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 13
70° 50°
Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
Latest News Stories
WATCH: Dems leave hearing before minority group’s testimony on Biden border policies
By Jim TalamontiThe Center Square A member of a minority grassroots Chicago organization testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary Wednesday that violent gang members in the U.S....
Illinois quick hits: ICC approves smaller rate increases
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square ICC approves smaller rate increases The Illinois Commerce Commission has approved smaller utility rate hikes than the ones requested by Ameren...
WATCH: Ex-Illinois governor pushes for ‘millionaire’s surcharge’ amendment
By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – The push continues to have voters if Illinois should be a 3% surcharge on millionaires. Former Illinois...
Lawmakers weigh replacing Obamacare tax credits with health savings accounts
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square With millions of Americans’ health insurance premiums projected to rise in 2026, due partially to enhanced Obamacare subsidies expiring, Republicans are eyeing health savings accounts...
Feds: Guilty plea hearings scheduled for Antifa members indicted on terror charges
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Several defendants who are among the first indicted on terrorism-related charges for their alleged connection to an Antifa attack on law enforcement officers are scheduled...
Lawyers call legal immigration crackdown harmful
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Immigration lawyers are concerned about recent proposals to eliminate work-based visa programs. On Nov. 13, U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., said she planned to...
WATCH: Illinois continues work to reduce state’s high SNAP error rate
By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – State agency officials continue to address the error rate with Illinois’ handling of federal food subsidies. During...
Frankfort Board Approves Trio of New Eateries, Martial Arts Studio
Village of Frankfort Meeting | November 17, 2025 Article Summary: The Frankfort Village Board on Monday, November 17, 2025, approved special use permits for three new establishments to open in the...
Border Patrol agents arrest illegal CDL drivers in upstate New York
By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Despite the sanctuary policies of New York, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol officers are cracking down on commercial truck drivers to ensure...
ACA premiums projected to rise 26% in 2026, far above U.S. inflation
By Tom JoyceThe Center Square Affordable Care Act health insurance premiums are expected to rise about 26% in 2026, the biggest increase in eight years and much higher than overall...
Michigan law firm sued over alleged racial bias in diversity scholarships
By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Two groups have sued a Michigan law firm for operating scholarships they allege are “racially discriminatory.” Do No Harm, a national anti-DEI policy advocacy group,...
WATCH: Libertarian concerns persist as IL Sec of State announces IDs for Apple Wallet
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Digital IDs have gone live in Illinois, but libertarians say the move makes it easier for governments...
Will County Executive Committee Delays Vote on School Choice Referendum
Will County Board Executive Committee Meeting | November 13, 2025 Article Summary: The Will County Board’s Executive Committee on Thursday, November 13, 2025, postponed a decision on whether to place an...
