Archive for the ‘Recreation’ Category

Swing for Sustainability 2019

Posted: March 12th, 2019

Event recap: The 2019 Swing for Sustainability was a huge success! We reached our goal and raised over $14,000! The weather was perfect, the golf course was immaculate, and the camaraderie was bountiful. Thank you to all the players and sponsors who made this wonderful day possible. Be sure to check out the photos. We hope you’ll all join us next year.

Swing for Sustainability, the annual golf outing, is Friday, June 14, 2019.

$150 individual / $600 foursome

At the Forest Preserves’ premier course:

George W. Dunne National Golf Course
16310 Central Ave., Oak Forest, Illinois 60452
Friday, June 14, 2019
12:30 p.m. registration, lunch, and range
2 p.m. shotgun start, best ball

Ticket includes:

Greens fees
Range balls
Lunch
On-the-course drinks
Open-bar reception
Dinner with awards

Purchase your tickets today through Eventbrite at http://bit.ly/friendsgolf2019.

Sponsorship Opportunities:

Skill Prize Sponsor – $250

Recognition, including logo placement, in all promotional materials and on day-of signage
Day-of verbal recognition

Lunch Sponsor – $250

Recognition, including logo placement, in all promotional materials and on day-of signage
Day-of verbal recognition

Golf Ball Sponsor – $350

Recognition, including logo placement, in all promotional materials and on day-of signage
Day-of verbal recognition

Hole Sponsor – $500

Recognition, including logo placement, in all promotional materials and on day-of signage at one hole on the course
Day-of verbal recognition

Dinner Sponsor – $500

Recognition, including logo placement, in all promotional materials and on day-of signage
Day-of verbal recognition

Long Drive Sponsor – $1,000

Recognition, including logo placement, in all promotional materials and on day-of signage at one hole on the course
Day-of verbal recognition

Closest to Pin Sponsor – $1,000

Recognition, including logo placement, in all promotional materials and on day-of signage at one hole on the course
Day-of verbal recognition

Drink Cart Sponsor – $1,250

Recognition, including logo placement, in all promotional materials and on the drink cart day-of
Day-of verbal recognition

Please contact Ilana Federman at ilana@fotfp.org or 312-356-9990 ext. 305 about becoming a sponsor.

Thank you to our generous sponsors:

Tips for running in inclement weather

Posted: July 16th, 2018

Running is one of the healthiest forms of exercise, but unfortunately Mother Nature can throw wrenches in your running plans. With careful planning (and forecast monitoring!) you can run year round. Here are some top tips for running in bad weather:

In The Rain

Dress Light

A common mistake when running in the rain is wearing layers to keep yourself dry. This will not work—you’ll instead be left with three soggy shirts instead of one. A better option is to wear a very thin poncho or simply stick it out. Dress for the temperature of the day you’re running, not bundled up for rain protection.

Bust Out That Vaseline

When there’s moisture, there’s chaffing. Chaffing can become a real problem if you’re running in the rain, so use Vaseline or running-specific gels on areas of the body where you commonly get blisters. Your heels are an obvious choice, but adding gel on your thighs, along the seams of sports bras for women, and on nipples for men is also a good idea. Wicking socks will also make a big difference when it comes to preventing blisters in the rain.

Wear a Hat

A hat with a visor is critical to keeping the water out of your eyes. If you’re running on an especially cool day (below 50 degrees or so) you may want to wear a beanie under your hat to help keep warm.

In the Heat

Pace Yourself

This probably seems obvious, but you’d be surprised how many runners overexert themselves while running in high temperatures and on particularly high-humidity days. Learn how to find your perfect running pace and stick with it when temperatures are against you.

Look at Heat Index, Not Temperature

Running on a humid day is (usually) much worse than running in high temperatures. While it’s true that the early morning has the lowest temperature, it’s often the highest humidity. Look at the forecast and try to find a time of the day where the humidity is below 40%–that should feel comfortable for most runners. If you have no good options for a day without humidity, try running somewhere with shade, like a wooded trail.

