Collecting Rainwater

Thursday Morning Play Group at Forest Glen Woods
2024-01-25 10:00 - 12:00, 2024-01-18 10:00 - 12:00, 2024-01-11 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | Forest Glen Woods, 5420 N Forest Glen Ave, Chicago, IL, 60630, United States
Unstructured, Child-Directed Play at Forest Glen Woods
Join other area caregivers and kids on Thursday mornings for unstructured forest playtime. The goal of this event is to give kids a chance for unstructured outdoor play. We encourage adults to take a step back and let the kids lead the way!
This week we’ll meet at Forest Glen Woods. Park towards the back of the parking lot and we’ll meet on the grass near the picnic shelter. We’ll start the meeting with a snack and introductions and then take off down the path around 10:15am.
Link to a map of where to go.
Time for Uninterrupted Free Play
The goal of this event is allow children time and space to play together in unstructured outdoor play. It’s very rewarding when we can stand back and let the children take the lead in what they notice and what they want to engage with. Some weeks it will be one thing that catches their interest, and other weeks it may be something entirely different. By not having a set curriculum, we are free to follow where the children’s curiosity takes them. In these Free Forest School gatherings, we resist our adult urges to point out what we are drawn to and do our best to follow where the children’s curiosity is taking them.
If you’d like more info about how to facilitate child-led play, you can check out this document I’ve written (still a work in progress).
Age Range
Kids of all ages are welcome at this event! Kids tend to be between 0-8
What to Bring
Sunscreen, winter/mud gear, sun hats, and a snack/lunch.
What to Wear
Now that it’s cold, it’s helpful to have layers. Base layers (wool or synthetic), followed by fleece layer, then insulating layer. It’s also helpful to have rain/wet gear in case it’s muddy. This is a good resource.
Safety
Keep an eye on the children in your care and establish the safety boundaries that make sense for your family.
The event will continue rain or shine. We will cancel in case of severe weather (lightning).
Snack
We will start off with a snack before we head down the trail. We will end at 12pm but feel free to stay after for a picnic lunch. (Owen and I will be staying).
Bathrooms
The forest preserve bathrooms are no longer open at this location but there is a porta potty.

Squirrel Appreciation Day
2024-01-21 - 2024-01-22 | IL
Photo by Włodzimierz Jaworski on Unsplash

Thursday Morning Play Group at Forest Glen Woods
2024-01-04 10:00 - 12:00, 2023-12-28 10:00 - 12:00 | Forest Glen Woods, 5420 N Forest Glen Ave, Chicago, IL, 60630, United States
Unstructured, Child-Directed Play at Forest Glen Woods
Join other area caregivers and kids on Thursday mornings for unstructured forest playtime. The goal of this event is to give kids a chance for unstructured outdoor play. We encourage adults to take a step back and let the kids lead the way!
This week we’ll meet at Forest Glen Woods. Park towards the back of the parking lot and we’ll meet on the grass near the picnic shelter. We’ll start the meeting with a snack and introductions and then take off down the path around 10:20am.
Link to a map of where to go.
Time for Uninterrupted Free Play
The goal of this event is allow children time and space to play together in unstructured outdoor play. It’s very rewarding when we can stand back and let the children take the lead in what they notice and what they want to engage with. Some weeks it will be one thing that catches their interest, and other weeks it may be something entirely different. By not having a set curriculum, we are free to follow where the children’s curiosity takes them. In these Free Forest School gatherings, we resist our adult urges to point out what we are drawn to and do our best to follow where the children’s curiosity is taking them.
If you’d like more info about how to facilitate child-led play, you can check out this document I’ve written (still a work in progress).
Age Range
Kids of all ages are welcome at this event! Kids tend to be between 0-8
What to Bring
Sunscreen, winter/mud gear, sun hats, and a snack/lunch.
What to Wear
Now that it’s getting cold, it’s helpful to have layers. Base layers (wool or synthetic), followed by fleece layer, then insulating layer. It’s also helpful to have rain/wet gear in case it’s muddy. This is a good resource.
Safety
Keep an eye on the children in your care and establish the safety boundaries that make sense for your family.
The event will continue rain or shine. We will cancel in case of severe weather (lightning).
Snack
We will start off with a snack before we head down the trail. We will end at 12pm but feel free to stay after for a picnic lunch. (Owen and I will be staying).
Bathrooms
The forest preserve bathrooms are no longer open at this location but there is a porta potty.

