Restoration Workdays Resources
Restoration 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. No prior experience is necessary and all ages are invited. Volunteers should dress in long pants and sturdy shoes, and bring work gloves.
Typical Restoration Workdays tasks:
WINTER - Brush/tree clearing, teasel control, wetland prescribed burns, brush pile burns
SPRING - Buckthorn control, sow prairie/woodland seeds, spring prescribed burns
SUMMER - Garlic mustard management, wild parsnip management, purple loosestrife management, detassel reed canary grass, harvest & sow wildflower seed, buckthorn control
FALL - Brush/tree clearing, seed collection, fall prescribed burns
Native Plant Nursery workdays coordinator:
Sarah Stevens, 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 |
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
Buffalo Creek, Long Grove.
Site Steward: Jeff Weiss 847-224-0965
Checker Road and Arlington Heights Road.
MAP | WORK SCHEDULE
Cuba Marsh/Ela Prairie, 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 at 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, Lincolnshire.
Site Steward: Kathleen Garness 708-366-7584
(H) 708-698-6159 (C)
Entrance/parking, Saint Mary's Road at
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 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
Lloyd Woods at Wright Woods, Mettawa.
Site Steward: Allison and David Frederick
(H) 847-918-0643, (C) 847-708-6761
Park at Wright Woods main lot, St. Mary's Rd at Everett Road. Group may drive from Wright Woods to Lloyd Woods depending upon activity.
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
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
Old School, Mettawa.
Site Steward: Holly Schmaling 847-680-8335
Entrance on Saint Mary’s Road 0.5 miles south of Route 176. Call for work location.
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
Rhyan Tract at Almond Marsh, Grayslake.
Site Steward: Richard Hoppel 847-548-0522
Arbor Vista Subdivision, Route 45 about 0.5 miles south of Route 120. Arbor Drive east to Forest Drive. Park on Forest Drive near the LCFP sign. rhoppel@comcast.net.
MAP | WORK SCHEDULE
Rollins Savanna, Grayslake.
Site Steward: Ed Beilfuss 847-548-6211
Parking lot on Washington Street..
MAP | WORK SCHEDULE
Rollins Savanna Seed Nursery, Grayslake.
Site Steward: Sarah Stevens, Nursery Coordinator,
847-265-6325.
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
St. Francis Woods at 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
Wright Woods, Lincolnshire.
Site Steward: Jennifer McAllister 847-810-9532
Entrance/parking, Saint Mary's Road at Everett Road, south of Route 60.
MAP | WORK SCHEDULE |
