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Archive for the ‘Crabtree Nature Center’ Category

Owl-oween Bash at Crabtree Nature Center Friday

Posted in Crabtree Nature Center, Education, Entertainment, FPDCC on October 29, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Jack-o’-lantern walk, campfire stories and festive fun. Costumes encouraged.

Date: Fri, October 30
Time: 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Cost: Free
Where: 3 Stover Rd, Barrington, IL 60010
Phone: 847-381-6592 – Registration required

Source

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Forest Preserves spent extra $40 million yearly on expanded conservation, maintenance

Posted in Animal Welfare, BACOG, Bicyclists, Chicago Tribune, Citizens for Conservation, Cook, County, Crabtree Nature Center, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), E-bikes, Education, Elections, Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation, Flint Creek/Spring Creek Watersheds Partnership, Fox River Valley Hunt, FPDCC, Friends of Forest Preserves, FRVPC, Horizon Farm, Horse Boarding, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Land Use, Massbach Hounds, Politics, Preckwinkle's Rules of Order, Property Taxes, Public Safety, Real Estate, Riding Club of Barrington Hills, Spring Creek Stewards, Taxes, Unions on September 16, 2026| Leave a Comment »

 

Mark Kolasa, a teaching assistant for a restoration ecology class, uses his binoculars during a tour through Deer Grove East Forest Preserve in Palatine on Sept. 23, 2025, as part of a celebration of the completion of the habitat restoration project. The restoration project, funded by the O’Hare Modernization Mitigation Account, restored acres of native habitat and wetlands at this site. | Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune

By A.D. Quig | Chicago Tribune

Cook County Forest Preserves has used a $40 million yearly windfall from voters to buy up and conserve more land, pay for maintenance and add programming while bolstering its pension funds, the district reported Tuesday.

Voters overwhelmingly gave the preserves the OK to raise property taxes by 0.025% in a 2022 referendum. While at the time it cost the average homeowner about $20 a year, it was a “watershed moment” for the district, according to a new progress report on the district’s spending since then.

Because the new money was commingled with other preserve funds, it’s not possible to trace the improvements dollar for dollar, but the report puts some hard numbers on the “impressive and undeniable” benefits.

Among them: $11 million spent on ecological restoration projects, buying $4 million in new “greener” vehicles and equipment, and spending $2.4 million to expand the district’s “Conservation Corps.”

Revenues have grown only modestly after the referendum infusion. President Toni Preckwinkle is expected to roll out the 2027 budget for the preserves to the forest preserve board — which is the same as the County Board — on Oct. 7.

“The leap in capacity from increasing the budget in 2023 by nearly a third, and continuing that investment, has paid dividends for us all,” Preckwinkle said in a release.

District General Superintendent Adam Bianchi, hired in July 2025, inherited the district’s goals to ecologically restore 30,000 acres and expand the preserves from 70,000 to 90,000 acres by 2039. In the first three years after the referendum, the district added an “unprecedented” nearly 3,000 acres to its restoration work, Bianchi said at the district’s monthly board meeting Tuesday. Between 2023 and 2025, the district added 558 acres overall.

The district also spent $4 million to improve 64 miles of trails, $2.5 million to repair 43 picnic sites and $1.2 million to fix up more than a dozen bathroom buildings across the county. It planted 815 trees at preserves picnic groves, golf courses and campgrounds and created an accessible canoe and kayak launch at Beaubien Woods.

Report continues here.

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The Next Chapter Comes with a Little More Nature

Posted in Crabtree Nature Center, FPDCC on September 6, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Forest Preserves of Cook County

There comes a point when your calendar begins to look different.

Children grow up, careers wind down or end, and time that once belonged to work and family responsibilities opens up. With that freedom can come a surprisingly complicated question: What do I want this part of my life to look like?

For a group of older adults at Crabtree Nature Center, some answers are taking shape amongst birds, plants, trails and people who are asking similar questions.

“It’s like finding yourself again when you’re older,” says Penny Willoughby, a member of Crabtree’s Senior Nature Club. “I think most people at our age are looking for something. Something to make your life a little happier, a little bit more fulfilled.”

The monthly program brings seniors together to learn about nature from Forest Preserves naturalists. But listen to the conversations before and after a program and another part of the experience emerges. People recognize familiar faces. They catch up. They discover shared interests. A nature program becomes a place to belong.

“It’s just really nice to meet up with people who are in the same place as you are in your life,” Willoughby says.

Willoughby has always been curious. Growing up, she read the World Book Encyclopedia, searching for answers about nature that were not always easy to find firsthand for a child living in Chicago. At Crabtree, that curiosity has found new outlets. She has participated in night walks, learned about stars and constellations, and watched the International Space Station cross the sky.

