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.”
Fri Jun 5
86° 65°
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Latest News Stories
Illinois Quick Hits: House GOP says no Bears deal without property tax reform
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois House Republicans say they will not support any Chicago Bears stadium deal or megaprojects legislation without...
WATCH: More than $600 million stolen from SNAP in 2025
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square About $607 million was stolen from EBT accounts in 2025, according to a new report. Propel, an EBT benefits tracking program, found large amounts of...
Melania Trump denies any relationship with Jeffrey Epstein
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square In a stunning statement, First Lady Melania Trump denied any relationship with the late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, calling for complete transparency and justice for...
War Powers Resolution halting Trump’s Iran ambitions fails in U.S. House
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square A resolution to halt U.S. military hostilities in Iran failed to advance in the U.S. House pro forma session Thursday. House Democrats attempted to obtain...
Lincoln-Way West Softball Edges Andrew 10-9 in Tight Conference Showdown
The Lincoln-Way West varsity softball team kept its unblemished road record intact on Wednesday afternoon, surviving a high-scoring conference battle to defeat host Andrew 10-9 in Tinley Park. The narrow...
Lincoln-Way West Overcomes Wild Start, Blasts Past Stagg 21-11 in Six-Inning Slugfest
A chaotic, high-scoring shootout quickly turned into a commanding victory for the Lincoln-Way West varsity baseball team on Wednesday, as the Warriors rode a massive nine-run third inning to a...
Answers wanted to ‘pathetic’ state procurement issues
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Lawmakers say Illinois-based businesses are getting work in other states but struggling to get business in their...
Report paints dismal picture of California’s jobs market
By Chris WoodwardThe Center Square New research shows California is the Not-So-Golden State when it comes to jobs. Pacific Research Institute, a Pasadena-based, nonpartisan free market think tank, went as...
Report: U.S. added $1.2 trillion to national debt in six months
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The U.S. government added $1.2 trillion to the national debt over the past six months, borrowing $163 billion during March alone, the Congressional Budget Office...
Illinois House pushes through bill restricting ICE detention centers in state
By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – After heavy debate and Republican opposition, the Illinois House passed a bill that would all but ban...
Cheaper gas could take time amid tentative ceasefire
By Brett RowlandThe Center Square Americans hoping for cheaper gasoline after the U.S.-Iran ceasefire will need to be patient, as oil prices and other economic factors continue to work against...
Trump says military remains in place as talks with Iran set to begin
By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square President Donald Trump says that increased military assets in the Middle East will remain in place and ready as the U.S. and Iran embark on...
Illinois Quick Hits: Ex-nonprofit exec sentenced for state, federal grant fraud
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A former Chicago-area nonprofit executive has been sentenced to a year in federal prison for misappropriating nearly...