Forest Caroling & Nature Play
2023-12-23 10:00 - 12:00 | Forest Glen Woods, 5420 N Forest Glen Ave, Chicago, IL, 60630, United States
Join us for singing in celebration of the changing seasons combined with winter nature play!
This is a family event where parents and kids can have time to play together in nature and also get together for some holiday group singing to the forest (songs of any faith and/or secular).
We will meet at the picnic shelter at Forest Glen Woods and then walk a short distance (1/8th of a mile) to an area where we can enjoy the winter weather and good company while we sing some songs together in celebration of holiday season. Kids can join in the singing or can play nearby.
When you RSVP, please include any songs that are meaningful to you and you’d like to contribute. We will try to compile any songs we receive into a format that we’ll be able to reference digitally in case you are not familiar with the lyrics of the songs. Please email your song (ideally with lyrics) to jenniferrosse26@gmail.com.
What songs do you like to sing when out hiking?
Photo Credit: Jonathan Knepper

Thursday Morning Play Group at Forest Glen Woods
2023-12-21 10:00 - 12:00, 2023-12-07 10:00 - 12:00 | Forest Glen Woods, 5420 N Forest Glen Ave, Chicago, IL, 60630, United States
Unstructured, Child-Directed Play at Forest Glen Woods
Join other area caregivers and kids on Thursday mornings for unstructured forest playtime. The goal of this event is to give kids a chance for unstructured outdoor play. We encourage adults to take a step back and let the kids lead the way!
This week we’ll meet at Forest Glen Woods. Park towards the back of the parking lot and we’ll meet on the grass near the picnic shelter. We’ll start the meeting with a snack and introductions and then take off down the path around 10:20am.
Link to a map of where to go.
Time for Uninterrupted Free Play
The goal of this event is allow children time and space to play together in unstructured outdoor play. It’s very rewarding when we can stand back and let the children take the lead in what they notice and what they want to engage with. Some weeks it will be one thing that catches their interest, and other weeks it may be something entirely different. By not having a set curriculum, we are free to follow where the children’s curiosity takes them. In these Free Forest School gatherings, we resist our adult urges to point out what we are drawn to and do our best to follow where the children’s curiosity is taking them.
If you’d like more info about how to facilitate child-led play, you can check out this document I’ve written (still a work in progress).
Age Range
Kids of all ages are welcome at this event! Kids tend to be between 0-8.
What to Bring
Sunscreen, winter/mud gear, sun hats, and a snack/lunch.
What to Wear
Now that it’s getting cold, it’s helpful to have layers. Base layers (wool or synthetic), followed by fleece layer, then insulating layer. It’s also helpful to have rain/wet gear in case it’s muddy. This is a good resource.
Safety
Keep an eye on the children in your care and establish the safety boundaries that make sense for your family.
The event will continue rain or shine. We will cancel in case of severe weather (lightning).
Snack
We will start off with a snack before we head down the trail. We will end at 12pm but feel free to stay after for a picnic lunch. (Owen and I will be staying).
Bathrooms
The forest preserve bathrooms are no longer open at this location but there is a porta potty.

