Come out and have fun tackling preserve cleanup, trail repairs and weeding our Prairie Sampler.

Trailwork Volunteers – individuals and groups-maintain our 3-½ miles of trails. They trim branches, repair boardwalks, clear brush, install and maintain water bars, remove trash, build boardwalks and benches, remove garlic mustard, and more.

Prairie Sampler and Trail Workdays are scheduled throughout the year. Check our program schedule and plan to attend. Trail volunteers dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes or boots. They can bring their own gloves, hand clippers, kneelers, if they like.  We have tools like loppers, gloves, buckets, garden waste bags. And we’ll have water, coffee, tea and refreshments to keep us all going.

Individuals, families, small groups and Scout groups arrange with our Naturalist to work on other days, like putting up new boundary signs, repairing boardwalks, building new ones. Also, Community Service workers are welcome.

We even have special projects like planting, digging and selling organic garlic grown on the preserve’s historic farm.

Come join the fun! We’ll train you!

NEW Volunteer Brochure 2024 (click here)
NEW Volunteer Application Form 2024 (click here)
NEW Spring 2024 newsletter (click here)
NEW Spring/Summer 2024 brochure (click here)

Learn more about opportunities to become part of our wonderful team of volunteers. Contact our Naturalist April Richards to see how you can help.

THORN CREEK NATURE CENTER, 247 Monee Road, Park Forest, IL 60466, 708-747-6320 or thorn_creek@att.net