Joy Soderman found Senior Nature Club after retirement gave her something she had not had before: the ability to attend programs during the day.

A self-described “nature nerd,” Soderman loves wildlife, native plants, weather and insects. She has attended Senior Nature Club for about two years and says she has hardly missed a meeting: “I make it a priority to come here.”

Part of the draw is being around people who share her enthusiasm. Soderman has gotten to know other regulars and looks forward to seeing them each month. She also relishes learning from Forest Preserves naturalists, joking that during programs she positions herself directly next to the naturalist because “I want to be the one to see the salamander or whatever is going on.”

For Karen Serantoni, a friend of Soderman’s through years of doing yoga together, nature club was a new extension of nearly eight years volunteering in the Forest Preserves, removing invasive plants, collecting and processing seeds and serving as a burn boss. Senior Nature Club seemed like a way to spend time more time with a friend and more time in the Preserves.

“When I go out and I do my volunteering or even come to an educational program, I’m putting my time in and supporting nature,” Serantoni says. While the three women arrived with different experiences, their stories all show that our senor years don’t have to be fully mapped out. Sometimes it starts by showing up, getting curious and sitting beside someone who happens to be looking for something, too.

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The Beginning of Barrington Township

Posted in Cook, County, Crabtree Nature Center, FPDCC, Quintessential Barrington on September 5, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Early settlers sought out groves along the prairie much like this Original Grove in Flint Creek Savanna Preserve. “The groves were God’s first temples,” wrote William Cullen Bryant in 1824 in “A Forest Hymn”. He lived and worked as a lawyer in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, for a time. He journeyed through parts of Illinois, including Sangamon County, which inspired his poem, “The Prairie.” For the families entering northern Illinois a decade later, groves were also landmarks, shelter, and the beginnings of community—a sort of natural architecture. Where prairie opened beneath the enormous sky, islands of oak offered timber, shade and protection from the wind. One such place became known as Miller’s Grove—and around it, the early life of Barrington Township began.

By Barbara L. Benson | Quintessential Barrington

When, in 1962, Arnett C. Lines’ “History of Barrington” was published in the Barrington Courier Review, then a broadsheet-sized locally owned and published newspaper, it opened with the following dedication:

“Lest we forget the fortitude, the fearless courage, the determination, the frugal living, the hard work with none of the facilities that are so abundant today, this history has been written as a record of the success of those who left the comforts of civilization in the East and came west to a wild country, and of those who came to America talking a strange language, having very little equipment but bare hands and willing hearts, to wrest from a wilderness or an uncultivated country a living for a large family in a land where they could enjoy freedom from oppression and from pursuit.”

Lines continued: “They came with sons in their teens who grasped the plow of good government, and, having done a masterful work in the Township, came to the new station when the railroad arrived, and repeated their success in the town (village) government and experiences in getting up the country school, by organizing and establishing a new village and its government.”

He followed with words to inspire future generations.

“They builded better than they knew. Today we are enjoying this American heritage. This record may keep the picture before us that we may not take for granted the blessings we enjoy today.”

Arnett C. Lines died in 1970, and his monumental history can be found online at the Barrington Area Library in their local history databases. His work was comprehensive and traced the geographical and governmental history of what would, eventually in 1850, be designated Barrington Township.

Article continues here.

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Forest Preserves of Cook County Reaches Agreement with Teamsters Local 700

Posted in Cook, County, Crabtree Nature Center, FPDCC, Horizon Farm, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Press Release, Unions on September 3, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Posted: September 2, 2026

With a vote today by members of Teamsters Local 700 to accept the last proposal by the Forest Preserves of Cook County, the Teamsters strike at the Forest Preserves has ended. Local 700 employees in the landscape maintenance, resource management, conservation and experiential programming, and fleet and facilities departments are expected to return to work tomorrow.

“The Forest Preserves of Cook County is an organization built on a mission to protect wild spaces and help the public connect to the natural world close to home. I know Forest Preserves staff in every department are driven by a pride in being a part of that,” said General Superintendent Adam Bianchi. “This agreement addresses issues raised by Local 700 while allowing the Forest Preserves to remain on a sustainable fiscal path. We are eager to have all our dedicated employees together again to meet our shared mission.”

The agreement between the Forest Preserves and Local 700 to extend the existing contract includes a 2% raise in January 2026, another 2% in July 2026 and a 4% raise in July 2027, a one-time payment of $2,500 for full-time employees and $1,250 for seasonal employees, paid lunch and breaks, and changes for overtime pay rules, scheduling notification, shift assignment choices and reduction of weekend work.