Wear White

Generally speaking, white reflects sunlight and black retains it. When running on a sunny day you should try to wear lighter-colored clothes. It’s also important to wear loose clothing so you allow your body to sweat and release heat. You can actually wear black clothing and stay very cool, but you’ll need to avoid thick clothing, which isn’t ideal for runners.

With careful planning, running can be a great activity any day of the year!

*This article was created by Personal Injury Help (www.personalinjury-law.com), an organization dedicated to providing the public with information about personal injury and safety information. Nothing in this article should be construed as legal advice, and it is intended for informational use only.

North Branch Trail Bike Ride 2018

Posted: April 12th, 2018

12 p.m. – 2 p.m.

This event has reached max capacity. Please email Ilana Federman, Outreach Manager, at ilana@fotfp.org if you would like to be added to a wait list.

Please join us on our annual North Branch Trail Bike Ride! We’ll explore the beautiful variety of habitats found along the Chicago River, from Bunker Hill Forest Preserve north to Harms Woods. You’ll encounter prairies, wetlands, and woodlands as we wind our way up to Harms Flatwoods, recently honored with the designation as an Illinois Nature Preserve. Discover what makes these preserves so important for wildlife and people alike!

Our friends at Out our Front Door will lead this ride, designed for cyclists of all skill levels. We’ll stop along the way to chat about the ecology and history of the preserves we’re traveling through. Meet at Bunker Hill Forest Preserve (Caldwell Ave. entrance across from Tonty Avenue.) for a prompt departure at 12 p.m. The ride will last about 2 hours round trip. This event is free, but you must register to attend. Please take a moment now to REGISTER in order to save your spot!

This event is part of the Bike Glenview program.

For questions, please contact Radhika Miraglia at radhika@fotfp.org.

2nd Annual Beer in the Woods

Posted: January 26th, 2018

2 pm – 6 pm (VIP admission at 1 pm!)

Tickets are now on sale!

Beer in the Woods is back by popular demand! Please join the Friends community for an afternoon of craft beer and cider at LaBagh Woods on the Northwest side of Chicago. LaBagh Woods is a haven for nature enthusiasts and birders – right here in the city! Beer in the Woods will feature live animal displays from Big Run Wolf Ranch, FrogLady Presentations, and Northern Illinois Raptor Rehab and Education; home brewing demos from The Pursuit Supply Company; bird walks by the illustrious Jeff Skrentny; an “Ultimate Campsite” display by REI Co-op; local food trucks including Chicago Lunchbox, Cupcakes for Courage and Da Lobsta; music by DJ CatieO; and plenty of activities for beer and nature enthusiasts alike. Check back for updates and to view our ever growing list of participants.

Purchase your tickets now!

Participating Breweries (subject to change):

Special thanks to:

This event is in the forest preserves. View map for exact location.

Hike it Baby – A Spooky Saturday on the Des Plaines River Trail

Posted: October 6th, 2017

11 am – 1 pm

Join us for our first Halloween-Hike it Baby-costume hike. Grab a comfortable costume and your hiking boots, and let’s explore. We will let the kids set the pace, and aim to hike out for 30-45 minutes, take a picnic break at the Fullerton Woods Family Picnic Area, and return to Sunset Grove Meadow.

We will meet in the parking lot of Sunset Bridge Meadow off of IL-64 North Avenue.

Des Plaines River Trail, Leyden Township
River Grove, IL 60171United States + Google Map

Potential Baby or Child Hazard:

The trail can be busy with cyclists and runners so we will need to be on the look out for other users. The trail follows the Des Plaines River and is unpaved, crushed limestone. Late October can be chilly and/or wet. Be sure to dress for success. This event will go on rain or shine.

Gear Suggestion:

Please bring water and a picnic lunch (lunch optional…water not).

This event is free, but please register to help us plan for the day.

Questions? Contact Zach Taylor at Zach@fotfp.org.

