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Events:
February 7, 2026 | 1:00 p.m.
Snowshoeing Excursion with Rocktown Adventures
Registration for this event is required.
Registration closes Friday 2/6 at noon.
Enjoy winter with a fun and unique outing in a beautiful setting as we
head out to Kieselburg Forest Preserve for a snowshoe hike with Rocktown Adventures!
This is a 1.5–2 hour adventure starting with basic instruction (how to put on and take off snowshoes, selecting the proper snowshoes, how to get up from a fall, selecting a comfortable stride for walking and stomping, and turning around). Limit 24 participants.
Kieselburg Forest Preserve
5801 Swanson Road, Roscoe, IL 61073
March 18, 2026 | 6:00 p.m.
Budburst Monitor Training with Chicago Botanic Garden
Tune in to this virtual training workshop led by Chicago Botanic Garden to learn more about Budburst Monitoring! Budburst monitors observe and track the signs of seasonal change in plants, which are used to better understand how plant species and ecosystems respond to changes in climate. Great for new or returning volunteers!
VIRTUAL
The Zoom link will be sent to registrants prior to the training.
April 22, 2026 | 6:00 p.m.
Bat Monitor Training
with Urban Wildlife Institute at the Lincoln Park Zoo
Join us on Wednesday, April 22 for our Community Science Bat Monitor Training! During this training, Liza Lehrer, the assistant director of the Urban Wildlife Institute at the Lincoln Park Zoo, will discuss the impact monitoring has on local bat populations, as well as the process of monitoring and the equipment used. Great for new and returning volunteers!
VIRTUAL
The Zoom link will be sent to registrants prior to the training.
February 12, 2026 | 6:00 p.m.
Calling Frog Monitor Training with Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Interested in becoming a Community Scientist and learning how to monitor frogs? Tune in to a training workshop conducted by the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum! This virtual training will teach and review the calls of 13 frog and toad species, help monitors find survey sites, and discuss monitoring protocols. Great for new or returning volunteers!
VIRTUAL
March 26, 2026 | 6:00 p.m.
Fabulous Frogs with Illinois Extension Master Naturalist Connie McIntosh
Do you know which frogs make the unique sounds you hear in the spring and summer? Led by Illinois Extension Master Naturalist and FPWC Frog Monitor Connie McIntosh, this program is a dive into the fascinating world of our local frogs; exploring their unique life cycle, distinctive calls, and what they can tell us about our environmental quality.
This program will begin indoors and end with an optional walk to listen for calling frogs (weather dependent).
Headquarters Forest Preserve
Administrative Building Conference Room
5500 Northrock Drive, Rockford, IL 61103
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March 12, 2026 | 5:00 p.m.
Eastern Bluebird Monitor Training with Lake County Audubon Society
Learn about what it takes to monitor Eastern Bluebird nest boxes! This virtual training led by Jack Nowak from the Lake County Audubon Society will cover how to check nest boxes and record data, as well as why nest box monitoring is essential to protecting and increasing Eastern Bluebird populations. Great for new or returning volunteers!
VIRTUAL
The Zoom link will be sent to registrants prior to the training.
April 9, 2026 | 5:00 p.m.
Bumblebee Monitor Training with Xerces Society
Join us for bumblebee monitor training led by Michelle Boone, an entomologist from Xerces Society! During this training, you will learn how you can help the preservation of bee diversity and enhance pollinator appreciation. Great for new or returning volunteers!
Image credit: Julie Smith
VIRTUAL
The Zoom link will be sent to registrants prior to the training.
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