The Forest Preserves remained fully open and operational throughout the strike and will continue to offer the people of Cook County opportunities to enjoy its trails, campgrounds, nature centers, picnic groves, golf courses, boating centers, events and programs, and more.

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Art in Nature Festival at Crabtree Nature Center next Sunday

Posted in Crabtree Nature Center, Education, Entertainment, FPDCC on August 23, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Join us at Crabtree Nature Center for our largest annual Art in Nature Festival on August 30th from 11am to 3pm!

  • African Drumming Workshop at 11:30am
  • Xochitl-Quetzal Aztec Dance will be performing at 1pm.
  • Create your own masterpiece using clay, watercolors, collage and more!

Learn about resources from our partners the Barrington Area Library , Trickster Cultural Center, University of Illinois-Extension Master Naturalists and Gardeners, and many others.

Art and honey for sale. Julio’s Tacos and Kona Ice will be available for purchase. This event is FREE!

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Forest Preserves of Cook County Will Remain Open During Union Strike, Continue Negotiations

Posted in Barrington Hills Park District, Cook, County, Crabtree Nature Center, FPDCC, Horizon Farm, Intergovernmental agreements (IGA), Pension Funding, Politics, Press Release, Taxes, Unions on August 17, 2026| Leave a Comment »

The Forest Preserves of Cook County will remain open and operational during a strike of members of Teamsters Local 700, allowing the public opportunities to continue to enjoy the many amenities the Preserves offers, including trails, picnic groves, nature centers, campgrounds, golf courses, fishing lakes and more. The Forest Preserves has worked to avoid a strike with offers that include a total of 8% in raises over two years and a one-time payment—part of a pattern that would increase the starting salaries of Local 700 members by 33% in just six years.

“All the employees of the Forest Preserves are critical to our success, and that certainly is the case for the members of Local 700. We recognize and appreciate the work they do every day all year long to keep the Preserves a place that is a gem in Cook County. Working within our current and long-term fiscal restrictions, the Forest Preserves has made offers to the union that continue to provide a compensation package that is at and above what is competitive in the labor market. We are confident that we can negotiate with the union to find a solution within our confines,” said General Superintendent Adam Bianchi.

In 2025, the Forest Preserves of Cook County made a fair and reasonable proposal to extend the existing contract between Local 700 and the Forest Preserves for two years: a 2% raise in January 2026, another 2% in July 2026 and a 4% raise in July 2027, plus a $2,500 one-time payment for full-time employees. More recently, after ongoing discussions with union leadership, the Forest Preserves added to its offer, including a paid lunch, which effectively shortens the workday for Local 700 members by half an hour, broader overtime pay rules and a $1,250 one-time payment for seasonal staff.

Six unions at the Forest Preserves have accepted the exact or similar terms as the original offer as a contract extension last year. Other unions, including nearly 50 locals that are in Cook County, also accepted exact or similar pay scales and one-time payment structure.

The Preserves’ offer is the latest step in a steady pattern of increased compensation for the union. In the last five years, Local 700 members at the Forest Preserves have received six raises and three one-time payments. With the offer of three more raises this year and next, the starting salary for a member of Local 700 will have increased fully by a third since June 2021. A person who joined the Preserves in the position of laborer in June 2021 will have their salary jump from $47,278 to $65,045—a 38% increase—and also received payments totaling an additional $6,500.

At the same time, the Forest Preserves can’t increase revenue except by raising fees to the public, cutting services and restoration work, or raising property taxes with a referendum. That means the Preserves must consider the immediate and extended impact of major changes to key expenses such as employee compensation.

During a strike, the Forest Preserves will remain open and any changes in operations will prioritize the health and safety of the public, the ecological health of the lands in our care and minimizing impact to the public. The Forest Preserves will not lock out any employees and members of Local 700 are not prohibited from working throughout a strike. As always, visitors to the Forest Preserves can visit fpdcc.com for updates on our news page, for the status of planned events, and for alerts about trail access and other information by location.

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About the Forest Preserves of Cook County
Don’t you sometimes just want to escape? Explore the natural beauty of Cook County for an hour, a day or even a night. When you’re surrounded by 70,000 acres of wild and wonderful there’s no better place to feel free.

 

 

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Forest Preserve District of Cook County invites 2026 photo contest submissions

Posted in Contests, Crabtree Nature Center, FPDCC, Horizon Farm on August 9, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Orland Grassland by Jason Sokol

The 2026 Photo Contest is underway where winning photographers will have their images featured in the 2027 Forest Preserves calendar.

Winners will receive 10 copies of the calendar plus a prize package filled with Forest Preserves experiences, including tickets to Brookfield Zoo Chicago, Chicago Botanic Garden and GoApe Zipline & Adventure Park, a free cabin stay, canoe and kayak rentals, a round of golf and more!

