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Events:
February 12, 2026 | 6:00 p.m.
Calling Frog Monitor Training with Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Interested in becoming a Community Scientist and learning how to monitor frogs? Tune in to a training workshop conducted by the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum! This virtual training will teach and review the calls of 13 frog and toad species, help monitors find survey sites, and discuss monitoring protocols. Great for new or returning volunteers!
VIRTUAL
March 18, 2026 | 6:00 p.m.
Budburst Monitor Training with Chicago Botanic Garden
Tune in to this virtual training workshop led by Chicago Botanic Garden to learn more about Budburst Monitoring! Budburst monitors observe and track the signs of seasonal change in plants, which are used to better understand how plant species and ecosystems respond to changes in climate. Great for new or returning volunteers!
VIRTUAL
The Zoom link will be sent to registrants prior to the training.
April 22, 2026 | 6:00 p.m.
Bat Monitor Training
with Urban Wildlife Institute at the Lincoln Park Zoo
Join us on Wednesday, April 22 for our Community Science Bat Monitor Training! During this training, Liza Lehrer, the assistant director of the Urban Wildlife Institute at the Lincoln Park Zoo, will discuss the impact monitoring has on local bat populations, as well as the process of monitoring and the equipment used. Great for new and returning volunteers!
VIRTUAL
The Zoom link will be sent to registrants prior to the training.
March 5, 2026 | 3:00 - 5:30 p.m.
FPWC Career Fair
Learn about the variety of FPWC seasonal positions open, as well as several full-time positions, at our career fair!
Staff will be on hand to discuss each position and help you apply on the spot. These positions are a great fit for those who prefer their office to be the great outdoors and for anyone looking to enter into a career in the parks and recreation or conservation fields. No RSVP necessary!
Headquarters Forest Preserve
Administrative Building Conference Room5500 Northrock Drive, Rockford, IL 61103
March 26, 2026 | 6:00 p.m.
Fabulous Frogs with Illinois Extension Master Naturalist Connie McIntosh
Do you know which frogs make the unique sounds you hear in the spring and summer? Led by Illinois Extension Master Naturalist and FPWC Frog Monitor Connie McIntosh, this program is a dive into the fascinating world of our local frogs; exploring their unique life cycle, distinctive calls, and what they can tell us about our environmental quality.
This program will begin indoors and end with an optional walk to listen for calling frogs (weather dependent).
Headquarters Forest Preserve
Administrative Building Conference Room
5500 Northrock Drive, Rockford, IL 61103
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March 12, 2026 | 5:00 p.m.
Eastern Bluebird Monitor Training with Lake County Audubon Society
Learn about what it takes to monitor Eastern Bluebird nest boxes! This virtual training led by Jack Nowak from the Lake County Audubon Society will cover how to check nest boxes and record data, as well as why nest box monitoring is essential to protecting and increasing Eastern Bluebird populations. Great for new or returning volunteers!
VIRTUAL
The Zoom link will be sent to registrants prior to the training.
April 9, 2026 | 5:00 p.m.
Bumblebee Monitor Training with Xerces Society
Join us for bumblebee monitor training led by Michelle Boone, an entomologist from Xerces Society! During this training, you will learn how you can help the preservation of bee diversity and enhance pollinator appreciation. Great for new or returning volunteers!
Image credit: Julie Smith
VIRTUAL
The Zoom link will be sent to registrants prior to the training.
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