National Public Lands Day Sites

Blackwell Native Plant Nursery

This event is a seed collection and weed removal activity and is scheduled for 8am-11am.

Contact: Deborah Brooks
Agency: Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
Phone: (630) 933-7681
On the Web: www.dupageforest.com
Location: 29 W 220 Mack Rd | West Chicago, Illinois 60185
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Central Park Wetlands

Currently two projects planned for the day, more may be added depending on the number of volunteers that RSVP. Projects include: water quality tests and remove wetland debris. Prior to the projects there will be be a tour of the new Wetland Discovery Center and background about the Central Park Wetland. Please have either rubber boots or shoes you don't mind getting wet. We cannot guarantee your feet will stay dry.

Contact: Emily Kenny
Agency: ME4E
Phone: (708) 846-5763
On the Web: ME4E.org
Location: 30 N Orchard | Park Forest, Illinois 60466
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Alternative Start Date: 2010-09-23
Alternative End Date: 2010-09-23

Churchill Park

Plant native trees, shrubs and plants; collect seeds; remove non-native brush species and debris.

Contact: Renae Frigo
Agency: Glen Ellyn Park District
Phone: (630) 222-3478
On the Web: www.gepark.org
Location: 271 St. Charles Road | Glen Ellyn, Illinois 60137
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Clear Springs Trails in Clear Springs Wilderness

Join Shawnee National Forest personnel along with local equestrians to load gravel on to horses/mules and unload them after a mile long trail ride.

Contact: Kelly Pearson
Agency: USDA-Forest Service/Shawnee National Forest
Phone: (618) 687-1731
On the Web:
Location: Forest Road 236 | Wolf Lake, Illinois 62998
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Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge

Annual Crab Orchard Clean-Up - Volunteers are needed to remove debris along refuge roads, tails and lakeshore. Meet at the Prairie Creek recreation area at 8AM to register and pick up supplies. Return to Prairie Creek at noon for a free lunch and thank you gift.

Contact: Kimberly King-Wrenn
Agency: US Fish and Wildlife Service
Phone: (618) 997-3344
On the Web:
Location: 8588 Route 148 | Marion, Illinois 62959
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Alternative Start Date: 2010-09-18
Alternative End Date: 2010-09-18

Dropseed Prairie

Repair/replace split rail fence, trash pick-up, collect and disperse seeds.

Contact: Patricia Brownlow
Agency: Friends of the Indian Boundary Prairies
Phone: (708) 333-2549
On the Web: www.ibprairies.org
Location: 156th & Homan Avenue | Markham, Illinois 60428
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Farmdale Reservoir

Trail work/maintenance

Contact: Todd Ernenputsch
Agency: US Army Corps of Engineers
Phone: (309) 676-4601 ext. 209
On the Web:
Location: 819 W. Bittersweet Road | Washington, Illinois 61571
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Alternative Start Date: 2010-09-18
Alternative End Date: 2010-09-18

Harms Flatwoods

Invasive species removal, general clean-up.

Contact: Neil Peck
Agency: North Branch Restoration Project and Cook County Forest Preserve District
Phone: (312) 738-2600
On the Web: www.northbranchrestoration.org
Location: Woods Road between Old Orchard and Golf | Skokie, Illinois 60077
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Irons Oaks Environmental Learning Center

Removing invasive plant species Trail maintenance Seed collection Park clean-up

Contact: Laura Berry
Agency: Irons Oaks
Phone: (708) 481-2330
On the Web: www.ironsoaks.com
Location: 2453 Vollmer Road | Olympia Fields, Illinois 60461
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Isle a la Cache Preserve

Collect native seeds, clear exotic brush and plant collected seeds in cleared area.

Contact: Richard Wachenheim
Agency: Forest Preserve District of Will County
Phone: (815) 727-8700
On the Web: ReconnectWithNature.org
Location: 501 East 135th Street | Romeoville, Illinois 60446
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Johnson's Mound Forest Preserve

Plant, mulch and water native oak trees to re-create an oak savannah that once stood on this preserve.

Contact: Julia Bourque
Agency: Forest Preserve District of Kane County
Phone: (630) 762-2741
On the Web: www.kaneforest.com
Location: 41W600 Hughes Rd. | Elburn, Illinois 60119
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Lake in the Hills Fen

There will be seed collection from 4pm - 6.00pm, a twilight hike (bring flashlight) at 6.30pm, hot dogs and s'mores to say thank you at 7.00pm, and there will be displays, literature and a nature quiz. All ages welcome and groups are welcome but please pre-register.

Contact: Barbara Wilson
Agency: Natural Area Volunteers
Phone: 847-658-0024
On the Web: www.lithfen.org
Location: Pyott Rd. | Lake in the hills, Illinois 60156
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Lake Shelbyville

We will be beautifying Lake Shelbyville. We might have to clean-up after high water. We will be picking up litter, trimming brush, weeding flowerbeds, and any other outdoor maintenance that comes up between now and then. A free lunch will be provided for all volunteers, along with a free camping voucher.

