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NORTHWEST
Friday, Dec 27 * 11 am-2 pm
Rolling Knolls - 11N260 Rohrssen Rd, Elgin
Come out for fun and adventure during winter break! Sledding and snowshoes (conditions permitting), hikes and more. Free.
NORTH
Saturday, Dec 7 * 4-8 pm
Camp Dan Beard - 200 Portwine Rd, Northbrook
Join us for a celebration of winter and the outdoors with a huge bonfire! Outdoor activities and s'mores provided. Parking at Potawatomi Woods.
Sunday, Dec 8 * 1 pm
Thatcher Woods Pavilion - Chicago Ave, west of Thatcher Ave, River Forest
Come play along or just listen at our indoor jam. Make a simple musical instrument or bring your own. All are welcome to these free events!
Saturday, Dec 21 * 11 am
Evans Field - W Bloomingdale Ave & Thatcher Ave, River Grove
Join us on a casual-paced walk along the Des Plaines Trail. We'll hike roughly 2 miles on this non-looped trail.
Monday, Dec 23 * 11 am-2 pm
Thatcher Woods Pavilion - Chicago Ave, west of Thatcher Ave, River Forest
Come out for fun and adventure during winter break! Sledding and snowshoes (conditions permitting), hikes and more. Free.
SOUTHWEST
Saturday, Dec 14 * Noon-3 pm
Swallow Cliff-North - Calumet Sag Rd, west of La Grange Rd, Palos Hills
Stair climbing. Storytelling. Sledding. Snowshoeing. S'more making. All your favorite winter activities in one place!
Saturday, Dec 21 * 10 am
Midlothian Meadows - Crawford Ave, north of W 159th St
Walk & Talk hikes are for those who want to know more about the Forest Preserves and natural areas. These hikes will be led at a slower pace with frequent stopping and interpretation. Total distance: 2.75 miles.
Saturday, Dec 28 * 11 am-2 pm
Camp Sullivan - 14630 Oak Park Ave, Oak Forest
Come for fun and adventure during winter break! Climbing wall, snowshoes (conditions permitting), hikes and more.
SOUTH
Sunday, Dec 8 * 11 am-3 pm
Sand Ridge Nature Center - 15891 Paxton Ave, South Holland
Visit our pioneer settlement and celebrate this joyous time of year in a simpler way with homemade toys, chestnuts roasting and popcorn popping in the open fire.
Wednesday, Dec 11 * 5-6 pm
Altgeld Branch of the Chicago Public Library - 13281 S Corliss Ave, Chicago
Learn about species of concern around Cook County through reading and activities.
Saturday, Dec 14 * 4-8 pm
Camp Shabbona Woods - 15810 S Torrence Ave, South Holland
Enjoy the warmth of a bonfire, nature play, artmaking and s'mores.
For details and a full event listing including all regular events at our six nature centers,
visit our Events page
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Forest Preserves 2020 Wall Calendars Now Available
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The Forest Preserves of Cook County's 2020 Wall Calendars are now available! The calendars feature beautiful photographs taken throughout the preserves that highlight some of the breathtaking animals, plants and landscapes that thrive locally. Calendars are available to the public on a first come, first served basis at each Forest Preserves nature center.
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THE CURE FOR CABIN FEVER: EXPLORE THE FOREST PRESERVES OF COOK COUNTY
by Forest Preserves President Toni Preckwinkle
If the thought of a long, cold winter cooped up indoors sends chills down your spine, consider planning an outing into the Forest Preserves of Cook County! From family-friendly activities to peaceful walks in the woods, there are plenty of ways to overcome cabin fever this season.
For families with children on winter break from school, plan a visit to one of the Forest Preserves' six
nature education centers. From December 21 through January 5, each nature center is hosting winter break nature fun, with activities ranging from seeing live animals on display to snowshoeing along snow-covered trails. Families can drop in anytime during business hours for free indoor and outdoor nature activities.
