Through their $5,000 donation to the Forest Preserve Foundation, a Champaign couple with deep ties to Chicago is supporting an expansion of the Forest Preserves Conservation@Home program into nine schools in Cook County. The gift by Warren Lavey and Dr. Holly Rosencranz will fund a grant that allows the schools to start or expand pollinator […]
Volunteers are critical to maintaining the health and vitality of the Forest Preserves. Without them, the professional staff just doesn’t have the capacity required to reach all 70,000 acres that make up the Forest Preserves of Cook County. At the Forest Preserve Foundation, we are always happy to give volunteers their proper due and recognition. […]
Here at the Forest Preserve Foundation, we love our local outdoors. But you already know we do. Still, when there’s a chance to have more funds directed toward ensuring that the Forest Preserves of Cook County are protected and maintained, we are on it. Because that’s our mission. We depend on the community to support […]
By Clarmarie Keenan If you’re into nature—and even if you’re not—the daylong biennial Wild Things Conference was bound to offer something for you. I got my chance to experience this mingling of conservation change-makers, experts and enthusiasts at this year’s conference. And it was one wildly engrossing day. The conference took place Feb. 23 at […]
At its February board meeting, the Forest Preserve Foundation Board of Directors approved the nominations of two new board members, Jim Beck and Stephen Friedman. Their board terms begin in May. “We are pleased to welcome Jim and Steve to the Foundation’s board,” Board Chair Stu Cohn said. “Both have demonstrated their commitment to the Foundation through their […]
The Forest Preserve Foundation awarded a $225,000 grant to the Forest Preserves of Cook County in early February, thanks to the generosity of a Palos-area resident whose gift was inspired by seeing Preserves staff and volunteers working in Cap Sauers Holding Preserve last summer. The donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, expressed the hope that […]
Brian Murphy and Karen Quasny were strangers when they met on a moonlit and extremely cold night in 2014. They had gone to Spears Woods for a snowshoeing class put on by REI, the outdoor recreation company. Both were separated and interested in activities that allowed them to enjoy the outdoors, which they each loved. They […]
After serving on the Conservation Cup Host Committee last year, Justin Erkfritz-Gay had an opportunity to become more involved with the Foundation’s annual—and largest—fundraiser. He was asked to take on the role of committee co-chair. He agreed without hesitation. “It’s a great opportunity for me to do more and continue the legacy of making the Cup a great […]
After successfully completing a nine-month green industry training program, 13 participants were ready to step out and apply what they had learned. Nov. 30 was their graduation day and I was there to watch it all unfold. Started in 1994, Greencorps Chicago is a 21st Century Conservation Service Corps program that offers job opportunities to […]
While the air is filled with the roar of chainsaws and the smell of burning wood, a Conservation Corps team was hard at work clearing brush in Wentworth Woods Forest Preserve. This was the scene on a mid-December morning, when my fellow intern, Sam, and I ventured out to work in the field. We were […]