Thursday Morning Play Group at Forest Glen Woods
2023-12-14 10:00 - 12:00, 2023-11-16 10:00 - 12:00, 2023-11-09 10:00 - 12:00, 2023-11-02 10:00 - 12:00 | Forest Glen Woods, 5420 N Forest Glen Ave, Chicago, IL, 60630, United States
Unstructured, Child-Directed Play at Forest Glen Woods
Join other area caregivers and kids on Thursday mornings for unstructured forest playtime. The goal of this event is to give kids a chance for unstructured outdoor play. We encourage adults to take a step back and let the kids lead the way!
This week we’ll meet at Forest Glen Woods. Park towards the back of the parking lot and we’ll meet on the grass near the picnic shelter. We’ll start the meeting with a snack and introductions and then take off down the path around 10:20am.
Link to a map of where to go.
Time for Uninterrupted Free Play
The goal of this event is allow children time and space to play together in unstructured outdoor play. It’s very rewarding when we can stand back and let the children take the lead in what they notice and what they want to engage with. Some weeks it will be one thing that catches their interest, and other weeks it may be something entirely different. By not having a set curriculum, we are free to follow where the children’s curiosity takes them. In these Free Forest School gatherings, we resist our adult urges to point out what we are drawn to and do our best to follow where the children’s curiosity is taking them.
If you’d like more info about how to facilitate child-led play, you can check out this document I’ve written (still a work in progress).
Age Range
Kids of all ages are welcome at this event! Kids tend to be between 0-8.
What to Bring
Bug spray, sunscreen, sun hats, and a snack.
What to Wear
There are bugs and poison ivy so you might want to wear long pants and perhaps a long sleeve shirt. It’s often muddy and sometimes near water so shoes that can get wet/handle mud work best. It can also help to have a rain suit/muddy buddy. You may want to bring a change of clothes for the ride home.
Safety
Keep an eye on the children in your care and establish the safety boundaries that make sense for your family.
The event will continue rain or shine. We will cancel in case of severe weather (lightning).
Snack
We will start off with a snack before we head down the trail. We will end at 12pm but feel free to stay after for a picnic lunch. (Owen and I will be staying).
Bathrooms
The forest preserve bathrooms are open at this location.

Thursday Morning Play Group at Forest Glen Woods
2023-11-30 10:00 - 12:00 | Forest Glen Woods, 5420 N Forest Glen Ave, Chicago, IL, 60630, United States
Thursday Morning Play Group at Forest Glen Woods
Join other area caregivers and kids on Thursday mornings for unstructured forest playtime. The goal of this event is to give kids a chance for unstructured outdoor play. We encourage adults to take a step back and let the kids lead the way!
This week we’ll meet at Forest Glen Woods. Park towards the back of the parking lot and we’ll meet on the grass near the picnic shelter. We’ll start the meeting with a snack and introductions and then take off down the path around 10:15am.
Link to a map of where to go.
Time for Uninterrupted Free Play
The goal of this event is allow children time and space to play together in unstructured outdoor play. It’s very rewarding when we can stand back and let the children take the lead in what they notice and what they want to engage with. Some weeks it will be one thing that catches their interest, and other weeks it may be something entirely different. By not having a set curriculum, we are free to follow where the children’s curiosity takes them. In these Free Forest School gatherings, we resist our adult urges to point out what we are drawn to and do our best to follow where the children’s curiosity is taking them.
If you’d like more info about how to facilitate child-led play, you can check out this document I’ve written (still a work in progress).
Age Range
Kids of all ages are welcome at this event! Kids tend to be between 0-8
What to Bring
Bug spray, sunscreen, sun hats, and a snack.
What to Wear
Now that it’s getting cold, it’s helpful to have layers. Base layers (wool or synthetic), followed by fleece layer, then insulating layer. It’s also helpful to have rain/wet gear in case it’s muddy. This is a good resource.
Safety
Keep an eye on the children in your care and establish the safety boundaries that make sense for your family.
The event will continue rain or shine. We will cancel in case of severe weather (lightning).
Snack
We will start off with a snack before we head down the trail. We will end at 12pm but feel free to stay after for a picnic lunch. (Owen and I will be staying).
Bathrooms
The forest preserve bathrooms are no longer open at this location but there is a porta potty.

