In recent years, camping in the Cook County Forest Preserves has been limited to organized groups at a few designated locations.  Last month, the Cook County Forest Preserve District released its Camping Master Plan, which is designed to expand camping opportunities in the Forest Preserve District and reintroduce family and individual camping opportunities into the area.  

The Camping Master Plan outlines a variety of offerings to serve youth, families, groups and individuals of all ages, interests and backgrounds. The plan emphasizes primitive camping and envisions a series of related yet diverse camping experiences built by reinvesting in and revitalizing existing camps (such as Camp Reinberg), creating new camping destinations (including Camp Pine Woods in Northbrook and Skokie Lagoons in Glencoe/Winnetka), and developing special event campsites near nature centers.

Work on the initial sites is expected to begin in the summer of 2013.  You can find more information on the sites and plans for the future of camping in the Cook County Forest Preserves by perusing the FPD Camping Master Plan, available at the FPD website.

The Friends of the Forest Preserves is now accepting applications for their Chicago Conservation Leadership Corps, a paid summer internship program for high school students benefiting the open spaces of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County.

The internship is a 6-week program that includes a stipend. Students learn about local ecology and get their hands dirty working on conservation projects. For the summer of 2013, the program will accept 40 students and 11 leaders.  The application deadline is April 12, 2013.

Are you getting rid of old holiday lights this year?  Have a stockpile of wine bottle corks taking up space? The Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC) provides a useful resource for residents seeking outlets for items they no longer need: the Green Pages Reuse and Recycling Directory.

The Reuse and Recycling Directory lists reuse opportunities for books, clothing, office equipment, sporting goods, toys and other materials. This guide also provides information on various aspects of recycling and waste, featuring sections for appliances, batteries, construction debris, electronics, office machine cartridges, metals, motor oil and many other items.

Download this free directory and find online avenues to divert materials from the waste stream at the SWANCC website. 

Discover the wonders of the Cook County Forest Preserve District in winter!  Enjoy unique opportunities to learn and explore at your local nature center, the Chicago Botanic Garden and Brookfield Zoo. 

These special events include a meet-up for budding nature photographers at River Trail Nature Center and a dog-sled demonstration at Brookfield Zoo!

For a complete list of special events at local nature centers, the Botanic Garden and Brookfield Zoo, please visit our website. 

Barrington Township

• Approved Special Use in the R-1 Single Family Residence District to continue to operate a swimming pool sales and parts business that includes administrative/business offices, sales showroom and equipment and material storage for a retail swimming pool business and variance to reduce rear year setback from the minimum required 100 feet to 5.69 feet (existing) and right interior side yard setback from the minimum required 30 feet to 4.29 feet (existing) for metal buildings for storage of pool equipment and supplies.