Volunteer at forest preserves to celebrate Earth Week
Residents can help Mother Nature during Earth Week observances by lending a helping hand at volunteer workdays in DuPage County forest preserves.
Individuals and families, as well as school and church groups, Scout troops and other organizations are invited to work together for the benefit of visitors and wildlife alike.
Participants should dress to work outdoors, wear layers and bring hats and gloves.
Volunteers will help pick up litter or remove invasive nonnative plants. The program is open to those 8 and older; younger than 18 with an adult. Register online or at (630) 206-9630 at least five days in advance (10 days by phone for groups of five or more).
Here's where crews will be working:
April 22: 4 to 6 p.m. at Springbrook Prairie in Naperville.
April 23: 4 to 6 p.m. at Burlington Park near Naperville.
April 24: 4 to 6 p.m. at Greene Valley near Naperville
April 25: 4 to 6 p.m. at Springbrook Prairie.
April 26: 4 to 6 p.m. at McDowell Grove in Naperville.
The district's Spring Into Volunteering program involves cleaning and beautifying preserves. The schedule:
April 13: 9 a.m. to noon at Herrick Lake near Wheaton.
April 20: 9 a.m. to noon at Spring Creek Reservoir near Bloomingdale.
The district's Volunteer Workday at the Nursery involves collecting seeds or removing nonnative plants and is for those 12 and older. The schedule:
April 27: 8 to 11 a.m. at Blackwell near Warrenville.
May 4, 10, 15 and 20: 8 to 11 a.m. at Blackwell.
June 1, 7, 12, 17 and 22: 8 to 11 a.m. at Blackwell.
The district's Volunteer Restoration Workday involves collecting seeds and removing nonnative plants for those 8 and older. The schedule:
April 6 and 20: 9 a.m. to noon at Maple Grove near Downers Grove.
April 13: 9 a.m. to noon at Churchill Woods near Glen Ellyn.
April 13, 14, 27 and 28: 9 a.m. to noon at Springbrook Prairie in Naperville.
April 20: 9 a.m. to noon at Churchill/Glacial near Glen Ellyn.
For details on all forest preserve programs, visit dupageforest.org.