About this Event
Join us at the (ICA) in Uptown for a cozy, family-friendly winter adventure! We’ll explore the urban prairie lands in Uptown to see what happens when nature slows down for the season, both inside ICA’s warm community hub and outside in the winter prairie gardens.
Through hands-on activities and exploration, Junior Rangers and their caregivers will discover:
- how native prairie plants and local wildlife survive, rest, and adapt during Chicago’s winter
- what happens beneath the frost and soil while the prairie looks asleep
- and why winter dormancy and healthy native habitats matter for spring renewal and a thriving planet.
We’ll also get to learn how ICA brings neighbors together to build a greener, fairer future, turning everyday sustainability into real community action!
Who It’s For: Our meet-ups are geared toward families with children ages 3–10, but babies in tow and older siblings are always welcome. Activities are designed to work across ages, so everyone can explore at their own level.
What to Bring:
- Reusable, filled water bottle
- Warm winter gear (coats, hats, gloves, and sturdy boots/shoes) for our outdoor prairie exploration
- Your curiosity!
About the Institute of Cultural Affairs (ICA): The Chicago branch is based in Uptown, where it works to build a fair and thriving society by bringing communities together around sustainability. By modeling eco-friendly practices right in the neighborhood, ICA helps people take practical steps to heal our planet and create a positive, sustainable future for everyone.
About Chicago's Junior Rangers: CJR was created by Little Oak Events to bring a little more joy, connection, and care for our planet into city life. Through hands-on adventures, we bring families together to explore Chicago’s natural world and meet the local people and organizations working to protect it. Born during Chicago Climate Week, Chicago's Junior Rangers has since teamed up with organizations including ChiTownBio, the Alliance for the Great Lakes, and Friends of the Chicago River, helping kids discover that caring for the places around us can be fun, meaningful, and something we do together.
The Legal Stuff: All participating children must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or designated adult caretaker at all times. Little Oak Events and the Institute of Cultural Affairs do 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 event.
This event takes place in and around the Institute of Cultural Affairs (ICA) in Uptown Chicago, including indoor spaces and, weather permitting, outdoor prairie and garden areas. The environment may include stairs, public sidewalks, uneven or icy ground, cold weather conditions, natural terrain, and local flora. Participation involves inherent risks associated with these environments. By attending, you voluntarily assume all risks, known and unknown, related to your and your child’s participation.
Event venue & nearby stays
Institute of Cultural Affairs, 4750 North Sheridan Road, Chicago, United States
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