The President and CEO of the Chicago Muslims Green Team (CMGT), Layalee Beirat, along with Program Manager Sara Siddiqui, successfully organized the first event of 2026 on Saturday, January 3, at Caldwell Woods.
The Bird Walk event, followed by a Crocheting Plastic Bags workshop, was a collaboration with Chicago BIPOC Birders and the Forest Preserve of Cook County. The event was listed and shared by Block Club Chicago as one of the ‘10 Things To Do Outside In Chicago This January‘.
Before the walk, attendees gathered at the newly opened Wellness Center to enjoy hot chai and pick up binoculars. Birders lead organizer Daniela Herrera guided the walk and shared information about the birds we saw. Collectively, we observed 13 species: Mallard, Northern Pintail, Mourning Dove, Red-tailed Hawk, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, European Starling, naturalized American Robin, American Tree Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, and Northern Cardinal. It was great to be outdoor, even during winter, to enjoy the woods and the wildlife.
After the walk, attendees returned to the Center to take a break before joining the Crocheting Plastic Bags workshop led by Caroline Williams from CMGT. The workshop was attended by many people from different age groups, ranging from young kids to the elderly, with varying skill levels in crocheting.
Our goal of recycling at least 100 plastic bags was achieved by turning them into Plarn (plastic yarn), which is an important step before crocheting them into useful items.
Highlights from the event:
- 36 people registered and total 56 people attended the walk and/or workshop
- 13 species of Birds was observed
- 2 big bags of plastic bags are collected from Forest Preserve and attendees
- 100+ plastic bags were recycled into Plarn (plastic yarn)
Caldwell Woods
At Caldwell Woods Wellness Center before the walk
Gathering outside to introduce each other and our favorite bird
Daniela led the Bird Walk
Group picture during the Bird Walk event
The event sign at Caldwell Woods
Caroline Williams showed items that can be made from plastic bags
Caroline showed how to turn a plastic bag into a plarn (plastic yarn)
Attendees working on the plastic bags
CMGT greatly appreciates the hospitality extended by the Forest Preserve crews
Things we can make from plastic bags, for example, an oval shape welcome rug and a basket
A basket crocheted from plastic bags
The plarns (plastic yarn) and basic crochet done by attendees, made from 100+ plastic bags
2 big bags of plastic bags collected at the event to be crocheted into useful items
Photos by Caroline Williams and Sara Siddiqui