Community Calendar https://www.chicagowilderness.org/events/event_list.asp Thu, 16 Jul 2026 01:21:59 GMT Wed, 27 Jan 2027 18:00:00 GMT Copyright © 2027 Chicago Wilderness Alliance CWA Cafe: Data Centers and the Future of the Chicago Wilderness Region https://www.chicagowilderness.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2068010 https://www.chicagowilderness.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2068010 Data Centers and the Future of the Chicago Wilderness Region: Why the Conservation Community Needs to Engage on the POWER Act
 
This Cafe will dig into what this trend means for our region and what's being done about it. Andrew Rehn from Prairie Rivers Network will walk us through how fast data centers are growing in Illinois, what that could mean for our ecosystems, water, and air quality, and introduce the POWER Act (SB4016/HB5513), which would require data centers to bring their own clean energy, protect ratepayers, improve water reporting and efficiency, and add new protections for vulnerable communities. Learn more about how the conservation community can come together and advocate on this issue.
 
Presenters
Tarik Shahzad, The Nature Conservancy of IL
Andrew Rehn, Prairie Rivers Network
]]> Thu, 16 Jul 2026 16:00:00 GMT CWA Growing with Agriculture Quarterly Meeting https://www.chicagowilderness.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2020420 https://www.chicagowilderness.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2020420  ]]> Fri, 17 Jul 2026 17:00:00 GMT CWA Executive Council Meeting https://www.chicagowilderness.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2010981 https://www.chicagowilderness.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2010981 Here are the directions to the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) office at 433 West Van Buren Street:
  • Enter the Old Post Office from Van Buren St.
  • Upon entering, proceed to the elevators on the left side of the lobby
  • Scan your QR code (sent to your email on the day of the event) on top of the turnstile
  • Take the elevator to Floor 4 for the CMAP office
  • The meeting will be in the Cook County conference room
Note: If there are any issues with the QR code or you do not receive one on the day of the event, please tell the front desk located in the lobby that you are attending an event at the CMAP offices on the 4th floor. The front desk will contact CMAP and grant you access.

Join colleagues and friends for a social hour after the meeting at

Little Toasted
300 South Riverside Plaza Building

]]> Wed, 22 Jul 2026 18:00:00 GMT CWA Protecting Healthy Water Quarterly meeting https://www.chicagowilderness.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2013352 https://www.chicagowilderness.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2013352 Mon, 27 Jul 2026 17:00:00 GMT CWA Hub Quarterly Meeting https://www.chicagowilderness.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2030406 https://www.chicagowilderness.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2030406 Mon, 3 Aug 2026 17:30:00 GMT CWA Congress 2026 Planning Meeting https://www.chicagowilderness.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2032137 https://www.chicagowilderness.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2032137 Mon, 10 Aug 2026 16:00:00 GMT CWA Congress 2026 Planning Meeting https://www.chicagowilderness.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2032138 https://www.chicagowilderness.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2032138 Mon, 14 Sep 2026 16:00:00 GMT CWA Congress 2026 Planning Meeting https://www.chicagowilderness.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2032139 https://www.chicagowilderness.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2032139 Mon, 12 Oct 2026 16:00:00 GMT CWA Growing with Agriculture Quarterly Meeting https://www.chicagowilderness.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2020421 https://www.chicagowilderness.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2020421  ]]> Fri, 16 Oct 2026 17:00:00 GMT CWA Protecting Healthy Water Quarterly meeting https://www.chicagowilderness.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2013354 https://www.chicagowilderness.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2013354 Mon, 26 Oct 2026 17:00:00 GMT CWA Executive Council Meeting https://www.chicagowilderness.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2010982 https://www.chicagowilderness.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2010982
]]> Wed, 28 Oct 2026 18:00:00 GMT CWA Hub Quarterly Meeting https://www.chicagowilderness.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2030407 https://www.chicagowilderness.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2030407 Mon, 2 Nov 2026 17:30:00 GMT The Future of Agriculture Field Trip Congress 2026 https://www.chicagowilderness.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2065833 https://www.chicagowilderness.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2065833

8 am Meet at the College of Lake County - Grayslake Campus to board the bus for this adventure.