Contact: Victoria McDonald
Agency: United States Army Corps of Engineers Lake Shelbyville Project
Phone: (217) 774-3313
On the Web:
Location: Dam West | Shelbyville, Illinois 62565
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Lewis and Clark Community College

Remove invasive species, plant trees and general site maintenance.

Contact: Vera Bojic
Agency: Lewis and Clark Community College
Phone: (618) 468-4870
On the Web: www.lc.edu
Location: Lewis and Clark Community College | Godfrey, Illinois 62035
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Metcalfe Park

This is a closed event and interested volunteers must contact the Chicago Park District. Work includes mulching trees, placing fibar in a playground box, and removing weeds from running track.

Contact: Janis Taylor
Agency: Chicago Park District
Phone: (312) 742-4687
On the Web: www.chicagoparkdistrict.com
Location: Chicago | Chicago, Illinois 60611
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Alternative Start Date: 2010-09-07
Alternative End Date: 2010-09-07

Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie

Invasive removal on a historic farmstead Invasive removal in a restoration Native seed harvest Erosion control in restored wetland Trail bridge construction

Contact: Allison Hedden
Agency: US Forest Service
Phone: (815) 423-2149
On the Web: www.fs.fed.us/mntp/
Location: 30239 S State Route 53 | Wilmington, Illinois 60481
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Rend Lake

Remove litter and roadway clean-up.

Contact: Dawn Kovarik
Agency: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Phone: (618) 724-2493
On the Web: www.usace.army.mil/rend
Location: 12220 Rend City Road | Benton, Illinois 62812
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Santa Fe Prairie / Des Plaines River

Riverbank Clean-up on both Saturday and Sunday during the weekends of Sept 18/19 and Sept 25/26. Please wear sturdy shoes. All materials are provided.

Groups are welcome to request/schedule an additional event during the week.

Contact: Gregg Starr
Agency: Santa Fe Prairie
Phone: (708) 598-6139
On the Web: santafe.kriho.com/calendar.htm
Location: 71st & River Road | Hodgkins, Illinois 60525
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Alternative Start Date: 2010-09-18
Alternative End Date: 2010-09-26

Skinner Park Tranquil Garden and Loomis St. Gardens

1) Weeding 2) Planting 3) Trash pickup 4) Building a Children's Garden 5) Mulching

Contact: Gee Toy
Agency: Skinner Park Advisory Council
Phone: (312) 823-9913
On the Web: www.skinnerpark.org
Location: 1359 W. Monroe St. | Chicago, Illinois 60607
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Alternative Start Date: 2010-09-25
Alternative End Date: 2010-10-10

Spring Valley Nature Center

Collect native prairie plant seed. Plant/create new rain garden.

Contact: David Brooks
Agency: Schaumburg Park District
Phone: (847) 985-2100
On the Web: www.parkfun.com
Location: 1111 E. Schaumburg Road | Schaumburg, Illinois 60194
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Springbrook Prairie

Seed Collection. The volunteer workday is scheduled for 9am-Noon.

Contact: Deborah Brooks
Agency: Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
Phone: (630) 933-7681
On the Web: www.dupageforest.com
Location: Model Airplane Field Naperville-Plainfield Rd | Naperville, Illinois 60540
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The Grove National Historic Landmark

Remove invasive species and collect native seeds.

Contact: Lorin Ottlinger
Agency: Glenview Park District
Phone: (224) 521-2099
On the Web: www.thegroveglenview.org
Location: 1421 Milwaukee Ave. | Glenview, Illinois 60025
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Washington Square Park

This is a closed event and interested volunteers must contact Chicago Park District. Work includes mulching trees and flower beds and clean up.

Contact: Janis Taylor
Agency: Chicago Park District
Phone: (312) 742-4687
On the Web: www.chicagoparkdistrict.com
Location: Downtown Area | Chicago, Illinois 60611
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Alternative Start Date: 2010-09-15
Alternative End Date: 2010-09-15

West Chicago Prairie

Seed Collection 9am-Noon Bring signed waiver form located on website to the workday.

Contact: Deborah Brooks
Agency: Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
Phone: (630) 933-7681
On the Web: www.dupageforest.com
Location: East Side of Industrial Dr | West Chicago, Illinois 60185
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Wolf Road Prairie Nature Preserve

Cut and remove invasive brush/brush, collect native seeds and general clean-up.

Contact: Valerie Spale
Agency: Salt Creek Greenway Assn.
Phone: (708) 865-8736
On the Web: www.saltcreekgreenwayassociation.org
Location: Between 31st Street and Constitution Drive west of Wolf Road | Westchester, Illinois 60154
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Wolf Road Prairie Nature Preserve

Remove brush, non native shrubs and small trees. Collect seed for several species of native plants to later redistribute on the preserve.

Contact: Lawrence Godson
Agency: Save The Prairie Society
Phone: (708) 562-3280
On the Web: Savetheprairiesociety.org
Location: 11225 Constitution Dr. | Westchester, Illinois 60154
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