Lend a hand this spring at Volunteer Morning programs
April 15, 2026/
Volunteers are being sought for spring programs that help spruce up the preserves by removing invasive species, controlling brush and planting native plants.
Here are the spring Volunteer Morning programs. (Unless otherwise noted, programs are from 9 a.m. to noon and for ages 10 and older.)
April
- Saturday, April 18: Joliet Junior College, Joliet. Brush control.
- Tuesday, April 21: Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve, Crete Township. Fence removal. Ages 16 and older.
- Thursday, April 30: Old Plank Road Trail – Wolf Road Access, Mokena. Brush control.
May
- Sunday, May 3: Hickory Creek Preserve – LaPorte Road Access, Mokena. Brush control.
- Tuesday, May 5: Evans-Judge Preserve, Custer Township. Brush control.
- Sunday, May 10: Hickory Creek Preserve – Hickory Creek Junction, Mokena. Brush control.
- Thursday, May 21: Hammel Woods Preserve – DuPage River Access, Shorewood. Brush control.
- Thursday, May 28: Rock Run Preserve – Paul V. Nichols Access, Joliet. Brush control.
June
- Sunday, June 7: 8 a.m.-11 a.m. Monee Reservoir, Monee Township. Brush control.
- Thursday, June 11: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve, Crete Township. Seed collection. Ages 8 and older.
- Tuesday, June 16: Four Rivers Environmental Education Center, Channahon. Plug planting. Ages 10 and up.
- Thursday, June 18: Prairie Bluff Preserve, Crest Hill. Plug planting.
- Saturday, June 27: 8 a.m.-11 a.m. Riverview Farmstead Preserve, Naperville. Invasive weed control.
For more information and to fill out a volunteer application and waiver, visit the Volunteer Page. To see current openings, send an email to [email protected].
Building relationships
Volunteers can sign up for one program or multiple programs.
“You don’t need to make a long-term commitment or donate hundreds of hours to get involved as a volunteer with the Forest Preserve,” said Emily Kenny, the Forest Preserve District’s volunteer services supervisor. “But for those who enjoy pitching in, we hope they return for future opportunities throughout the year.”
Others choose to become Prairie People Volunteers, which involves additional training for roles that may require independent work or specialized skills.
“It’s important to match the right person with the right assignment,” Kenny said. “Volunteering is more than just a transaction; it’s about building relationships that create a positive experience for everyone involved.”
Today Jul 20
86° 60°
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Sunny
Latest News Stories
EXCLUSIVE: Report warns about costly regulations’ impact on short-term rentals
By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square A new report shines a light on local governments that have burdensome and costly regulations for short-term rentals. They're in states varying from California and...
One in five calls answered on IRS identity theft line, watchdog says
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The IRS processed nearly 139 million returns in 2026, but millions of taxpayers still faced refund delays, identity theft backlogs and phone lines they couldn't...
‘Don’t be a hypocrite:’ Congressional hearing with DHS Secretary Mullin heats up
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square A U.S. House Appropriations subcommittee hearing devolved into a shouting match between Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. The...
Hawaii gun law struck down by U.S. Supreme Court
By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 along ideological lines Thursday that a Hawaii law requiring concealed-carry permit holders to obtain permission before entering most private...
Illinois SNAP error rate rises; Pritzker blames Trump
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois now has the fifth-highest error rate in the nation for improper payments to recipients of federal...
Watchdog: Canceled NASA contracts more than doubled in cost
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square A new federal watchdog report found contract values on canceled Artemis systems more than doubled, to $5.9 billion, and NASA still hasn't disclosed what its...
Senate committee explores ways to protect American citizenship
By Christine JohnsonThe Center Square The U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary’s Subcommittee on the Constitution met on Wednesday to discuss the subject of protecting America’s citizenship, considering America’s 250th...
Chicago video gambling hearing abruptly ends in debate, disarray
By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A public meeting Wednesday on the state of legal gambling in Chicago was brought to an abrupt...
$87.6B war supplemental draws bipartisan questions about unrelated riders
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The Trump administration has requested Congress authorize $87.6 billion in immediate appropriations, most of which reimburses the costs of Operation Epic Fury and boosts Pentagon...
Illinois Quick Hits: Court rules against parents in East St. Louis busing case
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois Supreme Court has reversed an appellate court’s ruling in a case involving state requirements of...
DHS secretary blasts Illinois correctional centers
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin is calling out state correctional facilities after he faced questions from...
Walz files for information on Trump ‘retribution campaign’
By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Gov. Tim Walz has filed 16 Freedom of Information Act requests with federal agencies seeking records he says could reveal what he has labeled as...
Supreme Court upholds executive authority in immigration cases
By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square Asylum seekers who arrive at the border are not entitled to entry and the Department of Homeland Security has broad authority over the temporary protected...