Wednesday Morning Play Group at Forest Glen Woods
2023-11-22 10:00 - 12:00 | Forest Glen Woods, 5420 N Forest Glen Ave, Chicago, IL, 60630, United States
Unstructured, Child-Directed Play at Forest Glen Woods
Join other area caregivers and kids on Thursday mornings for unstructured forest playtime. The goal of this event is to give kids a chance for unstructured outdoor play. We encourage adults to take a step back and let the kids lead the way!
This week we’ll meet at Forest Glen Woods. Park towards the back of the parking lot and we’ll meet on the grass near the picnic shelter. We’ll start the meeting with a snack and introductions and then take off down the path around 10:15am.
Link to a map of where to go.
Time for Uninterrupted Free Play
The goal of this event is allow children time and space to play together in unstructured outdoor play. It’s very rewarding when we can stand back and let the children take the lead in what they notice and what they want to engage with. Some weeks it will be one thing that catches their interest, and other weeks it may be something entirely different. By not having a set curriculum, we are free to follow where the children’s curiosity takes them. In these Free Forest School gatherings, we resist our adult urges to point out what we are drawn to and do our best to follow where the children’s curiosity is taking them.
If you’d like more info about how to facilitate child-led play, you can check out this document I’ve written (still a work in progress).
Age Range
Kids of all ages are welcome at this event! Kids tend to be between 0-8
What to Bring
Bug spray, sunscreen, sun hats, and a snack.
What to Wear
Now that it’s getting cold, it’s helpful to have layers. Base layers (wool or synthetic), followed by fleece layer, then insulating layer. It’s also helpful to have rain/wet gear in case it’s muddy. This is a good resource.
Safety
Keep an eye on the children in your care and establish the safety boundaries that make sense for your family.
The event will continue rain or shine. We will cancel in case of severe weather (lightning).
Snack
We will start off with a snack before we head down the trail. We will end at 12pm but feel free to stay after for a picnic lunch. (Owen and I will be staying).
Bathrooms
The forest preserve bathrooms are no longer open at this location but there is a porta potty.

Thursday Morning Play Group at Forest Glen Woods
2023-10-26 10:00 - 12:00, 2023-10-19 10:00 - 12:00 | Forest Glen Woods, 5420 N Forest Glen Ave, Chicago, IL, 60630, United States
Unstructured, Child-Directed Play at Forest Glen Woods
Join other area caregivers and kids on Thursday mornings for unstructured forest playtime. The goal of this event is to give kids a chance for unstructured outdoor play. We encourage adults to take a step back and let the kids lead the way!
This week we’ll meet at Forest Glen Woods. Park towards the back of the parking lot and we’ll meet on the grass near the picnic shelter. We’ll start the meeting with a snack and introductions and then take off down the path around 10:20am.
Link to a map of where to go.
Time for Uninterrupted Free Play
The goal of this event is allow children time and space to play together in unstructured outdoor play. It’s very rewarding when we can stand back and let the children take the lead in what they notice and what they want to engage with. Some weeks it will be one thing that catches their interest, and other weeks it may be something entirely different. By not having a set curriculum, we are free to follow where the children’s curiosity takes them. In these Free Forest School gatherings, we resist our adult urges to point out what we are drawn to and do our best to follow where the children’s curiosity is taking them.
If you’d like more info about how to facilitate child-led play, you can check out this document I’ve written (still a work in progress).
Age Range
Kids of all ages are welcome at this event! Kids tend to be between 1-7.
What to Bring
Bug spray, sunscreen, sun hats, and a snack.
What to Wear
There are bugs and poison ivy so you might want to wear long pants and perhaps a long sleeve shirt. It’s often muddy and sometimes near water so shoes that can get wet/handle mud work best. It can also help to have a rain suit/muddy buddy. You may want to bring a change of clothes for the ride home.
Safety
Keep an eye on the children in your care and establish the safety boundaries that make sense for your family.
The event will continue rain or shine. We will cancel in case of severe weather (lightning).
Snack
We will start off with a snack before we head down the trail. We will end at 12pm but feel free to stay after for a picnic lunch. (Owen and I will be staying).
Bathrooms
The forest preserve bathrooms are open at this location.

