Chicago Park District

Nature Area Volunteer Stewardship Days

For more information, please contact Jason Steger, Chicago Park District Stewardship Coordinator at 312-742-4072 or jason.steger@chicagoparkdistrict.com.  Dates and times are subject to change.  Please contact the site's nature area steward for weather related cancellations.

 

Bill Jarvis Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Lincoln Park
Select Saturdays from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

  • March 9 & 23
  • April 13 & 27
  • May 11 & 25
  • June 8 & 22
     
Join the Lake View Citizens Council in stewardship activities in and around the Sanctuary. We work rain, shine or snow, so be prepared. Work gloves and tools will be provided. Binoculars and instruction in how to use them will be available during break times. We meet at the east side of the Sanctuary (Addison Ave. and Lake Shore Drive, east of the totem pole) at the small garage near the viewing platform. Parking is north of the Sanctuary in the Waveland Golf Course lot.  Call Charlotte Newfeld, 773.327.5053, for more information. Please visit http://www.jarvissanctuary.org/ for more information on the Sanctuary. Meet at the east side of the Sanctuary located at Addison Ave. & Lake Shore Dr. 
 
Burnham Nature Sanctuary
Select Saturdays from 9 a.m. - noon
  • April 6
  • May 4
  • June 1
  • July 6
  • Aug 3
  • Sept 7
  • Oct 5
  • Nov 2
Join the Burnham stewardship group in a variety of activities including trainl maintenance, invasive plant species removal, brush cutting, seeding, or planting.  Meet in the parking lot located at 47th Street, just west of Lake Shore Drive. Call Pam Holy, 773.275.2228, for more information.
 
Jackson Park - Wooded Island (Paul H. Douglas Nature Sanctuary)
Select Saturdays from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
 
General workdays:
  • March 23
  • April 27
  • May 25
  • June 22
  • July 27
  • Aug 24
  • September 28
  • October 26
Join the Jackson Park Advisory Council in a variety of activities including: tree mulching, invasive plant species removal, seeding, or planting.  Meet at the Darrow Bridge, south of the Museum of Science & Industry. Take Lake Shore Dr. to Science Dr. (5800 South), turn west at the light onto Science Dr. and go left to the Music Court Parking Lot. The Darrow Bridge is on the west side of the parking lot.  For more information contact Jerry Levy, (day) 312-832-1616, (evening) 773-955-6384.
 
Jackson Park – Bobolink Meadow
Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon
  • March 16
  • April 13
  • May 11
  • June 8
  • July 6
  • Aug 10
  • Sept 14
  • Oct 12
  • Nov 9
  • Dec 14
Habitat Restoration at Bobolink Meadow in Jackson Park, 2nd Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to noon. (Bobolink Meadow is just south of MSI—See Bobolink Volunteer Website for map and further information http://bluestem.info/bobolink )  Call or email to confirm Norm Bell and Gail Parry, parrybell@ameritech.net, 773-288-1260.
 
Loyola Beach Dune (Pratt Avenue & Lake Michigan)
Fourth Saturday of each month from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
  • April 13
  • May 11 & 25
  • June 27
  • Aug 24
  • Sept 28
  • Oct 26

Meet at the entrance to the dune habitat at the west end of the pier, just north and east of Pratt Ave. For more information, contact Ann Whelan at 773-743-2662 or phida50@aol.com.
 
Montrose Beach Dunes in Lincoln Park
  • March 23
  • April 20
  • May 25
  • June 22
  • July 13
  • Aug 10
  • Sept 14
  • Oct 19
  • Nov 2
Stewardship days occur April through October. Please contact the Volunteer Stewardship Coordinator for specific dates and times at jason.steger@chicagoparkdistrict.com.  The dunes are located at the far East end of Montrose Beach. If driving, take Lake Shore Drive and exit at Montrose Avenue. Travel east along the harbor as the road winds to the right. Park along the harbor and walk north (away from the harbor) where you will soon see a flagpole next to the beach house and beach (bicycle riders, there is a lockup at the beach house). The dune habitat is to the right, next to the concrete fishing pier. It's the only vegetated portion of Montrose Beach. 
 
Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary 
Select Saturdays from 9 a.m. – noon
  • March 2
  • April 13
  • May 11
  • June 8
  • July 13
  • Aug 3
  • Sept 7
  • Oct 12
  • Nov 2
Contact David Painter at dvdpaint@yahoo.com or 773-383-0721 prior to the workday to confirm dates. Meet at the "Magic Hedge" located on Montrose Ave., east of Lake Shore Dr. Drive east towards the lake and as the road turns north, take the first right by the bait shop. Continue to the nature area on the left, just before the harbor parking lot.  Parking is available on the street.
 
Nichols Park Wildflower Meadow (1355 E. 53rd St.)
  • April 21 & 28; 3 – 5 p.m.
  • May 12; 4 – 6 p.m.
  • June 2 & 30; 4 – 6 p.m.
The Hyde Park Meadowlarks invite you to join them at their stewardship workdays in the wildflower meadow at Nichols Park. Activities may include cutting, weeding, planting, seeding, and mulching. Meet in the wildflower meadow at Nichols Park. Call Carol Schneider, 773.684.2619 to confirm workdays.  New volunteers always welcome!
 
North Park Village Nature Center (5801 N. Pulaski Rd.)
Every Wednesday and Sunday, year-round from 9 a.m. to noon
Restore the woodland, wetland, and prairie communities in the nature preserve. Activities include planting native species and invasive species control. Registration is required , please call the Nature Center at 312-744-5472. The Nature Center is located at 5801 N. Pulaski Rd., between Foster Ave. and Peterson Ave. Refreshments are provided.
 
North Pond in Lincoln Park (2430 N. Cannon Dr.)
Select Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon
  • April 20
  • May 25
  • June 8       
  • June 22
  • July 6
  • July 20
  • Aug 3
  • Aug 24
  • Sept 7
  • Sept 28
  • Oct 12
Join the Lincoln Park Conservancy for the North Pond Gardeners Workdays in planting, pulling invasive species, restoring trails, cleaning fences and mulching trees. North Pond is located behind the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. Meet on the plaza in the front of North Pond Restaurant (2610 N. Cannon Drive). Tools, gloves, and water will be provided. 
For more info, volunteers can contact the Lincoln Park Conservancy at (773) 883-PARK or via e-mail at Volunteer@LPConservancy.org
 
Palmisano Park (2700 S. Halsted St.)
Second Saturdays of each month from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
  • April 20
  • May 11 
  • June 8 
  • July 13 
  • Aug 10 
  • Sept 14 
  • Oct 12 
Contact Samantha Mattone at stearnsquarry@gmail.com or 773-508-4045 for more information or to RSVP for the workday.  Meet at the corner of 27th and Halsted.  
 
 
Rainbow Beach Dunes (77th St. and the Lake - enter by car at 79th)
Fourth Saturdays of each month from 10 a.m. – noon
  • March 23
  • April 27
  • May 25
  • June 22
  • July 27
  • August 24
  • September 28
  • October 26
  • November 23
     
Contact Alison Anastasio, alison.anastasio@gmail.com, 773.718.0698 for more information or to register.  Meet at the entrance to the Nature Area, southeast end of the beach.
 
Van Vlissingen
  • March 16 from 9 a.m. - noon

 

Join us at Van Vlissingen Prairie where you wil be cutting and removing invasive buckthorn. Be sure to dress for the weather, bring water and a snack.  Tools and gloves will be provided. Meet inside the gate at the entrance off of 103rd street (across from the police station). To RSVP please contact Jason Steger at jason.steger@chicagoparkdistrict.com  or 312-742-4072
 
Washington Park 
Every third Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. - noon (March-Oct.)
  • March 16
  • April 20
  • May 18
  • June 15
  • July 20
  • Aug 17
  • Sept 21
  • Oct19
Meet at the Fountain of Time located west of S. Cottage Grove Avenue on axis with 
Midway Plaisance. For more information please call Madiem Kawa at (773) 203-3418.
 
Washington Park Migratory Bird Walks 
Select Saturdays at 7 a.m.
  • May 4 & 18
  • September 14
  • October 5
Join us for a bird walk through Washington Park with bird expert, Marianne Hahn.  Meet at the Refectory parking lot 5531 S. Russel Drive.