Activities Schedule

Join us for a hike to see the beauty of Hegewisch Marsh. Spot birds, learn about regional history, and hear about the 130-acre ecological restoration effort. The hands-on hike will focus on how the wetland provides high quality habitat for a number of wildlife, waterfowl and native plants and will give students the opportunity to reunite with nature.

Dress for the weather. Clothing and shoes will get wet and muddy.

Call Jerry Attere at (312) 744-9136 to RSVP.

Sat., Aug. 7, 12:00 P.M. – 11:00 P.M.--A Step For Freedom & Peace. At Genesis Convention Center, 1 Genesis Center Plaza, Gary, IN.
Sponsored by United Urban Network, Inc.

Open to all branches of the military and public.

Sat., Aug. 7, 10:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.--Eggers Woods Stewardship Workday.

Sponsored by Calumet Ecological Park Association and Forest Preserve District of Cook County.

Help us clear invasive brush from the site’s savanna and woodland. Tools and gloves provided.

Meet near the caretaker’s house at Eggers Grove (East 112th Street and Ave. E).

For more information and to RSVP contact John Pastirik at (773) 991-0613

Sat., Aug. 14, 9:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.--Dan Ryan Woods Stewardship Workday.

Sponsored by Friends of Dan Ryan Woods, Friends of the Forest Preserves, and Forest Preserve District of Cook County.

Help us remove invasive alien plants, collect seeds, and cleanup the preserve so native flora and fauna can thrive.

Tools and gloves provided.

Meet at the parking lot on the north side of 87th St. two blocks east of S. Western Ave.

For more information and to RSVP please contact Benjamin Cox at (773) 398-1178 or benjamin@fotfp.org.

Sat., Aug. 28th, 10:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M.--Kickapoo Prairie Stewardship Workday.

Sponsored by Friends of the Forest Preserves and Forest Preserve District of Cook County.

Help us clear invasive brush from this beautiful prairie. Tools and gloves provided.

Park in the Thortnon Township Municipal Building (Halsted and 144th St.) and meet at the entrance to the prairie site that is directly west and across the street from the parking lot.

For more information and to RSVP please contact Eileen Klees at (773) 238-4221 or eklees@wowway.com

Sat., Aug. 28, 10:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M.--Whistler Woods Stewardship Workday. At Whistler Woods - Halsted and Forest View Avenue (approx. 134th Street), Riverdale, IL.

Sponsored by Cook County Forest Preserve District, Blue Island Bicycle Club, and Friends of the Parks.

Lend a hand to help rescue the ancient oaks of Whistler Woods. In partnership with the Blue Island Bicycle Club, we will be clearing invasive brush and picking up trash along the Major Taylor Bicycle Trail, which runs through the northern portion of the woodland. Tools and gloves provided.

Directions: from Halsted, turn east on Forest View Avenue, turn left again at the sign for Whistler Woods, continue all the way to the end of the lot and park in the circle near the Major Taylor Trail trailhead.

For more information contact Rebecca Blazer at (773) 972-8080 or rebecca_blazer@hotmail.com. Please RSVP so we will know how many tools to bring.

Sep. 18, 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M.--Memorial Hike at Marian Byrnes Natural Area, 9700 S. Van Vlissingen Ave., Chicago.

All ages are welcome to hike Marian Byrnes’ favorite prairie. Park on the street near the alley entrance. Dress for the weather and bring a light lunch and water. Co-sponsored by Calumet Ecological Park Association, Chicago Dept. of Environment, Southeast Environmental Task Force, and Calumet Heritage Partnership .

John Pastirik will lead the hike and Bob LeSuer will tell us about its history.

Please RSVP by calling Judy at (773) 646-4773.

Sat., Sep. 25, 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.--September Adopt-a-Beach™ Event, International Coastal Cleanup.

Sponsored by Alliance for the Great Lakes.

Open to all
Join thousands of volunteers throughout Illinois and Indiana, and all around the Great Lakes region and the world as well, in beach and shoreline cleanups to remove trash and collect data on their findings. There are two ways to get involved:

Volunteer the Day of the Event: Sign up for a designated location of your choice and come for a few hours of fun and community involvement; Be a lead volunteer: Play a lead role in the cleanup by coordinating a cleanup in your area.

For more information on the Adopt-a-Beach™ program contact in Illinois and Indiana, contact: Frances Canonizado by email at fcanonizado@greatlakes.org or call her at (312) 939-0838 ext. 227. Visit www.greatlakes.org/adoptabeach

Sep. 25, 10:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M.--Burnham Greenway Clean-up & Tree Care, 108th Street and Ave. D, Chicago.

Volunteer are needed clean up and care for the trees and perennials planted along the Burnham Greenway at 108th and Ave. D, Chicago. Co-sponsored by Calumet Ecological Park Association and Trees “R” Beautiful.

To volunteer call John (773) 991-0613 or Judy at (773) 646-4773.

Oct. 9, 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M.--Clean-up of Burnham Greenway. Starting at Eggers Grove Forest Preserve Parking Lot, 112th St. and Ave. E, Chicago.

Join us for a clean-up of the Burnham Greenway along Eggers Grove Forest Preserve. Wear sturdy shoes, long pants, and dress for the weather. Sponsored by Calumet Ecological park Association.

For information call John at (773) 991-0613 or Judy at (7737) 646-4773.

Nov. 20, 1:00 - 3:00 P.M.--Lake Powderhorn Clean-up, starting on Brainard Ave., East of Burnham Ave., Burnham, Illinois.

Meet in the Parking lot. Volunteers are needed to help clean up the shoreline of Lake Powderhorn in Lake Powderhorn Forest Preserve. Wear sturdy shoes, long pants and gloves. Sponsored by Calumet Ecological Park Association.

For more information call John at (773) 991-0613 or Judy at (773) 646-4773.