There’s something for everyone at the Southeast Side parks! From festivals, to campouts, to climbing classes, check out all the exciting outdoor adventures we have planned in your community.
The Chicago Park District has adjusted its programs and events schedule in response to the modified Stay at Home order. Please note that all program dates are subject to change based on guidance from City and State public health officials.
Big Marsh
11559 S. Stony Island Ave.
Chicago, IL 60633
EVENT DETAILS
Visit Big Marsh Park on the second Thursday of every month, April through July, to join in our interactive Little Beavers Story Hour Series. Each event will include a reading by a special guest featuring an illustrated story book that teaches young naturalists about nature, inclusiveness and stewardship. Following the reading, participants are invited to join in nature play activities or a nature hike at the park. This series is designed for little beavers ages 2-7 years, with an accompanied adult caregiver.
This weeks special guest is Sean Shaffer, creator and manager of the Chicago Park Districts Nature Play spaces. Sean will be reading Not A Stick by Antoinette Portis. After the reading enjoy a short nature play experience in the natural area. This event will be limited to a maximum of 10 participants. RSVP is required.
Ambient Encounters: Eco-Orientation at Steelworkers Park
Time
Saturday, July 10th
10am
Location
87th at S. Lake Shore Dr.
Chicago, IL 60617
EVENT DETAILS
Ambient Encounters: Eco-Orientation at Steelworkers Park is a soundwalk focusing on the orientation of the body to the ecological landscape at Steelworkers Park. The soundwalk will incorporate cardinal point listening meditations, eco-poetics, and light movement
Resurgence: Slag, Moss, Soil, Air at Marian Byrnes Soundwalk
Time
Sunday, July 18th
4 pm - 6 pm
Location
Marian Byrnes Park
9662 S Van Vlissingen Rd
Chicago, IL, 60617
EVENT DETAILS
Resurgence: Slag, Moss, Soil, Air
In collaboration, Norman W. Long and Sara Zalek will lead a guided soundwalk following the recovery of the soundscape of Marian R. Byrnes Park. We begin with Sonic Self-Care by listening, breathing, and gentle movement exercise. Listening Stations along the walk will focus our attention to sounds via hydrophones, contact microphones, and culminate with a live performance.
Big Marsh
11559 S. Stony Island Ave.
Chicago, IL 60633
EVENT DETAILS
Eric Leonardson will lead the group through listening exercises during a short soundwalk which will then be followed by a singing insect monitor training and a second soundwalk led by Dr. Carl Strang. The Singing Insects monitoring program is a citizen science effort to familiarize people with common sounds of singing insects in the Chicago region, including grasshoppers, cicadas, katydids, and crickets. Building on Dr. Carl Strang’s work documenting species across 22 counties, the purpose of the project is to collect local baseline data and help people keep their ears perked for unusual insect calls each summer. Data collected is publicly available to anyone who wishes to use it, and walks are conducted informally site by site along a route prescribed by a surveyor.
