Get outside and enjoy a festive nature walk to kick off your 4th of July celebrations early! Wear your patriotic colors and explore the trails with us — fun for all ages!
🎉 FREE family-friendly event
🌳 Explore local wildlife & plants
📸 Great photo ops in the preserves!
Discover how plants and people play a role in protecting and restoring native habitats. Perfect for nature lovers, students, and anyone curious about conservation!
🧤 Free & family-friendly
🌾 Explore native plants and habitats
Storytime and a recycling truck! Participate in fun storytime activities while learning about recycling. Then, get a tour of a Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS) truck from a real-life driver and a copy of the LRS book The Big Sort: Aluminum Adventure With Fran the Can to take home.
Calling all comic fans, young creatives, families, and community champions!
Join us for Youth Comic Con 2025, an unforgettable day of creativity, community, and fun — where kids are the stars!
This isn’t your typical comic convention. At Optimist Con, every artist in Artist Alley is a student who has written, illustrated, and published their very own comic book through our arts education programs — including our signature Comics in the Classroom initiative! You’ll get to meet these rising stars, collect their work, and be part of the movement that’s changing how young people tell their stories.
Hosted by Oak Park Public Library:
Wish you knew more about how to keep your bike operating smoothly between bike shop checkups? Bring your bike to this drop-by family friendly event in celebration of National Bike Month to learn more about the ABCs of basic bike maintenance. Volunteers from Working Bikes will be on hand to show you how to do basic upkeep of your air, brakes and chain. Keep an eye out for cameo appearances from other friendly local bikes and organizations.
Hosted by Oak Park Public Library:
In celebration of World Migratory Bird Day, drop by the Idea Box for tours of the exhibit CROSSING PATHS: Migrating Birds and You, led by Oak Park Elementary School District 97 students in the Brooks Environmental Action Team (BEAT).
Learn more about their process and about the human-made obstacles birds face as well as inspiration for actions people can take to help them on their journeys.
Hosted by Oak Park Public Library:
Did you know that Chicago is a major flyway for over 200 species of migratory birds that fly from Central and South America to breed in the northern United States and Canada every year? This exhibit in the Main Library Idea Box celebrates the incredible migration paths these birds travel.
And, because bird populations have plunged due to habitat loss and human actions, this exhibit also spreads awareness of how we can protect these birds as they fly through our community in spring and fall.
Hosted by Oak Park Public Library:
It's Earth Day! Celebrate by making something new from something old by repurposing recyclables. We'll provide a variety of art materials and recylables and we'll have ideas to help you get started!
For ages 4-11. Young children require adult supervision.
Do you enjoy crafting and giving back to the community? If so, please join us in this upcycled bird making workshop that will help contribute to raising awareness about bird collision deaths.
The birds made will be part of the Idea Box exhibit Crossing Paths: Migrating Birds and You, created by the Brooks Earth Action Team (BEAT) led by Laura Stamp. After their stay in the Idea Box (May 1-12), the birds will be mailed to artist Holly Greenberg to become part of her project to make 10,836 birds.
Bozho and welcome to Trickster Cultural Center's Intertribal Youth Council!
We are thrilled to have you participate in creating a special space where young people from our community can come together to celebrate their culture, learn from one another, and engage in meaningful activities.
This group is open to all youth ages 10 and up who are interested in exploring and celebrating Indigenous culture. We will be learning all about advocating, developing and implementing policies and services in outreach engagements, coalitions, and government in a range of self steered youth related issues. Bring your enthusiasm, your questions, and your spirit of adventure!
Research shows that people are more persuaded by personal stories (especially from young people) than by data.This year we will have a "Story Jam" with youth activists followed by a youth-led workshop where you can craft and share your climate story. Your story can be used to write Letters to the Editor, persuade elected officials or even family members!
Bozho and welcome to Trickster Cultural Center's Intertribal Youth Council!
We are thrilled to have you participate in creating a special space where young people from our community can come together to celebrate their culture, learn from one another, and engage in meaningful activities.
This group is open to all youth ages 10 and up who are interested in exploring and celebrating Indigenous culture. We will be learning all about advocating, developing and implementing policies and services in outreach engagements, coalitions, and government in a range of self steered youth related issues. Bring your enthusiasm, your questions, and your spirit of adventure!
From Forest Preserves Cook County: Build your own walking stick using buckthorn, an invasive species. Ages 12-17 w/adult. Ages 12 & up.
Hosted by Oak Park Conservatory: Children and their caregivers will be delighted with stories, lessons, and hands-on crafts led by our Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory education volunteers. (Ages 18 months-5 yrs)
Register Here: https://app.amilia.com/store/en/park-district-of-oak-park/shop/programs/101251?subCategoryIds=5299733
Bozho and welcome to Trickster Cultural Center's Intertribal Youth Council!
We are thrilled to have you participate in creating a special space where young people from our community can come together to celebrate their culture, learn from one another, and engage in meaningful activities.
This group is open to all youth ages 10 and up who are interested in exploring and celebrating Indigenous culture. We will be learning all about advocating, developing and implementing policies and services in outreach engagements, coalitions, and government in a range of self steered youth related issues. Bring your enthusiasm, your questions, and your spirit of adventure!
Hosted by Oak Park Conservatory: This event takes place on the first Wednesday of every month. Enjoy a bilingual (English and Spanish) story time, plus songs and finger play led by our Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory volunteers. (Ages 18 months-5 yrs)
Register Here: https://app.amilia.com/store/en/park-district-of-oak-park/shop/activities/5330701
From Forest Preserves Cook County: Teens & families, give back this MLK day. Join us for a litter clean up in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Drop-in event. Grove 10.
