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 Jun 3
87° 66°
Mostly Sunny
Latest News Stories
The future of American troops in Europe; Iran lead Rubio’s meeting with NATO
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square Defense spending, troop placement and Iran took center stage during a meeting between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and NATO leaders on Friday in Sweden....
Tennessee congressman files articles of impeachment against Roberts
By Kim JarrettThe Center Square U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, filed six articles of impeachment against U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Roberts, saying Roberts's leadership is marked by "arbitrary, unexplained,...
Illinois Quick Hits: Chicagoland chamber opposes ditigal ad tax
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce is urging the Illinois legislature to reject a proposed new tax on...
Board suspends Camp Mystic co-owner’s nursing license
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square The Texas Board of Nursing has suspended the nursing license of Mary Liz Eastland, a co-owner of Camp Mystic, the flooded all-girls camp in Hunt,...
Illinois bill banning ‘easily convertible’ handguns could pass this session
By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – An Illinois measure to prohibit the sale and manufacture of handguns some legislators say are “easily convertible”...
Deadline approaches for $1 million school choice award
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square The June 1 deadline for a $1 million Yass Prize school choice award is approaching, and education providers nationwide are encouraged to apply. The Yass...
Biometrics privacy law’s territorial reach limited, appeals court says
By Jonathan Bilyk | Legal NewslineThe Center Square Amazon has turned aside another attempt to use Illinois' stringent biometrics privacy law to extract a potentially big payout from the company,...
Watchdog says Biden Education Department defied court order on Title IX enforcement
By Tom JoyceThe Center Square The U.S. Department of Education still has not released a final investigative report about allegations that the Biden administration ignored federal court orders on Title...
Congress skips town without passing $72B immigration enforcement bill
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square In an epic breakdown of negotiations, Congress is leaving town without voting on Republicans’ roughly $72 billion budget reconciliation bill. Senate Republicans ultimately deadlocked Thursday...
EPA slashes regulations on refrigerants finalized during Biden-era
By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square The Environmental Protection Agency is slashing some regulations on refrigerants finalized in the Biden-era in an effort it says will reduce grocery costs for Americans...
Illinois Quick Hits: State unemployment rate still more than 5%
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The Illinois Department of Employment Security says the state’s unemployment rate was unchanged last month at 5.1%,...
Mace amendment would spare Democrats she targeted
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., introduced a constitutional amendment requiring natural-born citizenship for members of Congress and federal judges, sparing the Democrats she targeted while potentially...
Illinois to require hidden ‘junk fees’ included in advertised price
By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – In most cases when a person makes a purchase, such as on hotels, concert tickets and more,...