Thursday Morning Play Group at Forest Glen Woods
2023-10-12 10:00 - 12:00 | Forest Glen Woods, 5420 N Forest Glen Ave, Chicago, IL, 60630, United States
Join other area caregivers and kids on Thursday mornings for unstructured forest playtime. The goal of this event is to give kids a chance for unstructured outdoor play. We encourage adults to take a step back and let the kids lead the way!
This week we’ll meet at Forest Glen Woods. Park towards the back of the parking lot and we’ll meet on the grass near the picnic shelter. We’ll start the meeting with a snack and introductions and then take off down the path around 10:20am.
Link to a map of where to go.
Time for Uninterrupted Free Play
The goal of this event is allow children time and space to play together in unstructured outdoor play. It’s very rewarding when we can stand back and let the children take the lead in what they notice and what they want to engage with. Some weeks it will be one thing that catches their interest, and other weeks it may be something entirely different. By not having a set curriculum, we are free to follow where the children’s curiosity takes them. In these Free Forest School gatherings, we resist our adult urges to point out what we are drawn to and do our best to follow where the children’s curiosity is taking them.
If you’d like more info about how to facilitate child-led play, you can check out this document I’ve written (still a work in progress).
Age Range
Kids of all ages are welcome at this event! Kids tend to be between 1.5-8
What to Bring
Bug spray, sunscreen, sun hats, and a snack.
What to Wear
There are bugs and poison ivy so you might want to wear long pants and perhaps a long sleeve shirt. It’s often muddy and sometimes near water so shoes that can get wet/handle mud work best. It can also help to have a rain suit/muddy buddy. You may want to bring a change of clothes for the ride home.
Safety
Keep an eye on the children in your care and establish the safety boundaries that make sense for your family.
The event will continue rain or shine. We will cancel in case of severe weather (lightning).
Snack
We will start off with a snack before we head down the trail. We will end at 12pm but feel free to stay after for a picnic lunch. (Owen and I will be staying).
Bathrooms
The forest preserve bathrooms are open at this location.

Thursday Play Group: Forest Glen Woods
2023-10-05 10:00 - 12:00, 2023-09-28 10:00 - 12:00, 2023-09-21 10:00 - 12:00 | Forest Glen Woods, 5420 N Forest Glen Ave, Chicago, IL, 60630, United States
Unstructured, Child-Directed Play at Forest Glen Woods

Join other area caregivers and kids on Thursday mornings for unstructured forest playtime. The goal of this event is to give kids a chance for unstructured outdoor play. We encourage adults to take a step back and let the kids lead the way!
This week we’ll meet at Forest Glen Woods. Park towards the back of the parking lot and we’ll meet on the grass near the picnic shelter. We’ll start the meeting with a snack and introductions and then take off down the path around 10:20am.
Link to a map of where to go.
Time for Uninterrupted Free Play
The goal of this event is allow children time and space to play together in unstructured outdoor play. It’s very rewarding when we can stand back and let the children take the lead in what they notice and what they want to engage with. Some weeks it will be one thing that catches their interest, and other weeks it may be something entirely different. By not having a set curriculum, we are free to follow where the children’s curiosity takes them. In these Free Forest School gatherings, we resist our adult urges to point out what we are drawn to and do our best to follow where the children’s curiosity is taking them.
During this time of free play, it’s helpful as caregivers to try and be present and observe what is unfolding. Our children notice our presence and when they sense that we are not distracted with conversations or our own agenda, they can feel more freedom to engage with their surroundings and with the other kids. While it’s always great to catch up with the other adults, having this time of intentional observation can be extremely rewarding for us as well. It gives us a chance to appreciate what our kids are doing and to connect with our kids and each other through this shared presence.
If you’d like more info about how to facilitate child-led play, you can check out this document I’ve written (still a work in progress).
Age Range
Kids of all ages are welcome at this event! Kids tend to be between 1.5-6
What to Bring
Bug spray, sunscreen, sun hats, and a snack.
What to Wear
There are bugs and poison ivy so you might want to wear long pants and perhaps a long sleeve shirt. It’s often muddy and sometimes near water so shoes that can get wet/handle mud work best. It can also help to have a rain suit/muddy buddy. You may want to bring a change of clothes for the ride home.
Safety
Keep an eye on the children in your care and establish the safety boundaries that make sense for your family.
The event will continue rain or shine. We will cancel in case of severe weather (lightning).
Snack
We will start off with a snack before we head down the trail. We will end at 12pm but feel free to stay after for a picnic lunch. (Owen and I will be staying).
Bathrooms
The forest preserve bathrooms are open at this location.

