Friends Of The Forest Preserves

CONSERVATION OF THE FOREST PRESERVES IN COOK COUNTY

ADVOCACY AND EDUCATION - FRIENDS OF THE FOREST PRESERVES UNITES PEOPLE TO PROTECT, PROMOTE, AND CARE FOR THE FOREST PRESERVES IN COOK COUNTY. AS THE ONLY INDEPENDENT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION SOLELY FOCUSED ON THE FOREST PRESERVES IN COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS, WE WORK TO SAFEGUARD AND IMPROVE THE 70,000 ACRES OF FOREST PRESERVES FOR ALL OF US AND GENERATIONS TO COME. FOUNDED IN 1998 BY A SMALL GROUP OF CONCERNED CITIZENS, THE FRIENDS COMMUNITY IS NOW A FORCE OF THOUSANDS WORKING TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT LAND, WATER, AND LIFE WILL ALWAYS THRIVE IN THE FOREST PRESERVES. FRIENDS WILL ALWAYS BE AN ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION AT ITS CORE.

RESTORATION - CONSERVATION CORPS AND VOLUNTEER ORGANIZING - FRIENDS CONSERVATION CORPS PROGRAMS ARE AMONG THE MOST IMPORTANT WORK WE DO. WE RECRUIT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, YOUNG ADULTS, AND ADULTS, OFTEN FROM LOW-INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS ON THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDES OF CHICAGO, TO LEARN ABOUT CONSERVATION WHILE GAINING VITAL LEADERSHIP AND TEAMWORK SKILLS THAT CAN BE USED IN FUTURE CAREERS. ALL CORPS MEMBERS ARE PAID FOR THEIR WORK RESTORING WOODS AND PRAIRIES, CREATING MEANINGFUL JOBS IN UNDER-SERVED COMMUNITIES. FRIENDS' CORPS MEMBERS REMOVE THE INVASIVE SPECIES THAT ARE THE CANCER OF OUR ECOSYSTEMS AS WELL AS PLANT SEEDS AND PREPARE THE EARTH FOR REJUVENATION. THEY ALSO GAIN ESSENTIAL SKILLS LIKE JOB READINESS AND FINANCIAL LITERACY. AND, MAYBE MOST IMPORTANTLY, THEY BECOME THE NEXT GENERATION OF FRONT LINE ADVOCATES FOR THE FOREST PRESERVES AND NATURE. THE HEALTH AND FUTURE OF OUR NATURAL AREAS DEPEND UPON A DIVERSITY OF INDIVIDUALS WHO CONTRIBUTE THEIR HARD WORK, TALENTS, AND LOVE FOR NATURE THROUGH VOLUNTEERING. ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION VOLUNTEERS HELP CARE FOR NATURE BY GETTING OUTSIDE AND DOING THE PHYSICAL WORK OF REMOVING INVASIVE TREES, WEEDING, PLANTING, SEED COLLECTING, TRAIL FIXING, AND MORE. ALL OF THESE ACTIVITIES HELP NATURE THRIVE AND PROVIDE VOLUNTEERS WITH NUMEROUS BENEFITS SUCH AS QUALITY TIME OUTDOORS, A SENSE OF COMMUNITY, AND NEW DISCOVERIES INTO THE LIVES OF THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS IN THE FOREST PRESERVES IN COOK COUNTY.

ENGAGEMENT - THE FRIENDS COMMUNITY CONNECTS THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, EVENTS, AND INFORMAL EDUCATION AND RECREATION ACTIVITIES. FRIENDS ENGAGES NEARLY 20,000 PEOPLE THROUGH EMAIL AND A VARIETY OF SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS TO PROMOTE THE WONDERS OF THE PRESERVES, AS WELL AS OPPORTUNITIES TO ENJOY AND ADVOCATE FOR THEM. FRIENDS OFFERS A VARIETY OF INFORMAL EDUCATION AND RECREATION ACTIVITIES IN THE PRESERVES TO HELP PEOPLE BENEFIT FROM THE WONDERFUL NATURE AND RANGE OF OFFERINGS THAT CAN BE FOUND IN THE PRESERVES. FRIENDS ALSO HOLDS FUNDRAISING EVENTS THAT GET PEOPLE OUTSIDE AND IN THE WOODS, WHILE HELPING TO SUPPORT THE WORK OF OUR COMMUNITY.