Barrington Greenway Initiative Explore & Restore Series 2021

NOTE: BGI partners are cancelling all BGI events until further notice due to the guidelines from the CDC and IDPH about the COVID-19 restrictions. We will update this site, our calendar and social media pages if and when these restrictions are lifted. CFC and BGI partners are dedicated to protect our volunteers and community. 

Each month BGI sponsors a special two or three-hour event that encourages residents to experience the beauty of our area, learn and help nature. All are hands-on, be out in nature, meet new people, and fun events.

Join in the volunteer efforts of 7 groups working together collaboratively. Learn about improving nature in local communities through the BGI Explore and Restore series. Each month, a different “spotlight event” will showcase a new site or restoration activity. Some are workdays which are family friendly events and excellent company volunteers events. Some are expert guided hikes in one of our nature preserves to discover native plants and animals.

BGI partner organizations working together are: Audubon Great Lakes, Citizens for Conservation, Lake County Forest Preserves, Forest Preserves of Cook County, McHenry County Conservation District, Bobolink Foundation, and Friends of the Forest Preserves.

In the summer, featured activities include sedge planting and pulling invasives. Starting in September, weekly seed collecting will take place at preserves throughout the region. These seeds are then strategically distributed throughout the region to ensure that prairies and woodlands continue to improve.

Northwest Cook and Southwest Lake counties contain over 16,000 acres of forest preserves, one of the highest concentrations of publicly owned lands in the region. These forest preserves, among the oldest and largest in the country, contain a variety of globally rare habitats including tallgrass prairies, oak savannas and woodlands, and wetlands that form the “Barrington Greenway” a connected system of preserves that animals can travel through to feed and breed successfully. These varied habitats need humans to keep them healthy and diverse through ecological restoration – “the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or destroyed.”

All ages and levels of experience are welcome. Tools and work gloves are provided. Dress for the weather and bring a water bottle. Work side-by-side with experienced volunteer stewards and staff from the BGI conservation organizations.

All events start at 9 a.m. and end at noon. This includes a picnic at the conclusion with time for socializing, sharing and making new friends. Events are listed on the home page calendar and for more information call CFC at 847-382-7283. Join us.