Earth Day

Be the Scientist: What Is Compost?

Tuesday, April 29, 2025, 4:30 pm

Build your understanding of scientific concepts with fun activities. This month, we're learning about compost, and we'll make compost in a jar.

For kids age 5-10. Register each child separately.

Worm Storytime Adventure

Friday, May 2, 2025, 1:30 pm

Enjoy some worm-themed stories and a craft related to worms and the importance of compost. For children age 3-6 with an adult.

Learn About Composting with a Master Gardener

Friday, May 2, 2025, 3:30 pm

Stop by to ask questions and get resources for all things composting from a University of Illinois Extension master gardener.

Rethinking Lawns: Incorporating Native Plants into Home Landscapes

Thursday, April 24, 2025, 6:30 pm

The U.S. has more than 50 million acres of lawn: the size of Minnesota, three times the area of any irrigated crop, and twice the size of the combined national parks in the lower 48 states.

Each year, Americans use 3 billion gallons of gas for mowing (3% of U.S. gas consumption) and 53 million pounds of herbicide on their lawns. Each day, we go through an average of 9 billion gallons of water (30% of all American home, business, and educational facility water use) just to keep lawns looking fresh and green.

Seemingly small things add up when there’s that much grass. With mowing, watering, weeding, and the flooding grass increases, lawn is expensive! Lawn grass is just one species of thousands we could plant in our cities.

What if we tried something else? Experts from the Chicago Park District, Chicago Botanic Garden, and other institutions are trying different plants that might work, including native prairie flowers and grasses.

Learn more about this experiment and how you might incorporate some of its ideas into your own home's landscape from Becky Barak, one of the project leads, an assistant conservation scientist at Chicago Botanic Garden, and an adjunct professor at Northwestern University.

This presentation is presented in collaboration with the Skokie Beautification and Improvement Commission.

Earth Day Trivia for Teens

Tuesday, April 22, 2025, 4:30 pm

Compete for prizes and test your knowledge on climate and sustainability while learning how to be a more Earth-friendly human.

For grades 6-12. 

Book Trails Walking Club

Wednesday, April 16, 2025, 4:30 pm

Book lovers, this is your chance to chat about favorites while enjoying nature. We will meet at the Emily Oaks visitor center and walk for one hour.

There's no required reading. Just come prepared to talk about books with fellow participants. 

Upcycled Hedgehog Craft

Friday, April 11, 2025, 4:30 pm

Celebrate Earth Day and learn about upcycling. We will reuse discarded books and other materials to make something new: an adorable hedgehog!

For kids age 8-12 to attend independently.

Teen Craft: Moon Phases Wall Hanging

Friday, April 11, 2025, 4:30 pm

Design and assemble a work of art to hang on your wall or give to a loved one.

While crafting, we'll talk about how participants see the significance of the lunar calendar in their lives and cultures.

Email the teen team if you have questions. For grades 6-12. 

The Art of Foraging with Alexis Nikole Nelson: Online Event

Thursday, April 10, 2025, 7:00 pm

Alexis Nikole Nelson is a forager and an outdoor educator who uses social media to celebrate all the edible plants hiding in plain sight.

Using her platforms, TikTok account alexisnikole and Instagram page blackforager, she peels back historical layers on African American and Indigenous food traditions and empowers those living in food deserts with greater self-sufficiency.

She received the James Beard Award for “Best Social Media” 2022, was chosen for the Forbes 30 Under 30 list and as a TikTok Tastemaker, and was honored as part of Fortune Magazine’s Creator 25 in 2021. She gave a TED Talk in 2022 and in 2023 joined the YouTube channel Crash Course to host a 15-episode botany series.

Alexis Nikole Nelson will be joined in conversation with Natalie Evans, a wild edible foods instructor.

This event is made possible by Illinois Libraries Present (ILP), a statewide collaboration among public libraries offering premier events. ILP is funded in part by a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a department of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.

Illinois Libraries Present is committed to inclusion and accessibility. To request accommodations, email illinoislibrariespresent@gmail.com.

Register for this event and receive the Zoom link here.

Book Trails Walking Club

Wednesday, April 2, 2025, 4:30 pm

Book lovers, this is your chance to chat about favorites while enjoying nature. We will meet at the Emily Oaks visitor center and walk for one hour.

There's no required reading. Just come prepared to talk about books with fellow participants. 

Spring Gardening Preparation and Seed Swap

Thursday, March 27, 2025, 6:00 pm

Get ready for the spring gardening season and learn garden basics with Lissa Sangree-Calabrese of Skokie’s The Talking Farm.

This event covers a variety of topics, from soil preparation to companion planting. If you have seeds to swap, please bring them.