About this Event
Join us at Montrose Beach for a family-friendly coastal adventure featuring ChiTownBio scientist and professor Dr. Andy Scarpelli! This hands-on expedition transforms the shore into a living classroom, combining environmental stewardship with an interactive nature hunt. Perfect for curious kids and eco-conscious caretakers alike, we’ll explore the beach, learn about our local ecosystem, and give back to our shorelines through an Alliance for the Great Lakes beach clean-up.
Our first community expedition took place during Chicago Climate Week and was so much fun that we are turning it into a monthly series highlighting exciting local non-profits. Our meet-ups are geared towards families with children aged 3-10 years old, but babies in tow or older siblings are always welcome. Due to the independent nature of our activities a broad age range is possible.
We hope you can make it!
What We’ll Be Doing:
- Nature Superpowers Scavenger Hunt: Track down natural materials along the shore and discover the unique biological adaptations—or "superpowers"—that help local plants and wildlife thrive in coastal habitats.
- Family Beach Cleanup: Team up for a guided litter pickup to help protect our local aquatic ecosystem and keep our shorelines clean and safe.
- Having fun! Connect with fellow nature-loving families while learning practical ways to steward our shared environment.
What to Bring:
- Reusable, filled water bottle
- Gardening gloves and bucket if you have them (this helps us in not adding more plastic to the cleanup, but we will bring gloves and bags for those that don't have any)
The Legal Stuff:
Please note, all participating children must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or designated adult caretaker at all times. Little Oak Events does not provide child care or supervised activities. Caretakers are solely responsible for the safety, behavior, and supervision of themselves and the children in their care throughout the entirety of the event.
This event takes place outdoors in a dynamic coastal environment (including sand, dunes, unpaved shorelines, uneven terrain, debris, and proximity to open water, weather elements, and local wildlife). Participation involves inherent risks associated with outdoor activities and litter handling. By attending, you voluntarily assume all risks, known and unknown, related to your and your child's participation, including responsibility for handling cleanup materials safely.
Event venue & nearby stays
Montrose Beach, 4400 North Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, United States
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