Monday, April 18, 2016
Special to suffredin.org
by Cook County Forest Preserve

Celebrate Earth Day in the Forest Preserves

Numerous events, volunteer opportunities available

Join the Forest Preserves of Cook County as we celebrate Earth Day with volunteer opportunities, educational programs and fun events.

“The Forest Preserves are among the most important assets of Cook County. Ensuring that they thrive as a source of beauty, inspiration, economic vitality and health is critical to the success of our region,” said Forest Preserves President Toni Preckwinkle. “The Preserves help control floods in our neighborhoods, clean the air and improve the health and quality of life for millions of people. They also provide visitors with the opportunity to reconnect with nature, and to explore and learn more about the world.

For these reasons and many more, we must make a sincere commitment to restoring the ecological health of the Preserves, and Earth Day is excellent opportunity to do that.”

Celebrating Earth Day is a great way to explore the Forest Preserves while renewing our commitment to the natural environment. It’s also an opportunity to continue preserving habitat for the millions of plants, animals and other living things that call the Forest Preserves home.

Earth Day Celebration and Preserves Clean Up

Saturday, April 23 * 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Whistler Woods, 480 Acme Dr, Riverdale

Clean up the Preserves in partnership with Friends of the Parks in the morning, and then afterward celebrate with fun nature activities and snacks.

Earth Day

Saturday, April 23 * 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Sand Ridge Nature Center, 15891 S. Paxton Ave., South Holland

Join us for a day set aside as a reminder to be good stewards of our planet every day. Activities include hikes, puppet shows, a craft and Earth Day Jeopardy!

Earth Day Woodland Walk

Saturday, April 23 * 1 p.m.

Trailside Museum of Natural History, 738 Thatcher Ave., River Forest

Join us for a guided walk to view the many wonders of our Earth in the springtime woods. Family program.

Earth Day, Nature Play

Sunday, April 24 * Noon – 3 p.m.

Crabtree Nature Center, 3 Stover Rd., Barrington Hills

Catch, craft, and climb! Special Earth Day family activities in our three-acre nature play area.

Across Cook County, hundreds of volunteers are contributing many hours of hard work to help restore the preserves, with numerous workdays taking place around Earth Day. To help celebrate the day by participating in a public workday, or for volunteer opportunities year-round, visit fpdcc.com/volunteer.

For a complete list of events in the Forest Preserves of Cook County, visit fpdcc.com/events.

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