gardening
- Hiking & Walking
- History & Culture
- Music
- Paddling
- Photography
- Senior
- Storytelling
- Volunteer
- 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
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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.