News and Events

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Prairie Stewardship - Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve

Thursday, June 2, 2016
7 – 9 a.m.
Fruit Bowl stewardship. Tools, gloves, water and training provided. Wear long sleeves, long pants, socks and shoes that can get wet! Bring insect repellent and sunscreen.

Carpool from the Staples east lot in Freeport at 6:30 a.m. The preserve is located about 3 miles southwest of Forreston in the southeast of West Grove and Freeport Rds. The parking lot is off West Grove Rd. Leader: Kara 815-871-8014.

Prairie Stewardship - Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve

Friday, June 3, 2016
7 – 9 a.m.
Black Oak Savanna stewardship. Tools, gloves, water and training provided. Wear long sleeves, long pants, socks and shoes that can get wet! Bring insect repellent and sunscreen.

Carpool from the Staples east lot in Freeport at 6:30 a.m. The preserve is located about 3 miles southwest of Forreston in the southeast of West Grove and Freeport Rds. The parking lot is off West Grove Rd. Leader: Alan 815-541-0789.

Prairie Stewardship - Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve

Monday, June 6, 2016
7 – 9 a.m.
Spiderwort Vista stewardship. Tools, gloves, water and training provided. Wear long sleeves, long pants, socks and shoes that can get wet! Bring insect repellent and sunscreen.

Carpool from the Staples east lot in Freeport at 6:30 a.m. The preserve is located about 3 miles southwest of Forreston in the southeast of West Grove and Freeport Rds. The parking lot is off West Grove Rd. Leader: Anne 815-938-3263.

Field Trip: Wildflower Walkabout

Tuesday, June 7, 2016
6:15 – 9 p.m.
Hartley Memorial Forest Preserve
We’ll join this Wildflower Walkabout led by NIAS board member Mark Keister through this 40-acre upland mature forest, dominated by basswood and white oak, one of the real gems of the Winnebago County Forest Preserve District. A dense layer of spring and summer flowering herbaceous species includes Wild Geranium, Sweet Cicely and Blue Cohosh. Easy walking!

Carpool from Staples in Freeport at 6:15 p.m. Leader: Mark Keister, 815-218-3679.

For information on the series of Wildflower Walkabouts sponsored by the Natural Land Institute and Severson Dells Nature Center call 815-335-2915.

Prairie Stewardship - Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve

Thursday, June 9, 2016
7 – 9 a.m.
Old Joe Seep stewardship. Tools, gloves, water and training provided. Wear long sleeves, long pants, socks and shoes that can get wet! Bring insect repellent and sunscreen.

Carpool from the Staples east lot in Freeport at 6:30 a.m. The preserve is located about 3 miles southwest of Forreston in the southeast of West Grove and Freeport Rds. The parking lot is off West Grove Rd. Leaders: Randy & Nancy 815-440-5768.

Audubon Council of Illinois Meeting

Saturday, June 11, 2016
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Audubon Council of Illinois (ACI) summer meeting hosted by our chapter at Mary Blackmore’s home. Includes tour of our Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve. Call Mary at 815-938-3204 for further information.

ACI is a coalition of National Audubon chapters in Illinois.

Prairie Stewardship – Silver Creek Biodiversity Preserve

Tuesday, June 14, 2016
8 – 10 a.m.
Stewardship work day. Tools, gloves, water and training provided. Wear long sleeves, long pants, socks and shoes that can get wet! Bring insect repellent and sunscreen.

Carpool from the Staples lot in Freeport at 7:15 a.m. The preserve is located about 2 miles south of Leaf River on Leaf River Rd. Leader: Mary 815-938-3204.

Prairie Stewardship - Freeport Prairie

Thursday, June 16, 2016
7 – 9 a.m.
Stewardship work day. Tools, gloves, water and training provided. Wear long sleeves, long pants, socks and shoes that can get wet! Bring insect repellent and sunscreen.

The preserve is located on Walnut Rd. just south of Meadows Dr. on the south side of Freeport. Parking is on the west side of Walnut. Leader: Mary 815-938-3204.