Fall Nature Fest at LaBagh
2023-09-23 12:00 - 15:00 | LaBagh Woods, West Foster Avenue, N Cicero Ave, Chicago, IL, 60630, United States
An event by Cook County Commissioner Bridget Degnen.
The 4th Annual Fall Nature Fest is back in LaBagh Woods! On September 23rd, 2023 from 12pm – 3pm join Commissioner Degnen and The Forest Preserves of Cook County in LaBagh Woods for this free environmentally-focused festival. Learn about nature, meet animal ambassadors from the Brookfield Zoo, watch the Jesse White Tumblers, and much more! Learn more at commissionerdegnen.com/fallnaturefest/.
Inquiries? Reach them via email at district12@cookcountyil.gov or by calling 773-283-7873.
RSVP Here

Thursday Play Group: Forest Glen Woods
2023-09-14 10:00 - 12:00 | IL
Join other area caregivers and kids on Thursday mornings for unstructured forest playtime. The goal of this event is to give kids a chance for unstructured outdoor play. We encourage adults to take a step back and let the kids lead the way!
This week we’ll meet at Forest Glen. More details about where to meet coming soon.
Link to a map of where to go (coming soon).
Time for Uninterrupted Free Play
The goal of this event is allow children time and space to play together in unstructured outdoor play. It’s very rewarding when we can stand back and let the children take the lead in what they notice and what they want to engage with. Some weeks it will be one thing that catches their interest, and other weeks it may be something entirely different. By not having a set curriculum, we are free to follow where the children’s curiosity takes them. In these Free Forest School gatherings, we resist our adult urges to point out what we are drawn to and do our best to follow where the children’s curiosity is taking them.
During this time of free play, it’s helpful as caregivers to try and be present and observe what is unfolding. Our children notice our presence and when they sense that we are not distracted with conversations or our own agenda, they can feel more freedom to engage with their surroundings and with the other kids. While it’s always great to catch up with the other adults, having a least some time of intentional observation can be extremely rewarding for us as well. It gives us a chance to appreciate what our kids are doing and to connect with our kids and each other through this shared presence.
If you’d like more info about how to facilitate child-led play, you can check out this document I’ve written (still a work in progress).
Age Range
Kids of all ages are welcome at this event! Kids tend to be between 1.5-6
What to Bring
Bug spray, sunscreen, sun hats, and a snack.
What to Wear
There are bugs and poison ivy so you might want to wear long pants and perhaps a long sleeve shirt. It’s often muddy and there is also an area to play by the river so shoes that can get wet/handle mud work best. It can also help to have a rain suit/muddy buddy. You may want to bring a change of clothes for the ride home.
Safety
Keep an eye on the children in your care and establish the safety boundaries that make sense for your family. There is a train track with running trains not far from where we will be. We have a general rule that no one is to walk up on the gravel paths because that will bring you too close to the trains.
The event will continue rain or shine. We will cancel in case of severe weather (lightning).
Snack
We will gather for a snack at some point, usually about half-way through or so. Please be aware of participants with food allergies. Communicate with fellow adult participants before offering snacks to other children.
Bathrooms
There are no bathrooms directly by the trail we’re meeting at but there is a porta potty at the adjacent parking area (you will pass it on your way in and out).

Thursday Play Group: LaBagh Woods
2023-09-07 10:00 - 12:00 | LaBagh Woods, West Foster Avenue, N Cicero Ave, Chicago, IL, 60630, United States
Join other area caregivers and kids on Thursday mornings for unstructured forest playtime. The goal of this event is to give kids a chance for unstructured outdoor play. We encourage adults to take a step back and let the kids lead the way!
This week we’ll meet at LaBagh. Instead of meeting where we normally do, we’re going to meet at Grove 3. Where we normally turn left at the fork once you enter the preserve, this time, go RIGHT. We’ll park near grove three which is the first picnic structure you see if you continue straight (look for my red Prius). This will allow for a shorter walk and more time together for play.
Link to a map of where to go.
Snack Time (Change for This Week!)
We’re going to try something new for snack time this week. We will START our walk with a snack in the picnic grove and then head down the trail with bellies full. This is the way we used to do it pre-pandemic (before we removed the official snack from the agenda) and it worked well because it gave time for any latecomers and also left a good chunk of time for kids to drop into play without being distracted by tummy grumbles. If you have time, feel free to stay after for a picnic lunch.
Time for Uninterrupted Free Play
The goal of this event is allow children time and space to play together in unstructured outdoor play. It’s very rewarding when we can stand back and let the children take the lead in what they notice and what they want to engage with. Some weeks it will be one thing that catches their interest, and other weeks it may be something entirely different. By not having a set curriculum, we are free to follow where the children’s curiosity takes them. In these Free Forest School gatherings, we resist our adult urges to point out what we are drawn to and do our best to follow where the children’s curiosity is taking them.
During this time of free play, it’s helpful as caregivers to try and be present and observe what is unfolding. Our children notice our presence and when they sense that we are not distracted with conversations or our own agenda, they can feel more freedom to engage with their surroundings and with the other kids. While it’s always great to catch up with the other adults, having at least some time of intentional observation can be extremely rewarding for us as well. It gives us a chance to appreciate what our kids are doing and to connect with our kids and each other through this shared presence.
If you’d like more info about how to facilitate child-led play, you can check out this document I’ve written (still a work in progress).
Age Range
Kids of all ages are welcome at this event! Kids tend to be between 1.5-6
What to Bring
Bug spray, sunscreen, sun hats, and a snack.
What to Wear
There are bugs and poison ivy so you might want to wear long pants and perhaps a long sleeve shirt. It’s often muddy and there is also an area to play by the river so shoes that can get wet/handle mud work best. It can also help to have a rain suit/muddy buddy. You may want to bring a change of clothes for the ride home.
Safety
Keep an eye on the children in your care and establish the safety boundaries that make sense for your family.
The event will continue rain or shine. We will cancel in case of severe weather (lightning).
Bathrooms
There is a porta potty available at this location.

