Celebrate Earth Week in April by helping at volunteer workdays in DuPage
Help Mother Nature during Earth Week in April by lending a hand at volunteer workdays in the DuPage forest preserves.
Workdays are limited to nine participants, ages 8 and up; those under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Volunteers must wear masks covering the nose and mouth and practice social distancing by remaining 6 feet apart.
Individuals and families as well as school and church groups, Scout groups, 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.
Register online at www.dupageforest.org or by calling (630) 206-9630 at least five days in advance (10 days by phone for groups of five or more).
Restoration workdays
Help improve a prairie or woodland by collecting seeds or removing nonnative plants at preserves in Downers Grove, Glen Ellyn and Lombard.
• On Saturday, April 17, from 9 to 11 a.m. at Maple Grove in Downers Grove
• On Sunday, April 18, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Blackwell in Warrenville, and 9 to 11 a.m. at Churchill Woods in Lombard
• On Monday, April 19, from 9 to 11 a.m. at Churchill Woods
• On Wednesday, April 21, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Churchill Woods
• On Thursday, April 22, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Glacial Ridge at Churchill Woods, and 1 to 3 p.m. at Willowbrook in Glen Ellyn
• On Saturday, April 24, from 9 to 11 a.m. at Churchill Woods
Pick-Me-Up
Pick up your mood as you help pick up litter around three Naperville area preserves.
• On Monday, April 19, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Springbrook Prairie
• On Tuesday, April 20, from 4 to 6 p.m. at McDowell Grove
• On Wednesday, April 21, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Greene Valley
• On Thursday, April 22, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Springbrook Prairie
• On Friday, April 23, from 4 to 6 p.m. at McDowell Grove
Spring cleanup
Help with the spring cleanup and beautification efforts from 1 to 3 p.m. April 20-23 and 8 to 10 a.m. April 24 at St. James Farm, 2S541 Winfield Road in Warrenville.
Volunteer workdays
• On April 19 and 22, volunteers can help out at Danada Forest Preserve and Danada Equestrian Center, 3S507 Naperville Road in Wheaton. On Monday, April 19, help preserve the horse paddocks by scraping and then painting the fences at the equestrian center from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. or help beautify Danada Forest Preserve by picking up litter between the equestrian center and Rice Lake from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
On Thursday, April 22, at Danada Forest Preserve, join in picking up litter from 10 a.m. to noon or help maintain ecologically important bioswales and rain gardens by removing weeds from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
• On Wednesday, April 21, help maintain ecologically important bioswales, rain gardens and detention ponds by removing weeds from 2 to 4 p.m. at Herrick Lake Forest Preserve, on Butterfield Road approximately 1 mile west of Naperville Road in Wheaton.
• On Friday, April 23, join in picking up litter near the archery area from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. or remove weeds to help maintain ecologically important bioswales and rain gardens from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Blackwell Forest Preserve.
The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County has been connecting people to nature for more than 100 years. More than 6.2 million people visit its 60 forest preserves, 166 miles of trails, six education centers and scores of programs each year.
For information, call (630) 933-7200 or visit dupageforest.org, where you can also link to the district's e-newsletter, blog, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.