"Talking About the Issues"

Friday, June 17, 2016
7 – 9 p.m.
Our monthly discussion session will be at the home of Harlan and Judy Corrie in rural Cedarville, 815-563-4932. For a copy of the first hour topic article contact facilitator Carol Redmore at 815-721-3375. The second hour will be a discussion of whatever issues are brought forth. 

Everyone is welcome. Carpool from the Freeport Staples lot at 6:30 p.m. Call Judy and Harlan if directions are needed.

Prairie Stewardship - Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve

Monday, June 20, 2016
7 – 9 a.m.
Bluestem View stewardship. Tools, gloves, water and training provided. Wear long sleeves, long pants, socks and shoes that can get wet! Bring insect repellent and sunscreen.

Carpool from the Staples east lot in Freeport at 6:30 a.m. The preserve is located about 3 miles southwest of Forreston in the southeast of West Grove and Freeport Rds. The parking lot is off West Grove Rd. Leader: Kara 815-871-8014.

Prairie Stewardship - Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve

Wednesday, June 22, 2016
7 – 9 a.m.
Spiderwort Vista and Swamp Sparrow Wetland stewardship. Tools, gloves, water and training provided. Wear long sleeves, long pants, socks and shoes that can get wet! Bring insect repellent and sunscreen.

Carpool from the Staples east lot in Freeport at 6:30 a.m. The preserve is located about 3 miles southwest of Forreston in the southeast of West Grove and Freeport Rds. The parking lot is off West Grove Rd. Leaders: Juliet and Anne 815-938-3263.

Prairie Stewardship - Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve

Monday, June 27, 2016
7 – 9 a.m.
Fruit Bowl and Old Joe Seep stewardship. Tools, gloves, water and training provided. Wear long sleeves, long pants, socks and shoes that can get wet! Bring insect repellent and sunscreen.

Carpool from the Staples east lot in Freeport at 6:30 a.m. The preserve is located about 3 miles southwest of Forreston in the southeast of West Grove and Freeport Rds. The parking lot is off West Grove Rd. Leaders: Randy, Nancy, Mary and Kara 815-871-8014.

Field Trip: Local and Sustainable Near You

Wednesday, June 29, 2016
8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Stone House Herb Company & Freeport High School Student Farm and Orchard
Our first stop will be Stone House Herb Company near Bolton in Stephenson county. Holistically and spiritually grown medicinal, ceremonial, TCM and culinary herbs and herbal products are owner Beth Nagel’s specialties. There will be products for sale. We’ll return to Freeport for lunch followed by a 1:00 tour of the Freeport High School Student Farm and Orchard located on the high school grounds. This student-run farm offers vegetables, cut flowers, honey and fruit at a weekly on-farm market stand and CSA. If quantities are sufficient, some produce will be for sale.

Carpool from Staples in Freeport at 8:30 a.m. Leader: Laura Dufford, 815-947-2720 (home) or 815-541-8958 (cell).

Audubon in the Library: Wildlife Wednesday "Most Extreme Animals"

Wednesday, June 29, 2016
10:30 – 11 a.m.
Freeport Public Library
"Most Extreme Animals". An Audubon member hosts a monthly series called Wildlife Wednesdays at the Freeport Public Library. During the program, there is first a special story time followed by an activity related to the theme.

Appropriate audience is two- to seven-year olds.

Audubon in the Library: Audubon Thursday “Best of the Beasts”

Thursday, June 30, 2016
1 – 2 p.m.
Freeport Public Library
 “Best of the Beasts” (all about most extreme animals)

This is a special addition to the regular “Wildlife Wednesday” program, but for older kids. The summer library theme is “Read for the Win,” so an Audubon member will have a special program about winning and successful animal adaptations.

Appropriate audience is six- to 12-year olds.

Firefly Campfire at the Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve

Thursday, June 30, 2016
7:30 p.m.
At 7:30 p.m. we’ll take a stroll to observe nesting birds and blooming plants, with the campfire beginning at 8:30. 

S’mores and water provided. Bring a lawn chair and a flashlight. Carpool from the Freeport Staples lot at 7:00 p.m. The preserve is located about 3 miles southwest of Forreston in the southeast corner of West Grove and Freeport Roads. The parking lot is off of West Grove Road. If weather is questionable call Mary at 815-938-3204.