Events

ParkLands Foundation will be hosting a Winter Social at Medici Upstairs on January 24th  from 2:00-4:00 p.m. Visit with Board Members, Staff, & Volunteers to learn more about our organization and what we have planned for 2026. Food and drinks will be available to purchase. This event is free to attend and open to everyone! Please

Join us at Letcher Basin for this month's Hike With a Naturalist. The location is Letcher Basin and we hope to be able to view our resident Bald Eagles on this hike. Please sign up for this event HERE Please make sure to dress appropriately for the weather.  As a reminder ParkLands does not allow

Come visit the Lexington Preserve during the Route 66 100th Year Celebration! This will be peak time for wildflowers and migrating birds. ParkLands will have volunteers present in the Lexington Preserve parking lot to inform visitors about the preserve and suggest hiking routes. This is an open house event and directions can be found HERE 

Please join us for our annual wildflower hike at the Merwin Preserve. There will be 4 sections each with one leader so please sign up for the time that works for your group. SIGN UP WILL BE POSTED SOON!    

Join us at the Illinois Art Station where experts will teach participants about the citizen science app iNaturalist. After the presentation participants will practice entering data on the Constitution Trail. This will serve as the training and kick off for ParkLands Nature Quest challenge. SIGN UP WILL BE POSTED SOON!  

The bike ride will return on July 18th, 2026. Look for a sign up link in the early spring.  

Join us for the yearly event on the Mackinaw River. Participants will scour the river for mussels and identify them with the help of IDNR biologist Eric Smith.   Participants should be prepared to get wet in the river! River shoes and swimsuits or clothes that can get dirty are required. SIGN UP WILL BE POSTED