There are also dozens of events and programs in Forest Preserves all throughout Cook County. Visitors can choose to stay warm inside for programs like artmaking or learning about native wildlife, or head outdoors for guided nature hikes, photography excursions and bird walks, too.
Don't forget there are plenty of exhilarating ways to enjoy the season, as well. When the conditions are right,
Sagawau Environmental Learning Center in Lemont transforms into Sagawau Nordic, a full-service cross-country ski center complete with rental equipment, lessons and groomed trails. The Forest Preserves offers numerous sledding hills, ice skating spots and locations for ice fishing, too.
For those interested in giving back to their communities while getting in a good work out, consider joining our community of dedicated volunteers for restoration activities. There are opportunities all throughout Cook County for people of all ages. No experience is necessary, and supplies are provided. Visit our Volunteer Page to learn more about volunteering in the Forest Preserves.
We hope to see you in your forest preserves!
Toni Preckwinkle, President
Forest Preserves of Cook County
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MUSKIE SALVAGING AT BUSSE RESERVOIR
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Twice a year, Forest Preserves Wildlife and Fisheries staff and partners from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Department of Agriculture use electrofishing to catch muskellunge--better known as muskie--and other game fish that escape over the main dam at Busse Reservoir.
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WHERE YOUTH LEARN TO LOVE NATURE
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When Chicago Conservation Leadership Corps (CCLC) students finish their six-week summer job in the Forest Preserves, they sound proud, inspired and ready for their next challenge.
The CCLC job program balances important service work with nature-based educational experiences, focused on inspiring a life-long appreciation for nature.
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STAY COMFORTABLE AND SAVE ENERGY THROUGHOUT COLDER WINTER MONTHS
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Though temperatures outside are dropping, there are still plenty of ways to save energy and reduce emissions throughout winter, from watching your space heater use to bringing a sweater to work. Sustainability means staying comfortable while helping the planet this season.
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CELEBRATE THE WINTER SOLSTICE IN THE FOREST PRESERVES OF COOK COUNTY
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The winter solstice marks the official start of winter on Saturday, Dec. 21, and the Forest Preserves of Cook County offers several opportunities to celebrate the new season in nature.
The winter solstice occurs when the North Pole is tilted the farthest away from the Sun and gives the Northern Hemisphere its shortest day of the year. The farther north, the shorter the day. Chicago will receive about nine hours and seven minutes of daylight on Dec. 21, compared to Anchorage, Alaska, which will receive only five hours and 27 minutes of daylight.
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DECEMBER 2019 VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
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Warm up this winter while helping restore the forest preserves! Consider joining our community of dedicated volunteers to remove invasive brush and conduct brush pile burns. There are opportunities throughout the county for people of all ages and experience levels.
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FOREST PRESERVE FOUNDATION GRANTS MORE THAN $130,000 DURING FALL GRANTS CYCLE
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The Forest Preserve Foundation Board of Directors approved six grants totaling $132,110 during the fall grants cycle. Four grants continue the Foundation's support for the Conservation Corps/Forest Preserve Experience program, ecological restoration in Cranberry Slough and Cap Sauers Holding Preserve, and the volunteer recognition program. Two are first-time grants in support of restoration work in Schubert's Woods in southern Cook County and Perkins Woods in Evanston.
"These grants round out our 2019 cycle with funding for our key investment areas: next-generation environmental advocates, climate change mitigation and family recreation in the Forest Preserves of Cook County," says Shelley Davis, the foundation's president and executive director. "Our grantmaking increased significantly this year, allowing us to extend our impact in ways that make the Forest Preserves more accessible and enjoyable for all."
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CALENDAR PHOTO OF THE MONTH: DECEMBER
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The December photo of the month, "Ice Crystals," was taken by Fidencio Marbella at McCormick Woods in the Palos preserves. Winter leaves its mark on the forests, savannas and wetlands of the Forest Preserves, from enormous drifts of driven snow to delicate ice crystals. There is plenty of beauty to be discovered this season throughout the county. Visit our web map and plan a visit.
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