From Forest Preserves Cook County: Learn about creative reuse methods and mending techniques. Give items a second life by turning them into an ornament, decoration or bird feeder. Supplies provided or bring your own.
Join us to make stunning, reusable 3-D snowflakes out of flat bottomed paper bags (like grocery or lunch sacks). All materials provided, as well as instructions so you'll be able to turn your next grocery run into a winter delight.
Explore the sights and sounds of Caldwell Woods! Whether you're a nature lover, an adventure seeker, or just looking for something fun to do, this outdoor scavenger hunt will lead you through beautiful landscapes and hidden gems. Perfect for families, friends, and adventurers of all ages.
Don't miss out – adventure awaits!
Students in grades 3 to 5 will learn the basics of how to make a film from professional filmmakers. Instruction will cover story, framing, lighting, audio, editing, and production. Entering the One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest is encouraged but not compulsory.
BRING AN IPAD OR TABLET! Nut-free snacks and water are provided. Cost is $45 for River Forest residents and $50 for non-residents. Location is River Forest Depot, 401 Thatcher Ave., River Forest, IL. This is a collaboration with the River Forest Park District.
From Oak Park Library
If you missed our Bee Love and Honey event last year - we are excited to share that Debbie Becker, local Oak Park Beekeeper will be back to demonstrate a BEE-hind the scenes look at how honey is harvested. A tasting of the honey will be offered. No live bees will be present. This is a family-friendly, drop-in event. We hope you'll BEE there!
Please join us for our 4th COP livestream event, where Chicago area high school students will share their stories and experiences from Baku, Azerbaijan! The event will be held on November 14th at 10:10 am. Please share this invite with your friends and family! Be sure to register using this link https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEld--vqTMrGt28-PhI4AhN6wPERETdUW8G#/registration
Please join us for our 4th COP livestream event, where Chicago area high school students will share their stories and experiences from Baku, Azerbaijan! The event will be held on November 14th at 10:10 am. Please share this invite with your friends and family! Be sure to register using this link https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEld--vqTMrGt28-PhI4AhN6wPERETdUW8G#/registration
From Oak Park Library
Join us for an evening of book folding! Come learn some basic techniques in a brief presentation then have an opportunity to create a three-dimensional Winter Tree or Birdhouse to bring home. Used hardcover books will be provided but feel free to bring your own. No experience necessary. Open to teens and adults.
This workshop will be led by local folded-book enthusiast and long-time Friends of the Library Volunteer Patricia Kirshenbaum with assistance from OPPL staffer and paper artist Linda Ivey Miller.
From Oak Park Library
Fall is a great time to plant seeds and we have 3 different varieties of native flower seeds at the library. Make a seed sphere with clay and compost and plant it in your yard or community!
This program is for kids and families!
This powerful exploration of how activists are creatively using media to engage, activate, and organize—and the voices we still need to amplify. Featuring panelists from Girl Voter, Free Spirit Media, and Chicago Film Workshop, moderated by Maxwell Evans of Block Club Chicago.
View the Atlas cedars of Morocco, walk the urban streets of India, and see the mythical blue stag of Mexico, among other adventures.
On Saturday, Nov. 2, watch 6 short, One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest Atlantic/USA region honorable mention films online from 12 to 1 p.m. CDT, take a long break, and then see 5 more Pacific region films from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. CDT. Hear from some of the filmmakers before their films screen to learn what inspired them and the impact they hope to make with their films.
View the Atlas cedars of Morocco, walk the urban streets of India, and see the mythical blue stag of Mexico, among other adventures.
On Saturday, Nov. 2, watch 6 short, One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest Atlantic/USA region honorable mention films online from 12 to 1 p.m. CDT, take a long break, and then see 5 more Pacific region films from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. CDT. Hear from some of the filmmakers before their films screen to learn what inspired them and the impact they hope to make with their films.
From Oak Park Public Library
Looking for Halloween costumes for children ages 0-11? "Shop" the free swap—even if you don't have a costume to swap:
Saturday, October 19, 1-5 pm
Monday, October 21, 9 am-8 pm
Have a costume to donate to the swap? October 1-November 7: Drop off gently used and newly washed costumes and accessories for children ages 0-11 in the Main Library Children's Services Area during the library’s open hours.
From Oak Park Public Library
Looking for Halloween costumes for children ages 0-11? "Shop" the free swap—even if you don't have a costume to swap:
Saturday, October 19, 1-5 pm
Monday, October 21, 9 am-8 pm
Have a costume to donate to the swap? October 1-November 7: Drop off gently used and newly washed costumes and accessories for children ages 0-11 in the Main Library Children's Services Area during the library’s open hours.
Austin Community & Good Food Fans! Join us for a FREE Chef Showcase and Movie Night, Wednesday 10/2 @ 5:30-9pm. Watch NBA Star Chris Paul’s & Grammy-winner Billie Eilish’s movie about food justice “They’re Trying To Kill Us.” Plus, enjoy free dinner bites, Best of the West Mac & Cheese Cook Off, garden tours, fun, freebies and hear about the new Verses & Vittles Literary Slam. At Bethel New Life, 1150 N Lamon, Chicago. Please share & invite friends! Tickets at https://bit.ly/ae-chef24
Hosted by Austin Eats: AustinComingTogether.org/AustinEats
From Oak Park Public Library
Have a Halloween costume to donate to the swap?
Drop off gently used and newly washed costumes and accessories for children ages 0-11 in the Main Library Children's Services Area during the library’s open hours, October 1-November 7.
Looking for Halloween costumes for children ages 0-11?
"Shop" the free swap—even if you don't have a costume to swap:
Saturday, October 19, 1-5 pm
Monday, October 21, 9 am-8 pm
Costumes donated after October 21 will be set aside for next year's swap.
