Community Corner

Lake County Preserves Offer Earth Day Activities

Free programs to mark 41st anniversary of Earth Day.

Several free programs to mark the 41stanniversary of Earth Day are being offered from Sunday, April 17 through Friday, April 22, by the Lake County Forest Preserves.

Spring Celebration from 1 p.m..-4 p.m., Sunday, April 17. Celebrate the arrival of spring at the Ryerson Woods Welcome Center, 21950 N Riverwoods Rd., Riverwoods. Nature walks, crafts, games, sheep herding demonstration and sheep shearing are all part of the fun. For more information visit ryersonwoods@LCFPD.org  or call 847-968-3321.

Playdate With Nature from 4 p.m.-5 p.m., Monday, April 18. Muck in the mud, hunt for tadpoles, wiggle like a worm, try mud painting at the Old School Forest Preserve, at Saint Mary’s Road just south of Route 176 and north of Route 60 (Townline Road), Libertyville. Come outside and play. This is a Leave No Child Inside event. Meet at shelter C. Dress for playing outside!

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Soarigami from 4 p.m.-5 p.m., Tuesday, April 19. Visit with a live hawk after learning the art of origami to make paper soar at Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve, Sheridan Road at Old Elm Road and Simonds Way near Highland Park. Enter on Simonds Way, left on Leonard Wood Drive North, left on Gilgare Lane to parking area. Fort Sheridan Parking Lot and then hawks nest

Buckthorn Busters from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Wednesday, April 20. Grab your work gloves and lend a hand in maintaining the health of Greenbelt-Dugdale. (you do not need to be present for the entire time of the event) Meet at Dugdale area of the Greenbelt Forest Preserve, west side of Green Bay Road, south of Belvidere Road (Route 120), directly across from the entrance to the Greenbelt Cultural Center, North Chicago.

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Free Access Cart Tours (residents only) from 10 a.m. to noon, and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday, April 20 at Ryerson Woods, 21950 N Riverwoods Rd., Riverwoods. Don't let mobility difficulties keep you from the beauty of your Lake County Forest Preserves. Get a free chauffeured golf cart tour for those age 18 or older led by one of the Lake County Forest Preserves naturalists. Celebrate Earth week with a ride through the woods enjoying the ephemeral ponds surrounded by wildflowers like spring beauties and hepatica. If you need help transferring into the cart, please be sure and register your assistant, too. This program is limited to Lake County residents and their assistants. Jean Weeg is the instructor and the registration deadline is Tuesday, April 19. Register online or call 847-968-3321.

Rookery Watch from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday, April 20, at 110-acre Almond Marsh, west side of Almond Road, north of Casey Road and south of Route 120 in Grayslake. View waterfowl and play birder bingo. This activity is free and no registration is required.

Going Fishy from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday, April 21, Independence Grove, Buckley Road (Route 137) just east of Milwaukee Avenue (Route 21) and west of River Road. Learn about the exciting life of fish and what we can do to help them year-round. This event is free and no registration is required.

Lunchtime Lake Cleanup from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday, April 22. Drop in any time between 11 a.m - 2 p.m. at Independence Grove to help clean up the shore and learn how you are connected to the earth. The activity is free and no registration is required.

Pond Life from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., Friday, April 22, Grant Woods, Route 59 and Fairfield Road, Lake Villa. Learn how healthy our water is by what is living in it. Net and identify small water animals. Meet at Manroville parking lot. The event is free and no registration is required.

Walking Softly on the Earth from 10 a.m. to noon, Friday, April 22, at Independence Grove. Learn how to Leave No Trace and make everyday an Earth Day. Includes a lake clean-up service project. Wear shoes that can get wet. Earns the Cub Scout Leave No Trace Awareness Award for all groups. Meet at North Bay Pavillion. The event is free and no registration is required.

Green Building Tour from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Saturday, April 23, Ryerson Conservation Area at Ryerson Woods. This is a one-hour guided tour showcasing green construction of the Welcome Center. The event is free and no registration is required.

Scout Saturdays – Bear Scout – Sharing Your World With Wildlife from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., Saturday, April 23, Independence Grove Vistors Center. Adult supervision is required for this program for ages 7 to 9. Scout Badges for individual scouts or troops with less than six members. Celebrate Earth Week with your Bear Scout by completing one or both of these two badges. Learn about species extinction and what you can do to make a difference. Fulfills requirements A, C, D, & E. Program is entirely outside – dress for the weather including shoes that will keep your feet warm and dry. Cost is $6 per child for Lake County residents and $8 per child for non-residents. Registeronline or call 847-968-3321.

Scout Saturdays – Bear Scout – Soil & Water Conservation from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday, April 23, Independence Grove Visitors Center. Adult supervision is required for this program for ages 7 to 9. Scout Badges for individual scouts or troops with less than six members. Celebrate Earth Week with your Bear Scout by completing one or both of these two badges. Learn about species extinction and what you can do to make a difference. Fulfills requirements A, C, D, & E. Program is entirely outside – dress for the weather including shoes that will keep your feet warm and dry. Cost is $6 per child for Lake County residents and $8 per child for non-residents. Register online or call 847-968-3321.


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