North Branch Trail Bike Ride

Posted: June 13th, 2017

Bike from Blue Star Memorial Woods in Glenview to the Skokie Lagoons and back with Friends of the Forest Preserves! We will stop for a snack at the lagoons and chat about the ecology of the preserves we have just traveled through. Meet at the Blue Star Memorial parking lot for a prompt departure at 12pm. The ride will last about 1.5 to 2 hours round trip. This event is free, but you must register to attend. Please take a moment now to register in order to save your spot!

The endurance of the midland brown snake

Posted: April 3rd, 2017

By Joey Cavataio, Amateur Herpetologist

It’s 1925. Somewhere in the vast-but-ever-shrinking prairie located northwest of downtown Chicago, a brand new batch of bungalows stands out against the tall grass and endless horizon to the west. A few years earlier, the beginnings of a subdivision were born, when rough roads and paved sidewalks were installed in anticipation of a new way of life for many – rural living in what was technically Chicago by that point. The development of all of the homes, roads, and sewers necessitated the destruction of prairie. Virtually all living things died; plants, invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, and most mammals quickly vanished in short order in favor of human sprawl.

One species that endured the invasion of humans was Storeria dekayi, or the midland brown snake. This tiny, innocuous serpent, long as a nightcrawler and about as secretive, decided that it was going to use its adaptive nature to its advantage. Naturally a creature of open woodland, the edges of woodlands, savanna, and prairie, it handled the park-like environment well enough to persist. Craving slugs and worms, it never faced a shortage of its prey among the lawns and gardens it frequented. And giving birth to live babies, independent from birth, was a huge plus – eggs are sensitive to weather extremes, predators, and all sorts of human activities. It seemed destined to cling to its former haunts despite profound disturbance.

In my backyard, I have found these snakes a number of times over the last few years. I assumed there was a hibernaculum – a protected space where the snakes congregate during the winter months. I searched around my house and garage but never reached a conclusion. Today, I think I found the entrance to a hibernaculum, a small crevice which leads to the house’s foundation. Just outside the crevice was a young adult male brown snake, torpid, but slowly warming itself as it lay coiled underneath a flower planter I placed there two years ago with hope that I might someday discover just what I had discovered today.

I’ve searched high and low for reptiles and amphibians in every corner of this country and even abroad, and have found and studied rare and striking (no pun intended) taxa that may seem to deserve more mention than some small, plain looking snake. But I’m afflicted with this passion for a snake that ekes out a living in the streets of Chicago, contends with mesopredators such as skunks, and somehow survives living in and on surfaces contaminated with road salt and chemicals, all the while trying very hard to avoid detection. I have a ton of respect for these animals. And call me crazy, but I think I’m darn lucky to share my house with them, if even only during the winter.

Joey Cavataio found a midland brown snake warming itself underneath a flower planter at his home on the Northwest side of Chicago. Near the planter, Joey discovered what he believes to be a hibernaculum, a small crevice leading to the house’s foundation.

8th Annual Photo Contest Exhibit

Posted: March 31st, 2017

Please join Friends to celebrate the beauty of the forest preserves as seen through the lenses of photographers in our community.

Friday, May 12th, 2017
6 PM – 8 PM
Franklin Framing
13019 S. Western Ave.
Blue Island, IL 60406

Refreshments will be served.

This event is free. Donations will be accepted at the door.
You can make a donation in lieu of attending, on our website.

To RSVP email ilana@fotfp.org or call (312) 356-9990

Swing for Sustainability 2017

Posted: January 24th, 2017

Join us for our annual Swing for Sustainability Open!

Reserve your spot today!
$150 individual / $600 foursome

At the Forest Preserves’ premier course:

George W. Dunne National Golf Course
16310 Central Ave., Oak Forest, Illinois 60452
Friday, June 9th, 2017
12:30 registration and range, 2 pm shotgun start, best ball

Reserve your spot today!
$150 individual / $600 foursome

Ticket includes:

Greens fees
Range balls
Lunch
On-the-course drinks
Open-bar reception
Dinner with awards

Sponsorship Opportunities

Drink Cart Sponsor – $1,250

Recognition, including logo placement in all promotional materials and on the drink cart day-of
Day-of verbal recognition

