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 […]
The Forest Preserve Foundation awarded a $250,000 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 […]
The subject line of the email I received from a colleague at the Forest Preserves of Cook County was certainly intriguing… “You’re Invited to a Guided Forest Therapy Walk.” Born and raised in the Northwest Suburbs, I’m no stranger to the Forest Preserves. They’re woven into the fabric of my life in memories of picnics, trips with […]
The 2018 Conservation Cup winning foursome with the trophy. Under a spectacular September sky, the Foundation held its seventh annual Conservation Cup at the George W. Dunne National Golf Course. The Sept. 13 tournament raised a record $210,000 through corporate and individual sponsorships and proceeds from a live auction and a raffle. Conservation Cup is […]
If there’s a common assessment of this summer that the Dan Ryan Woods Chicago Conservation Corps members all share, it’s that they got a lot done. “We got through seven turnpikes, a check step and three water bars, a lot of invasive species and did some seed collection,” crew leader Kailin Sepp said, proudly talking […]
On a sunny morning in late July, a stream of bright orange T-shirts makes its way to the Wampum Lake Woods pavilion in Thornton, Ill. This is the day that more than 80 Chicago teens will celebrate the end of their summer of work in the Forest Preserve Experience Program. Launched in 2016, the program […]
Forest Preserve Experience crew members cut buckthorn. By Madelyn Wilson and Rachel Urich, Forest Preserve Foundation interns It’s late July, a mild and sunny morning. A crew of teenagers is cutting and piling buckthorn near the entrance of Possum Hollow Woods. They are part of the Forest Preserve Experience, a five-week summer internship program. The […]
Craig Billington, Forest Preserves ecologist Foundation board members and staff with Billington By Madelyn Wilson and Rachel Urich, Forest Preserve Foundation interns Craig Billington, an ecologist for the Forest Preserves of Cook County, took Foundation board members and staff on a guided tour through Thatcher Woods on recent Friday afternoon. As we headed out into […]