Stops include:

  • Lunch at Farm Foundation (Included with Registration)

4 pm Return to the College of Lake County - Grayslake Campus

5 pm Optional: Join fellow Congress and field trip attendees gathering at Bills Pizza and Pub North


]]> Thu, 5 Nov 2026 13:00:00 GMT SEEDS GALORE! Field Trip Congress 2026 https://www.chicagowilderness.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2066366 https://www.chicagowilderness.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2066366

8:00 am registration begins at the College of Lake County Grayslake Campus

8:30 am Bus Departs. Stops include:

  • Rollins Savanna –Wild Bed & Wetland Nursery, Head House and Nursery Beds
  •  Chicago Botanic Garden – Seed Bank & Plant Production tours

4 pm Return to the College of Lake County - Grayslake Campus

5 pm Optional: Join fellow Congress and field trip attendees gathering at Bills Pizza and Pub North

 

  
 

 


]]> Thu, 5 Nov 2026 13:30:00 GMT Lake Plain Coastal Preserves Field Trip Congress 2026 Morning https://www.chicagowilderness.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2066375 https://www.chicagowilderness.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2066375

CWA Congress Lake Plain Field Trip Itinerary

Thursday, November 5, 2026

Led by Belynda Alberte, Lake Plain Coalition Coordinator/Natural Resource Specialist

Morning Session:

8:30AM Meet at parking lot southeast of North Point Marina

North Point Dr, Winthrop Harbor, IL 60096

  • Participant sign in

8:45AM Intro to the Lake Plain Coastal Preserves and the Lake Plain Coalition

9:00AM Illinois Beach State Park, North Unit – Site 1

  • Walk trail to beach. Highlight flora/fauna & site history
  • Explain geologic history & formation of ridge and swale
  • Talk about rubble ridges + why they are there
  • Walk back on trail towards North Dunes NP (INPC) & Camp Logan
  • Walk back towards parking lot, talk about Savanna ecosystem

 

10:00AM Spring Bluff Forest Preserve - Site 2

  • Stop at sign, highlight site history & flora/fauna
  • Take trail to observation platform, explore views from platform
  • Talk about LPC restoration, site hydrology
  • Highlight Blanding’s Turtle Recovery Program

10:45AM Drive to Site 3 – Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area, Unit 1

~10min drive via Sheridan Rd, arrive and park at 122nd St gate

11:05AM Chiwaukee Prairie SNA Unit 1 – Site

  • Walk down grass trail into Unit 1
  • Highlight land use history of site and partnerships
  • Highlight flora/fauna
  • Talk about Kenosha Dunes Unit
  • Walk North on Gen Crema Trail (if not too wet)
  • Walk back to 122nd St gate

12:00PM Drive back to parking lot southeast of North Point Marina

North Point Dr, Winthrop Harbor, IL 60096, ~10min drive via Sheridan Rd

12:10-:30PM Closing remarks.

LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED


]]> Thu, 5 Nov 2026 13:30:00 GMT Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge Field Trip Congress 2026 https://www.chicagowilderness.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2066346 https://www.chicagowilderness.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2066346 9:30 am Meet at the Lost Valley Visitor Center

Stops include:

  • Nippersink Creek at Glacial Park
  • Tamarack West
  • Hackmatack NWF

3:45 Return to Lost Valley Visitor Center

5 pm Optional: Join fellow Congress and field trip attendees gathering at Bills Pizza and Pub North


]]> Thu, 5 Nov 2026 14:30:00 GMT Lake Plain Coastal Preserves Field Trip Congress 2026 Afternoon https://www.chicagowilderness.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2066377 https://www.chicagowilderness.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2066377

