Restore Habitat:

Thousands of volunteers in the Chicago Wilderness region dedicate a small or large portion of their free time to shepherding our most treasured natural areas back to good health:

They remove invasive trees and brush;
They collect and plant native seeds;
They conduct controlled burns;
And much more.

These are the actions that will restore health to our native ecosystems. If you want to "act locally," this is a really fun way to do it.

Watch this video about stewardship at the Bartel Grassland represents the spirit of the work done by volunteers throughout the region.

Contact the volunteer stewardship group nearest you to get involved.

Friends of the Forest Preserves - lists opportunities with groups in the Cook County.
Volunteer Stewardship Network - the website of the Nature Conservancy lists restoration groups by county.
Chicagoland Environmental Network - lists a wide variety of volunteer opportunities.

Some Larger Projects:

Bartel Grassland - A 600-acre preserve in Matteson where 375 acres are being restored to native prairie by a coalition of citizens and professionals.
Citizens for Conservation - a volunteer group that buys and restores hundreds of acres in the Barrington Area.
North Branch Restoration Project - works both Saturday and Sunday most weekends year round to restore sites in Chicago, Morton Grove, Glenview and Northbrook.
Openlands Lakeshore Preserve - a stewardship project of Lake Cook Audubon under the direction of Openlands.
Orland Grassland - A 960-acre preserve in Orland Park is being restored to prairie, shrubland and oak savanna by a coalition of citizens and professionals.
Palos Restoration Project - restoring woodlands, savannas and wetlands in the 14,000-acre Palos Preserves south of Willow Spring.
Poplar Creek Prairie Stewards - restoring 600 acres of prairie and woodland in Hoffman Estates.
Spring Creek Preserves - restoring 3910 acres of prairie, woodland and wetland in Barrington Hills.

Projects Listed By County:

(Cook) North Branch Restoration Project - This group coordinates volunteer workdays at several sites in Cook county
(Cook) Forest Preserve District of Cook County Volunteer Resources - This site describes the volunteer opportunities with the Forest Preserve District of Cook County. It is co-sponsored and maintained by Forest Preserve District of Cook County and Friends of the Forest Preserves.
(Cook) Chicago Park District - The Chicago Park District provides a variety of volunteer stewardship opportunities at several sites in Cook county
(Cook) BackYard Nature Center - A non-profit organization whose mission is to connect children and adults with the wonders of nature through volunteer stewardship activities, education, and unstructured play. They monthly invasive species workdays at the Skokie Lagoons every second Saturday.
(Cook) Friends of Indian Boundary Prairies - This group coordinates volunteer workdays at Indian Boundary Prairies in Cook county
(Cook) Friends of the Bluff Spring Fen - This group coordinates volunteer workdays at Bluff Spring Fen in Cook county
(Cook) Deer Grove Natural Areas Volunteers - This group coordinates volunteer workdays at the Deer Grove Forest Preserve in Cook county.
(Cook) North Park Village Nature Center - The Chicago Department of Environment's North Park Village Nature Center in Cook county coordinates workdays at the North Park Village Nature Center.
(Cook) Palos Restoration Project - This group coordinates volunteer workdays at several sites in Cook county.
(Cook) Poplar Creek Prairie Stewards - This group coordinates volunteer workdays at the Poplar Creek Forest Preserve in Cook county.
(Cook) Somme Prairie Grove - A 90-acre preserve in Northbrook of savanna, prairie, wetland, and oak woodland that has been and is being a great restoration success story.
(Cook) Des Plaines River Valley Volunteers - This group coordinates volunteer workdays at several sites in Cook county
(Cook & Will) Old Plank Road Trail Association - This group coordinates volunteer workdays along the Old Plank Road Trail in Cook and Will counties.
(DuPage) DuPage Volunteer Stewardship Group - This group coordinates volunteer workdays at several sites in DuPage county.
(DuPage) West Chicago Prairie Stewardship Group - This group coordinates volunteer workdays at the West Chicago Prairie in DuPage county.
(DuPage/Kane) Fermilab Natural Areas - This volunteer group restores, manages, and conserves Fermilab's natural areas.
(Kane) Forest Preserve District of Kane County Volunteer Opportunities - This page describes the volunteer opportunities within the Forest Preserve District of Kane county.
(Kane) St. Charles Park District - The St. Charles Park District coordinates volunteer workdays at several sites in Kane coun
(Lake, IL) Lake County Natural Area Volunteers - This group coordinates volunteer workdays at several sites in Lake county.
(Lake, IL) Openlands Lakeshore Preserve - a stewardship project of Lake Cook Audubon under the direction of Openlands.
(Lake, IL) Park District of Highland Park - Natural Area Volunteers - This group coordinates workdays at Highland Park in Lake county.
(Lake, IL & Cook) Citizens for Conservation - This group coordinates volunteer workdays at several sites in Cook and Lake counties.
(Lee/Ogle) Nachusa Grasslands Preserve - The Nature Conservancy coordinates volunteer workdays at the Nachusa Grasslands Preserve in Lee/Ogle county
(McHenry) McHenry County Conservation District Volunteers - Volunteer opportunities exist in environmental education, wildlife and plant monitoring, native prairie plant seed collection and land stewardship. Inparticular, see their Habitat Restoration Workdays fot the calendar and contacts for volunteer restoration work at various sites within McHenry County Conservation District.
(McHenry) The Land Conservancy of McHenry County - group to preserve open space, natural resources and agricultural lands in McHenry County by working with private landowners, communities and developers.
(McHenry) Crystal Lake Park District - The Crystal Lake Park District coordinates volunteer workdays at Sterne’s Fen and Wingate Prairie Nature Preserve in McHenry county.
(Will) Forest Preserve District of Will County Volunteer Opportunities - This page describes volunteer opportunities with the Forest Preserve District of Will County.
(Will) Midewin Tallgrass Prairie Volunteers - This group coordinates volunteer workdays at the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie in Will county.