Thursday Play Group: Thaddeus S. “Ted” Lechowicz Woods
2023-08-31 10:00 - 12:00 | Thaddeus S. “Ted” Lechowicz Woods, 5901 N Central Ave, Chicago, IL, IL, 60646
Join other area caregivers and kids on Thursday mornings for unstructured forest playtime. The goal of this event is to give kids a chance for unstructured outdoor play. We encourage adults to take a step back and let the kids lead the way!
This week we’ll meet at Thaddeus S. “Ted” Lechowicz Woods. We’ll meet at the trail start under the tree at the very back of the parking lot. We’ll begin with hellos and introductions and then start down the path. The trail distance at Ted Lechowitz is much shorter than LaBagh so we can really slow down and go at the kids’ pace. We’ll make our way down the trail to the area near somewhat near the train tracks.
Link to a map of where to go.
Time for Uninterrupted Free Play
The goal of this event is allow children time and space to play together in unstructured outdoor play. It’s very rewarding when we can stand back and let the children take the lead in what they notice and what they want to engage with. Some weeks it will be one thing that catches their interest, and other weeks it may be something entirely different. By not having a set curriculum, we are free to follow where the children’s curiosity takes them. In these Free Forest School gatherings, we resist our adult urges to point out what we are drawn to and do our best to follow where the children’s curiosity is taking them.
During this time of free play, it’s helpful as caregivers to try and be present and observe what is unfolding. Our children notice our presence and when they sense that we are not distracted with conversations or our own agenda, they can feel more freedom to engage with their surroundings and with the other kids. While it’s always great to catch up with the other adults, having a least some time of intentional observation can be extremely rewarding for us as well. It gives us a chance to appreciate what our kids are doing and to connect with our kids and each other through this shared presence.
If you’d like more info about how to facilitate child-led play, you can check out this document I’ve written (still a work in progress).
Age Range
Kids of all ages are welcome at this event! Kids tend to be between 1.5-6
What to Bring
Bug spray, sunscreen, sun hats, and a snack.
What to Wear
There are bugs and poison ivy so you might want to wear long pants and perhaps a long sleeve shirt. It’s often muddy and there is also an area to play by the river so shoes that can get wet/handle mud work best. It can also help to have a rain suit/muddy buddy. You may want to bring a change of clothes for the ride home.
Safety
Keep an eye on the children in your care and establish the safety boundaries that make sense for your family. There is a train track with running trains not far from where we will be. We have a general rule that no one is to walk up on the gravel paths because that will bring you too close to the trains.
The event will continue rain or shine. We will cancel in case of severe weather (lightning).
Snack
We will gather for a snack at some point, usually about half-way through or so. Please be aware of participants with food allergies. Communicate with fellow adult participants before offering snacks to other children.
Bathrooms
There are no bathrooms directly by the trail we’re meeting at but there is a porta potty at the adjacent parking area (you will pass it on your way in and out).