CWA Congress Lake Plain Field Trip Itinerary

Thursday, November 5, 2026

Led by Belynda Alberte, Lake Plain Coalition Coordinator/Natural Resource Specialist

Afternoon 

12 Noon Registration and Lunch begins

12:30AM Meet at parking lot southeast of North Point Marina

North Point Dr, Winthrop Harbor, IL 60096

  • Participant sign in

12:45AM Intro to the Lake Plain Coastal Preserves and the Lake Plain Coalition

1:00AM Illinois Beach State Park, North Unit – Site 1

  • Walk trail to beach. Highlight flora/fauna & site history
  • Explain geologic history & formation of ridge and swale
  • Talk about rubble ridges + why they are there
  • Walk back on trail towards North Dunes NP (INPC) & Camp Logan
  • Walk back towards parking lot, talk about Savanna ecosystem

 

2:00AM Spring Bluff Forest Preserve - Site 2

  • Stop at sign, highlight site history & flora/fauna
  • Take trail to observation platform, explore views from platform
  • Talk about LPC restoration, site hydrology
  • Highlight Blanding’s Turtle Recovery Program

2:45AM Drive to Site 3 – Chiwaukee Prairie State Natural Area, Unit 1

~10min drive via Sheridan Rd, arrive and park at 122nd St gate

3:05AM Chiwaukee Prairie SNA Unit 1 – Site

  • Walk down grass trail into Unit 1
  • Highlight land use history of site and partnerships
  • Highlight flora/fauna
  • Talk about Kenosha Dunes Unit
  • Walk North on Gen Crema Trail (if not too wet)
  • Walk back to 122nd St gate

4:00PM Drive back to parking lot southeast of North Point Marina

North Point Dr, Winthrop Harbor, IL 60096, ~10min drive via Sheridan Rd

4:10-:30PM Closing remarks.


]]> Thu, 5 Nov 2026 17:30:00 GMT Chicago Wilderness Alliance Congress 2026 https://www.chicagowilderness.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2037161 https://www.chicagowilderness.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2037161

2026 Congress, Alliance at 30: Growing Forward Together

Put Friday, November 6 on your calendar to be part of Congress 2026, hosted by the College of Lake County! Registration opens on Monday, August 3. 

Congress is our biannual gathering where people from across our four-state region come together to learn and gain inspiration from their peers. This year we're celebrating 30 years of collaboration, conservation, and the perseverance of people like you. 

Congress 2026 Event Details

A Full Day to Grow Forward Together

Congress 2026 is all about learning and gaining inspiration from your peers. We'll start the day with a plenary session to share the excitement about 30 years of our shared successes and a look at how we're going forward together. We invite you to think about ways to collaborate for a vibrant region where people and nature thrive.

Twenty-four presentations will feature the best ideas and brightest minds doing environmental conservation, ecological restoration, land preservation, sustainable agriculture, and more, with a focus working within human and natural communities and connecting people with nature.

You'll have the opportunity to tour the environmental and sustainability initiatives at the College of Lake County, and we'll end the day with an informal reception. There's plenty of time for you to network and build new connections with the people you'll meet at Congress 2026.

Everyone is welcome. We encourage you to ask a friend, coworker, board member, or volunteer to join you! 

]]> Fri, 6 Nov 2026 14:00:00 GMT CWA Congress 2026 Debrief Meeting https://www.chicagowilderness.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2032140 https://www.chicagowilderness.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2032140 Mon, 9 Nov 2026 16:00:00 GMT CWA Congress 2026 Debrief Meeting (if needed) https://www.chicagowilderness.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2032141 https://www.chicagowilderness.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2032141 Mon, 14 Dec 2026 16:00:00 GMT CWA Executive Council Meeting https://www.chicagowilderness.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2010984 https://www.chicagowilderness.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2010984 Wed, 27 Jan 2027 19:00:00 GMT