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Restoration Workdays Resources
Restoration Workdays Schedule
Seed Nursery Workdays Schedule
Other Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer Stewardship Network
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Grab some work gloves and join other volunteers to save some of Lake County's natural areas. Workdays are a great opportunity to spend time outdoors, make new friends who share a concern for the Preserves and make a meaningful contribution.
In one morning, one person can make a difference to the inhabitants of a prairie, wetland, or oak savanna. Hundreds of people over thousands of hours can make all the difference.
Restoration workdays happen every weekend at Forest Preserves throughout Lake County. Volunteers should dress in long pants and sturdy shoes, and bring work gloves.
No prior experience is necessary for any of the above workdays.
Nursery workdays are on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at Rollins Savanna Seed Nursery. Learn about Lake County native grasses, wildflowers and more while helping your forest preserves. Help us establish plants in the native seed nursery by weeding, mulching, and seed collecting.
Physical activity will be moderate and may involve bending, stooping or kneeling.
Adults, groups and families (children ages 10 and up only, please) are welcome. No prior experience is necessary
Tools and gloves will be provided. Dress for the weather.
Typical Restoration Workdays tasks:
WINTER - Brush clearing
SPRING - Buckthorn control, sow prairie/woodland seeds
SUMMER - Garlic mustard management, wild life monitoring, weed management, planting
FALL - Brush clearing, seed collection, tree and shrub planting
Native Seed Nursery workdays coordinator:
Kelly Schultz, Nursery Coordinator
Desk: 847-265-6325, cell: 847-276-6945
Restoration workdays coordinator:
Tom Smith, Land Management Technician
Desk: 847-968-3329, cell: 847-276-5379 |
Workday Sites: |
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Almond Marsh,
Grayslake.
Site Stewards: Jerry Kolar 847-336-1187 &
Don Wilson (H) 847-855-9143, (C) 224-639-3158
Entrance on Almond Road 0.3 miles south of Belvidere Road (Rt.120). Park in the large lot.
MAP | WORK SCHEDULE
Berkeley Prairie, Highland Park.
Site Steward: Chris Wren (W) 312-822-7326,
(H) 847-831-0976
Ridge Road north to Ryder road. Left on Ryder to its end. Park on north side of road. One mile east of Waukegan Road.
MAP | WORK SCHEDULE
Ela Prairie near Cuba Marsh, Lake Zurich.
Site Steward: Katherine Grover 847-382-8405
Shante Kee 847-438-8498
Small parking lot on Ela Rd., east of Cuba Marsh. Look for workday sign.
MAP | WORK SCHEDULE
Elm Road Woods near Wright Woods, Lincolnshire.
Site Steward: Dean Cesal 847-634-2931
Route 22 east of Milwaukee Avenue to Elm Road. North to end of road.
MAP | WORK SCHEDULE

Grainger Woods, Mettawa/Lincolnshire.
Site Steward: Kathleen Garness 708-366-7584
(H) 708-698-6159 (C)
Entrance/parking, Saint Mary's Road at Wright Woods
near Everett Road, south of Route 60.
MAP | WORK SCHEDULE

Grant Woods, Lake Villa.
Site Steward: Joyce Proper 847-356-8138
Entrance on Monaville Road. east of Route 59, first parking lot.
MAP | WORK SCHEDULE
Heron Creek, Long Grove
Site Steward: Tori Trauscht, 847-354-2661
Meet at preserve entrance on Old McHenry Rd 1/2 mile south of Rte 22.
MAP | WORK SCHEDULE
Lake Bluff Site, Lake Bluff.
Site Steward: Dave Szaflarski 847-401-2358
Route 176 east, cross Route 41, the train track; pass the water tower on the north side of Route 176; watch for the sign: Skokie River Preserve - Lake Bluff Open Lands. Park in the gravel lot between the water plant & Mariani Landscaping office.
MAP | WORK SCHEDULE
Marl Flat, Volo.
Site Stewards: Judy & Bob Kaplan 847-740-0978
Route 120 west to Wilson Road, north to Levi Waite Road, west to Fish Lake Road, south to parking lot on east side of Fish Lake Road.
MAP | WORK SCHEDULE
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McDonald Woods, Lindenhurst.
Site Stewards: Glenn Green 847-356-5290,
Ray Menges 847-265-8516
Route 45 north to Sand Lake Road, west to Beck Road. North one mile to the tennis court across from McDonald Woods.
MAP | WORK SCHEDULE
Middlefork Savanna, Lake Forest.
Site Steward: Denis Bohm 847-235-2738
Route 43 (Waukegan Road) 1.5 miles south of Route 176 (Rockland Road). West on Middlefork Drive to sales center parking lot.
MAP | WORK SCHEDULE

Prairie Wolf Slough, Bannockburn.
Site Stewards: Al Pilgrim 847-328-0145
South side of Half Day Road, approximately 0.5 miles east of Waukegan Road.
MAP | WORK SCHEDULE
Rollins Savanna, Grayslake.
Site Steward: Ed Beilfuss 847-548-6211
Parking lot on Drury Lane.
MAP | WORK SCHEDULE
Rollins Savanna Seed Nursery, Grayslake.
Site Steward: Kelly Schultz, Nursery Coordinator, Desk: (847) 265-6325, cell: (847) 276-6945.
Washington Street entrance.
MAP | WORK SCHEDULE

Ryerson Conservation Area, Deerfield.
Site Steward: Bill Sullivan 847-945-6648
One mile south of Route 22 on the west side of Riverwoods Road. Meet at new Welcome Center parking lot.
MAP | WORK SCHEDULE
Spring Bluff, Winthrop Harbor.
Site Steward: Melissa Pearson 224-440-1287
One mile east of Sheridan Road on 9th Street in Winthrop Harbor.
MAP | WORK SCHEDULE
St. Francis Woods near Independence Grove, Libertyville.
Site Steward: Ethel Tincher 847-295-2337
River Road north from Route 137. Stone gate entrance on left where River Road makes a sharp right.
MAP | WORK SCHEDULE
Wadsworth Savanna, Wadsworth.
Site Stewards: Shelley Kiefer 847-838-1801, Ray Biederer 847-662-3847.
Wadsworth Rd. east from Rt. 41 to the Wadsworth Canoe launch parking lot.
MAP | WORK SCHEDULE
Wilmot Woods, Libertyville.
Site Steward: Paul Showers 847-902-4431
On Route 137, 1 1/2 miles east of Route 21 turn south on to N. Oak Grove Ave. Go four blocks to Wildwood Ct and turn left. At the T of Wildwood and Park Lane. turn right.
MAP | WORK SCHEDULE
Wright Woods, Lincolnshire.
Site Steward: Tom Smith 847-968-3329
Entrance/parking, Saint Mary's Road at Everett Road, south of Route 60.
MAP | WORK SCHEDULE
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