Coming Events

February 25 & 26 and February 27 & 28, 2010
Chicago Wilderness Midwest Ecological Prescription
Burn Crew Member Training

The Natural Resources Management Team will be offering two sessions of the CW Midwest Ecological Prescription Burn Crew Member Training on Thursday & Friday, February 25 & 26 and Saturday & Sunday, February 27 & 28. Registration details will be available soon. In the meantime, if you would like to be added to the email notification list for the training please contact:
Chris Mulvaney, CW Science & NRM Team Coordinator chris.mulvaney@chicagowilderness.org or 847-242-6424.

January 1, 2010
Happy Canoe Year 
Early each New Year’s Day, hundreds of wonderfully crazy people jump into their canoes and kayaks to paddle an intimate reach of the Chicago River long protected as part of the Forest Preserves. More ...

November 7, 2009
Chicago Portage National Historic Site Tour 
Friends of the Chicago Portage would like to announce their final 2009 tour of the Chicago Portage National Historic Site. More ...

October 3, 2009
Chicago Portage National Historic Site Tour 
Join Friends of the Chicago Portage for a free public tour of the Chicago Portage National Historic Site. More ...

September 27, 2009
Autumn on the Grassland 
Head to Orland Grassland for a community event hosted by the volunteers. Guided hikes and wildflower identification, exhibits, activities for children and refreshments... More ...

September 10 and 11, 2009
September 12 and 13, 2009
Chicago Wilderness Midwest Ecological Prescription Burn
Crew Member Training 

The Chicago Wilderness Natural Resources Management Team is pleased to offer two sessions of the CW Midwest Ecological Prescription Burn Crew Member Training. More ...

July 4, 2009
Chicago Portage National Historic Site Tour 
Celebrate the birth of our country by joining the Friends of the Chicago Portage as we celebrate the discovery of Chicago. More ...

June 13, 2009
The Discovery of Chicago Tour 
Friends of the Chicago Portage invite you to discover the hidden places where Chicago was born. More ...

May 16, 2009
Orland Grassland Grand Birding Event and Special First-Timers Short Bird Hike
The Orland Grassland Volunteers are planning the Fifth Annual Grassland bird count and need your help ... More ...

May 7th (Thursday) and 8th (Friday) 2009
The Illinois Prescribed Fire Council Presents:
A Symposium on Fire; its History and Future Role in Shaping Ecosystems

Come join your friends and colleagues at the Field Museum ... More ...

Spring 2009
Frog Monitors Needed- Chicago Wilderness Calling Frog Survey Spring 2009
Workshops for beginning & experienced monitors
We’ll teach & review calls of 13 native frog & toad species ... More ...

February 7, 2009
Chicago Wilderness Wild Things 2009 Conference
Please join us for this day-long conference bringing together the region’s best experts, most dedicated volunteers and anyone interested in nature ... More ...

January 17, 2009
Herbicide Training and Testing Workshop
Interested in becoming certified and licensed to use herbicides on public lands? If so, The Nature Conservancy will be hosting the next herbicide training and testing workshop for volunteers on Saturday, January 17, 2009 at The Brookfield Zoo from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. ... More ...

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October 11 and 12, 2008
A River Thru History- The Des Plaines Valley Rendezvous
Step back 200 years into America's Past. Join the festive gathering of fur trappers, settlers, craftsmen, and entertainers along the banks of the Des Plaines River. Enjoy the food, fun, and festivities...More ...

September 27, 2008
National Public Lands Day
National Public Lands Day is an annual event where local volunteers gather to restore habitat in our forest preserves. Join us this year at Somme Woods to gather rare seeds and cut invasive brush...More ...

May 3, 2008
Orland Grassland Birding Event
The Orland Grassland Volunteers are planning the Fourth Annual
Grassland bird count and need your help...More ...

April 19, 2008
Earth Day at Theodore Stone Preserve
Get outside and give something back for Earth Day by helping to restore a rare natural habitat... More ...

April 19, 2008
Work and Play for Earth Day
Join us at Bunker Hill Preserve for a morning workday and an afternoon celebration... More ...

 

News

Litter Obliterated at
Schiller Woods

September 11, 2009

Chicagoland Marriott-branded hotels visited Schiller Woods and began their Litter Obliterators Project in Grove Site #4.  Due to their turnout of over 60 associates, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Friday, September 11, 2009, they were able to reach out into Grove Site #3 and #5.  Getting out into the community is a part of their Spirit to SERVE Our Communities initiative. 

This year the hotels in this area focused on the environment as part of Marriott’s 10 year anniversary of the "SERVE" program. "SERVE," stands for the following:
S - Shelter and Food
E - Environment
R - Readiness for Hotel Careers
V - Vitality of Children
E - Embracing Global Diversity & Inclusion

 

Northwestern University Students Volunteer at Skokie Lagoons
September 14, 2009

Northwestern University's student group, Alternative Student Breaks, sends over 40 service learning trips around the US and abroad every year. They feature winter, spring and Pre-Wildcat Welcome trips. The Pre-WW trips take place the week before new student welcome week, in which trips consisting of six incoming freshmen are site led by two upperclassmen to cities around the Midwest.

This year, students traveled to Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Cincinnati and South Bend to do service work for those in need. Upon returning to Chicago, the trips are not quite done, for they annually help the FPDCC Volunteer Program through wildlife preservation efforts. This year, the freshmen and site leaders came together as 64 strong to remove buckweed overgrowth from Skokie Lagoons.

 

Harris Bank Volunteers in the Forest Preserve
June 11, 2009


Around 25 Harris Bank volunteers braved threatening skies to help clear invasive species from a remnant oak woodland at Busse Woods. Under the guidance of FPD employees and volunteers, the team cleared out buckthorn, garlic mustard, hedge parsley, and seed heads from reed canary grass.

The cut buckthorn, 200 linear feet of it lined up at the curb, was chipped by FPD crews the next day.  The Harris team liberated several oaks and hickories, and despite the poison ivy and mosquitos, most want to come back!  

Are You A VIP?

Forest Preserve Announces New High School VIP Program

The High School Volunteers In Preserves (VIP) Program is an entry-level partnership between Cook County high schools and the Preserves. Schools that sign up as VIPs will receive information about Forest Preserve volunteer workdays, events, and special projects available to high school students looking to volunteer or fulfill service-learning requirements.

For more information or to get involved, contact Cassie Hatzfeld.     

 

 

   
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