Evening Film, “Monty and Rose”
Thatcher Woods Pavilion • River Forest, IL 60305View a screening of “Monty and Rose,” the true story of a pair of endangered piping plovers who beat the […]
View a screening of “Monty and Rose,” the true story of a pair of endangered piping plovers who beat the […]
Repurpose the common European buckthorn into something new. Equipment provided. Ages 10 & up. Participants under 16 must be accompanied […]
Webinar teaching skills to begin to learn to identify local bird songs.
Walk & Talk Hikes are for the curious mind who want to know more about the Forest Preserves and natural […]
Celebrate National Take a Hike Day by hitting the trail with a naturalist on a 5-mile hike.
Celebrate National Take a Hike Day with an evening stroll. Walk is 3.4 miles on a paved loop.
Enjoy a nocturnal walk followed by relaxing time by a fire.
Fitness Hikes are for those looking to get some exercise outdoors. Fitness hikes will be faster paced with little to […]
Put on some gloves and join us to remove invasive species. Tools and eye protection provided. Ages 8 & up. […]
Come along for a tour of the Sag Valley to observe and interpret its geologic formations. Participants will drive their […]
Walk & Talk Hikes are for the curious mind who want to know more about the Forest Preserves and natural […]
Celebrate the rich heritage of the Calumet region. On this day, we will collaborate with various partner organizations that host […]
Come learn about America’s history of wildfire management and how a little bear influenced the whole nation.
Earn your service hours while helping the environment. Ages 13–17 must be accompanied by an adult.
Learn about the different attributes that make owls unique and fascinating.
Find out more about whitetail deer and what unique survival adaptations they have on a guided walk. 8 years & […]
Attend this session to learn the basics of archery. Ages 10 & up; equipment provided.
Rustle through the fallen leaves on a guided 1-mile fitness walk.
Walk off that extra helping of turkey and stuffing on this annual post-holiday hike.
Use your camera to observe nature on a guided photography walk. All levels and camera types. Ages 13 & up.
Join us for a fast paced 3-mile hike through all three of Crabtree’s habitats. Ages 18 & up.
Learn about the best bird foods, feeders and landscape elements to benefit our resident winter birds.
Learn some basic winter bird feeding tips including which birds will visit your feeders this winter.
Walk & Talk Hikes are for the curious mind who want to know more about the Forest Preserves and natural […]
Repurpose the common European buckthorn into something new. Equipment provided. Ages 10 & up.
Experience the health benefits that nature provides on a crisp winter walk. Ages 13 & up. 3.4 miles.
Learn the basics of starting a fire and explore the different types of campfires. S'mores and hot cocoa provided. All […]
Snowshoe hikes offered during any days that we have over 4” of snow! Free snowshoe rental with an ID on […]
Explore Thatcher Woods while learning about the inspiring life of a local pioneering environmental educator. Ages 13 & up.
Celebrate the start of the winter season with a giant bonfire under the night sky. Enjoy winter craft and star […]
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.
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)Get free transportation to the Forest Preserves for your group.
Learn MoreSign up for the Forest Way and receive the latest Forest Preserves news, events and volunteer opportunities each month. View past newsletters.
Sign UpThe 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.