Celebrate Earth Day with the Forest Preserve District of Kane County! Volunteers are needed to help plant shrubs at Freeman Kame Forest Preserve in Gilberts/Camp Tomo Chi-Chi Knolls on Saturday, April 21, at 10 a.m. All are welcome!

We’ll be planting hundreds of shrubs this year. Holes will be pre-dug. Volunteers will simply plant the shrub, tamp-down dirt, add water and mulch. It’s easy! Be sure to arrive promptly at 10 a.m. Planting will continue until all shrubs are in the ground or 1 p.m. —whichever comes first!

This volunteer opportunity is perfect for individuals or groups, families, scouts, youth groups or other organizations. You’re welcome to plant a single shrub or stay and plant as many as you like. You may wish to bring work gloves and a water bottle. We’ll have water and light refreshments available on site.

Groups of 10 or more, please contact our volunteer coordinator at 630-762-2741 or volunteer@kaneforest.com to register. (Groups of less than 10 do not need to RSVP.) Freeman Kame Forest Preserve/Camp Tomo Chi-Chi Knolls is located at 40W095 Freeman Rd., Gilberts. For more information, visit www.kaneforest.com.

If you’re in your twenties or thirties and are looking for a fun outdoor nature program, join us on a “Wildflower Walk,” through the woods of Johnson’s Mound Forest Preserve.

At the height of wildflower season, Thursday, May 3, from 7-8 p.m., we’ll take a naturalist-guided walk where you’ll discover the diversity of native flora and learn about the ecology of the woods. We’ll include tips for identifying wildflowers, too.

Advance registration is required. Call 630-444-3190 or email programs@kaneforest.com to register. For more information on upcoming “Twenties and Thirties” nature programs, visit www.kaneforest.com or find us on social media by searching @forestpreserve.

Photo taken by Director of Natural Resources Ben Haberthur