Workday projects are scheduled bi-weekly throughout the year on Saturdays
and Sundays. We also conduct many mid-week projects and schedule
additional week-end workdays as needed. We welcome participation
by school groups, church groups and Scout groups, and frequently schedule
special combined workday/field trips for such groups.
The stewardship group also contributes time at The Nature
Conservancy's Nachusa Grasslands near Franklin Grove, Illinois, in
recognition of the assistance provided by The Nature Conservancy in
in initial purchase of the West Chicago Prairie Forest Preserve, as well
as its ongoing work to support conservation through the Volunteer
Stewardship Network.
To support our management efforts we also need volunteers with computer
skills, volunteers with graphics arts skills, volunteers with skills to
maintain our mechanical equipment, volunteers with photography skills,
and politically oriented volunteers to present the need for natural areas
management to public and political groups.
Directions to these workdays can be found here.
Midweek Workdays
Every Wednesday weather permitting except January and February, at
9 a.m. to 12 noon except summer when 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Volunteers are contacted as to meeting place the day before.
Contact Steve Sentoff at 630-293-1627 for more information or to volunteer.
Regular Scheduled Workdays
No reservations are needed for these work days unless you are planning to come in a group of 10 or more.
Call at least 3 days in advance, so that we can properly plan.
Contact Steve Sentoff at 630-293-1627 for more information.
Saturday, April 26, 9 a.m. - 12 noon:
Remove trash from our section of the trail for the annual Illinois Prairie Path cleanup day.
Meet at the MacQueen Dr. entrance.
Note that Hawthorne Lane is one-way, westbound only, due to construction.
You do NOT want to drive from the main parking lot to the MacQueen entrance, because you have to go
all the way around via North Ave (Rt. 64).
Use Rt. 59 to Hawthorne, then west to MacQueen.
Saturday, July 26, 8 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.:
Clearing invading brush and/or raking in seed.
Saturday, August 23, 9 a.m. - 12 noon:
General seed collection, mostly forbs.
Sunday, September 14, 9 a.m. - 12 noon:
General seed collection, mostly forbs. Also a good visit.
Saturday, September 27, 9 a.m. - 12 noon:
Collection of grasses and forbs.
Saturday, October 11, 9 a.m. - 12 noon:
Clearing invading brush and/or raking in seed.
Saturday, October 25, 9 a.m. - 12 noon:
Clearing invading brush and/or raking in seed.
Saturday, November 8, 9 a.m. - 12 noon:
Clearing invading brush and/or raking in seed.
Saturday, December 6, 9 a.m. - 12 noon:
Clearing invading brush and/or raking in seed.