Help your community by signing up for a fall Volunteer Morning program, when you can gather seeds for future restoration efforts or clear brush to give native plants room to grow. Volunteers are especially needed for preserves in the less populated areas of the county, said Emily Kenny, the Forest Preserve’s Volunteer Services coordinator.
“If you live in the southern or eastern parts of Will County, the Forest Preserve has a variety of ways you can get involved,” she noted. “Join us in preserving and enhancing the Forest Preserve properties in your area.”
For instance, help is needed for Volunteer Morning programs in the Braidwood, Wilmington, Crete, and Monee areas. In addition to signing up for Volunteer Mornings, there are also opportunities to get involved in fall-themed programs and events organized by the visitor services department.
“Whether you have just a few hours to spare or are interested in more regular involvement, the Forest Preserve has something for everyone,” Kenny said. “Time is a valuable resource, and I am excited to match volunteer opportunities with peoples’ schedules and locations.”
Here is the fall schedule for Volunteer Mornings. Unless otherwise noted, seed collection programs are from 10 a.m. to noon, while brush control activities take place from 9 a.m. to noon.
October: Thursday, October 3, Braidwood Dunes and Savanna Nature Preserve, seed collection; Sunday, October 6, Joliet Junior College, brush control, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Tuesday, October 8, Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve, seed collection; Thursday, October 17, Kankakee Sands Preserve, seed collection; Saturday, October 19, Hadley Valley – Gougar Road Access, brush control; and Tuesday, October 29, Riverview Farmstead, brush control.
November: Saturday, November 2, Rock Run Preserve – Black Road Access, brush control; Tuesday, November 5, Evans-Judge Preserve, brush control; Sunday, November 17, Monee Reservoir, brush control; Saturday, November 23, Hickory Creek Preserve – Hickory Creek Junction, brush control; and Saturday, November 30, Hickory Creek Preserve – LaPorte Road Access, “Work Off the Turkey,” brush control.
December: Tuesday, December 3, Keepataw Preserve, brush control; Sunday, December 8, Theodore Marsh, brush control; Saturday, December 14, Whalon Lake, brush control; and Thursday, December 19, Lake Chaminwood Preserve, brush control.
Registration is required to participate in a Volunteer Morning. To get started, complete a waiver online. For information, contact Emily Kenny at 815-722-7364 or volunteerservices@fpdwc.org. The programs are for ages 10 and older.