—Photo by Glenn P. Knoblock
Lend a hand this spring at Volunteer Morning programs
April 15, 2026/
Volunteers are being sought for spring programs that help spruce up the preserves by removing invasive species, controlling brush and planting native plants.
Here are the spring Volunteer Morning programs. (Unless otherwise noted, programs are from 9 a.m. to noon and for ages 10 and older.)
April
- Saturday, April 18: Joliet Junior College, Joliet. Brush control.
- Tuesday, April 21: Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve, Crete Township. Fence removal. Ages 16 and older.
- Thursday, April 30: Old Plank Road Trail – Wolf Road Access, Mokena. Brush control.
May
- Sunday, May 3: Hickory Creek Preserve – LaPorte Road Access, Mokena. Brush control.
- Tuesday, May 5: Evans-Judge Preserve, Custer Township. Brush control.
- Sunday, May 10: Hickory Creek Preserve – Hickory Creek Junction, Mokena. Brush control.
- Thursday, May 21: Hammel Woods Preserve – DuPage River Access, Shorewood. Brush control.
- Thursday, May 28: Rock Run Preserve – Paul V. Nichols Access, Joliet. Brush control.
June
- Sunday, June 7: 8 a.m.-11 a.m. Monee Reservoir, Monee Township. Brush control.
- Thursday, June 11: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve, Crete Township. Seed collection. Ages 8 and older.
- Tuesday, June 16: Four Rivers Environmental Education Center, Channahon. Plug planting. Ages 10 and up.
- Thursday, June 18: Prairie Bluff Preserve, Crest Hill. Plug planting.
- Saturday, June 27: 8 a.m.-11 a.m. Riverview Farmstead Preserve, Naperville. Invasive weed control.
For more information and to fill out a volunteer application and waiver, visit the Volunteer Page. To see current openings, send an email to [email protected].
Building relationships
Volunteers can sign up for one program or multiple programs.
“You don’t need to make a long-term commitment or donate hundreds of hours to get involved as a volunteer with the Forest Preserve,” said Emily Kenny, the Forest Preserve District’s volunteer services supervisor. “But for those who enjoy pitching in, we hope they return for future opportunities throughout the year.”
Others choose to become Prairie People Volunteers, which involves additional training for roles that may require independent work or specialized skills.
“It’s important to match the right person with the right assignment,” Kenny said. “Volunteering is more than just a transaction; it’s about building relationships that create a positive experience for everyone involved.”
Tue Jul 21
72° 54°
Mostly Sunny
Latest News Stories
Report: $12B spent on assisted living Medicare, Medicaid
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Medicare and Medicaid funding accounted for almost $12 billion of services provided through assisted living facilities, according to a new report released by the Government...
Illinois Quick Hits: Aqua seeks water rate hike
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Another Illinois utility wants to raise rates on consumers. The Citizens Utility Board said a proposed $26.5...
Pritzker signs AI regulation critics say harms innovation, ‘picks winners’
By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed legislation Monday that he and lawmakers said intends to provide new protections...
Microsoft cuts over 600 Washington jobs, 4,800 globally amid corporate restructuring
By Andrew PaxtonThe Center Square Microsoft announced layoffs Monday impacting 605 workers based out of Washington, part of a planned broader corporate restructuring that will eliminate 4,800 employees globally. According...
Report: Modernization of central bank intertwined with regulations, security
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Regulations need to be scrutinized and security concerns in blockchain technology should be addressed by the Federal Reserve, the Government Accountability Office says in a...
500-plus fugitives arrested across two states
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – More than 400 fugitives have been arrested in Illinois, and another 117 in Missouri, over the last...
WalletHub study examines the financial independence of US states
By Christine JohnsonThe Center Square Idaho is the nation's most financially independent state, while Kentucky ranks as the least financially independent, according to a new WalletHub study. Ahead of the...
Michigan’s Democrat primary in U.S. Senate race narrows
By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow announced Sunday she is suspending her campaign for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate. Her departure narrows the party’s...
DOJ, states could secure 53 million eggs in price manipulation settlement
By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced a multi-state settlement that could deliver more than 50 million eggs and $3.3 million. This comes after a joint...
WATCH: State fails to investigate daycares with no children despite media reports
By Carleen JohnsonThe Center Square Many Washington state daycare providers receive large taxpayer subsidies, but an investigation by The Center Square found several that had few, if any, children and...
Illinois Quick Hits: Woman sentenced for voting twice
By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A Hoopeston woman has been sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay a $2,500...
Embattled state lawmaker resigns after investigation into ‘unethical’ behavior
By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – After two days of calls for his resignation by Democrat leaders, embattled Illinois state Rep. Harry Benton,...
Everyday Economics: What jobs data actually show and why Fed is changing how it talks
By Orphe DivounguyThe Center Square Last week's jobs report release was June's, and it came in soft. Payrolls rose just 57,000, against a roughly 115,000 consensus, and April and May...
Watchdog: Bill mandating more reporting from tax-exempt hospitals ‘common sense’
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Thousands of hospitals subsidized by American taxpayers could face heightened fiscal scrutiny under new legislation heading to the U.S. House floor. Currently, nonprofit hospitals must...
