Stories of Migration, The Underground Railroad, and Sandridge Nature Center

Forest Preserves of Cook County

The Forest Preserves of Cook County is partnering with local visitors at Sandridge Nature Center and Calumet residents to record and collect stories about migration, the Underground Railroad, and Sand Ridge Nature center. This program invites the public to share and preserve their unique stories and histories at our mobile recording studio or your own phone.

Visit Sand Ridge Nature Center on these dates and events to record your story at the mobile studio located in and around Sand Ridge Nature Center.

  • November 8, 2025 – Calumet Heritage Day
  • February 21, 2026 – Underground Railroad Day
  • February 28, 2026 – Underground Railroad Day
  • March 21, 2026 – Women in the Wild
  • June 21, 2026 – Juneteenth
  • November 2026 – Calumet Heritage Day

Can’t make it in person? No problem — record at home on your phone (see below).

How to Participate

If you happen to come across our signs on the trails of Sand Ridge Nature Center, you can also submit your own story on the phone. Please follow the instructions.

  1. Open the online voice recorder app
  2. Click record
  3. Share your full name and neighborhood of residence.
  4. Answer one or all of the questions provided on this web page.
  5. Stop recording and download the recording to your phone
  6. Submit audio recording or email recording to planetchambo@gmail.com
  7. Sign participation form

Story Prompts (Questions to Consider)

Describe your relationship with the Sand Ridge Nature Center. What do you do? Why do you visit? What is its significance to you?

What is your migration story? How did you or your family come to Calumet?

In the mid 1800’s an estimated 6,000-10,000 enslaved people passed through Illinois. Sand Ridge and the surrounding area was a point in the Underground Railroad just south of Chicago. Can you tell us what you may know or might have heard about the Underground Railroad in Sand Ridge and the Calumet area?

Submit & Release

Submit Audio Recording

Adult Participation/Release Form

Minor Participation/Release Form
After you submit, we’ll contact you about how your story may be used, preserved and shared.

Share

Know someone else with a story? Spread the word — share this page and invite friends, family, and neighbors to join.