Up to 24 runners-up may also be featured on our website, social media and in the Forest Way newsletter throughout the year.

Already have a favorite photo from the Forest Preserves? Submit it before August 16!

Contest rules & submission info: fpdcc.com/photocontest

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Forest Preserves of Cook County July 2026 Newsletter

Posted in Crabtree Nature Center, FPDCC, Horizon Farm on July 25, 2026| Leave a Comment »

The wandering glider (Pantala flavescens) is the most widespread dragonfly in the world, found on every continent except Antarctica. Its long-distance flights can span thousands of miles across oceans and continents. | Wandering Glider, Photo by: Carolyn M.

In this Issue:

  • Forest Preserves Seeks Best Nature Images as Photo Contest Begins July 31
  • A Getaway That’s Not Far Away: Northwest Cook County
  • Floating Wetland Pilot Launches at Schiller Pond
  • Try This! Go Mothing to Celebrate National Moth Week; Red, White & Bloom: A Star-Spangled Scavenger Hunt; 2027 Indoor Event Permits Available Beginning August 17; Experience Chicago’s Living Habitat with Openlands; Learn About the Forest Preserve Foundation
  • Upcoming Events & Programs
  • Volunteer Opportunities: Together for Trees

Find the July FPDCC newsletter here.

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A Getaway That’s Not Far Away: Northwest Cook County

Posted in Crabtree Nature Center, Education, Entertainment, FPDCC, Taxes on July 13, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Forest Preserves of Cook County

Who needs a long drive to feel like you’ve escaped? In Northwest Cook County, some of the best adventures are right in your own backyard like paddling across sparkling water, spotting elk grazing beneath towering oaks and exploring miles of scenic trails. Make the Forest Preserves of Cook County the starting point for a staycation packed with outdoor recreation, family fun and memorable experiences across the northwest suburbs.

Start your getaway at Busse Woods, one of the Forest Preserves’ most iconic destinations and a place where an entire day can disappear before you know it. Covering more than 3,500 acres, Busse Woods offers nearly 13 miles of paved trails perfect for biking, walking or an early morning run. Along the way, keep an eye out for herons, turtles and one of the preserve’s biggest attractions: the resident elk herd, which has called Busse Woods home for more than a century.

When the summer sun starts warming up, head to the Busse Lake Boating Center and rent a kayak or canoe. Anglers can also cast a line into Busse Reservoir, one of the largest fishing lakes in Cook County.

If your perfect getaway includes a golf club in hand, spend part of the afternoon at Highland Woods Golf Course before heading back out to explore. Less than a 15-minute drive from Busse, Highland Woods in Hoffman Estates features rolling hills, a driving range and an on-staff PGA professional.

Looking for a quieter escape? Make your way to Crabtree Nature Center in Barrington, which is a 15-minute drive from Highland Woods, where winding trails wrap around peaceful ponds known for their waterfowl. Inside the nature center, interactive exhibits, native wildlife displays and knowledgeable staff make it a great stop for visitors of every age. Just outside, the nature play area encourages children to climb, explore and connect with nature. Check Crabtree’s calendar before your trip and you might discover a program or event that becomes the highlight of your weekend.

For those who prefer exploring on foot, northwest Cook County offers plenty of options beyond Busse Woods. Wander the rolling trails of Deer Grove, the Forest Preserves’ first preserve, where oak woodlands, savannas and restored wetlands create a beautiful backdrop for a morning hike. You can also visit nearby Paul Douglas Preserve or Poplar Creek to explore their trails.

When it’s time for a meal, nearby downtowns offer plenty of ways to recharge. Enjoy wood-fired pizza or patio dining in downtown Arlington Heights, grab authentic Mexican cuisine in Elgin, or cool off with homemade ice cream while strolling through the shops in downtown Barrington or Mount Prospect.

Want to add even more to your staycation? The surrounding communities are packed with opportunities for family fun. Spend an afternoon browsing Woodfield Mall, visit the colorful exhibits at Trickster Cultural Center in Schaumburg, catch a minor league baseball game or plan your visit around one of the many local summer festivals happening throughout the northwest suburbs. For much more on events, sights, dining and other ideas in the area, go to Chicago Northwest.

It’s easy to put together a local trip that is all outdoors or a hybrid that is as fun, educational, relaxing or exciting as you want. Extend your stay with an overnight at Camp Reinberg, where cabins, campsites and modern amenities let you wake up surrounded by nature. Learn more and plan your visit here. Come out to the northwest suburbs for a summer weekend far from the everyday routine but close to home.

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