Events

Compost! Feed the soil that feeds us

Compost Giveback & Ask a Master Gardener Booth

Adventures in Composting
County: Lake

SOIL LOVES COMPOST!

 Celebrate International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) and learn about the many benefits of this naturally produced soil amendment. We're giving away a truckload of…

butterfly on pink flowers

Gardening with Native Plants | Stillman Valley

Ogle County Master Gardeners
County: Ogle
Native plants aren’t just beautiful—they play a vital role in supporting local ecosystems by providing food and shelter for native wildlife. Join Ogle County Master Gardener Phil Bratta for a…
A boy looks through a magnifying glass at a bug on a leaf

Junior Master Naturalist Program – Bug Bytes - Insects Spring 2026

at Avon Township
County: Lake
Bitten by the curiosity bug?? Join us to discover amazing facts about our smallest neighbors, the “super hero” bugs in our backyards and around the world. Look thru a “bugs eye”, take a bug challenge…

yellow pink purple flowers

Mother's Day Flower Walk | Genoa

The day before Mother's Day...
County: DeKalb
On the day before Mother's Day, Saturday, May 9, come out to the guided wildflower walks at the Natural Resource Education Center (NREC) in Russell Woods Forest Preserve. The upland paved path allows…
wildflowers

Spring Wildflower Hike

Dayton Bluffs Preserve
County: LaSalle

Explore the beauty of spring wildflowers on a series of guided hikes at natural areas around LaSalle County. Spring ephemeral wildflowers can only be viewed for a brief period of time, between the…

Composting: the Next Batch

Composting: The Next Batch

With Nicholas Conservatory
County: Winnebago
You have the power to encourage earths natural decomposing processes to create one of the keys to a thriving yard. Get the most out of your compost by refining your skills during Composting: The Next…
forest

Forestry Skills 101: Using Forestry Tools at Rice Lake

County: Fulton, Mason, Peoria, Tazewell
Discover the basics of forestry tools and learn how to identify trees around Rice Lake through simple, field‑ready techniques.
 
Location:  Rice Lake - Meet in the parking lot. …
A field of zinnias

Amazing Annuals

Presented by University of Illinois Extension Lake County Master Gardeners, SWALCO, and the Lake County Forest Preserve District
County: Lake
The University of Illinois Extension Lake County Master Gardeners, SWALCO, and the Lake County Forest Preserve District present the 2026 Garden Learning Series  Programs will be held…

Path of Green Trees

Cook County May Nature Wellness Walk 2026

Immerse yourself and reconnect with nature and all the beauty it has to offer! Relaxing mindfulness and meditative practices will be led by certified forest bathing guides during these slow and…

Tortoise with two youth

NatureFest 2026 | Genoa

Annual event
County: DeKalb
Get ready for the annual NatureFest on Saturday, May 16! Hosted by Illinois Extension, DeKalb County Forest Preserve, DeKalb County Soil and Water Conservation District, and the DeKalb County Health…