Long Drive Sponsor – $1,000

Recognition, including logo placement in all promotional materials and on day-of signage at one hole on the course
Day-of verbal recognition

Closest-to-the-Pin Sponsor – $1,000

Recognition, including logo placement in all promotional materials and on day-of signage at one hole on the course
Day-of verbal recognition

Hole-in-One Sponsor – $750

Recognition, including logo placement in all promotional materials and on day-of signage on hole 17
Day-of verbal recognition

Dinner Sponsor – $500

Recognition, including logo placement in all promotional materials and on day-of signage
Day-of verbal recognition

Hole Sponsor – $500

Recognition, including logo placement in all promotional materials and on day-of signage at one hole on the course
Day-of verbal recognition

Golf Ball Sponsor – $350

Recognition, including logo placement in all promotional materials and on day-of signage
Day-of verbal recognition

Lunch Sponsor – $250

Recognition, including logo placement in all promotional materials and on day-of signage
Day-of verbal recognition

Skill Prize Sponsor – $250

Recognition, including logo placement in all promotional materials and on day-of signage
Day-of verbal recognition

Please contact Ilana Federman at ilana@fotfp.org with questions or to become a sponsor.

All proceeds support Friends’ work to make the forest preserves better for you and generations to come!

Thank you to our sponsors:

Busse Woods Night Ride 2017

Posted: January 24th, 2017

6:00PM – 11:00PM

The 3^rd Annual Busse Woods Night Ride is bigger and better than ever!

Please join us for your one chance to ride through the forest preserves at night.

Busse Woods, Elk Grove, Illinois

New this year! Historical Wave, taking you to places of cultural and geographical significance. Led by Elk Grove expert Michael Stachnik, Program Director at the Elk Grove Historical Museum. Leaves from the boathouse at 6pm and lasts approximately 1.5 hours.

Back by popular demand! Sunset Wave, leaves from the boathouse at 6:30pm and lasts approximately 1 hour.

Expanded this year! We are excited to offer two extended waves this year that take you on a 12- mile journey and lasts approximately 1.5 hours each.

All other regular waves are 8 miles and last approximately 1 hour.

With 15 waves to choose from, there’s something for everyone!

All riders will receive a special gift when you check in at the event. All attendees 21+ will receive two free beers courtesy of Church Street Brewing Company. And all participants will enjoy live music by The Jeff Parker Duo, live animal display, bonfires, s’mores, tacos by Pollo Negro (for purchase) and your one chance to be in the preserves after sunset!

Tickets are $40 (all waves except Historical and Extended)
Historical and Extended Waves are $45
Youth Rider (12-20) $20
Adult Spectator (21+) $15
Youth Spectator (5-20) $5
Age 4 and under free!

For safety and convenience, no trailers or tagalongs are allowed. All riders must have a helmet. All riders must have a front light attached to their bike or helmet. Lights will be available for purchase at the event.

Register Now! (To register, you must choose a ticket price AND specify the wave you want.)

Wave 1: 6:00-7:30 Historical Wave
Wave 2: 6:30-7:30 Sunset Wave
Wave 3: 7:00-8:00
Wave 4: 7:10-8:10
Wave 5: 7:20-8:20
Wave 6: 7:30-9:00 Extended Wave
Wave 7: 7:40-8:40
Wave 8: 7:50-8:50
Wave 9: 8:00-9:30 Extended Wave
Wave 10: 8:10-9:10
Wave 11: 8:20-9:20
Wave 12: 8:30-9:30
Wave 13: 8:40-9:40
Wave 14: 8:50-9:50
Wave 15: 9:00-10:00

In partnership with:

Thank you to our wave sponsors:

Thank you to our in-kind sponsors:

If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities, please contact Ilana Federman at 312-356-9990 or ilana@fotfp.org.

Friends of the Forest Preserves

Archive for the ‘Recreation’ Category

Sponsorship Opportunities:

Please join Friends to celebrate the beauty of the forest preserves as seen through the lenses of photographers in our community.

Join us for our annual Swing for Sustainability Open!

Sponsorship Opportunities

Join our mailing list!