News and Events

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Meeting: Conservation Committee

Wednesday, June 1, 2022
6:30 p.m.
Call for location information
Coordinator: Teresa Smith, 815-238-3963

Conservation Committee Meeting at 6:30 pm. Contact Teresa at 815-238-3963 if you would like to participate.

Stewardship: Elkhorn Creek, Blazing Star Saddles

Thursday, June 2, 2022
7 – 9 a.m.
Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve, Forreston, IL (SE corner of West Grove and Freeport Rds)
Coordinator: Bernard Lischwe, 815-275-9200

Please join us for this stewardship session. Depending upon the site or week, we will be doing a variety of tasks such as removing sweet clover, burdock and wild parsnip, cutting brush, girdling saplings or otherwise reducing the competition to our native prairie, woodland and wetland species.

You Supply: Wear long pants, long sleeves, socks long enough to tuck your pant legs into (for tick avoidance), a hat and footwear that can get wet (earlier is dewier!). Take along insect repellent, sunscreen and work gloves.
We Supply: Tools, gloves, snacks and directions about our  work always will be provided.

Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve is about 3 miles southwest of Forreston in the southeast corner of West Grove and Freeport Rds., with parking off of West Grove Rd.

Stewardship: Freeport Prairie

Saturday, June 4, 2022
8 – 10 a.m.
Freeport Prairie, Walnut Rd, Freeport, IL (SW corner Walnut and Meadows Dr)
Coordinator: Mary Blackmore, 815-938-3204

Please join us for this stewardship session. Depending upon the site or week, we will be doing a variety of tasks such as removing sweet clover, burdock and wild parsnip, cutting brush, girdling saplings or otherwise reducing the competition to our native prairie, woodland and wetland species.

You Supply: Wear long pants, long sleeves, socks long enough to tuck your pant legs into (for tick avoidance), a hat and footwear that can get wet (earlier is dewier!). Take along insect repellent, sunscreen and work gloves.
We Supply: Tools, gloves, snacks and directions about our work always will be provided.

Freeport Prairie Nature Preserve is just south of the intersection of Meadows Dr. and Walnut Rd. on the south side of Freeport. Parking is off of Walnut Rd.

Stewardship: Elkhorn Creek, Swamp Sparrow Wetland

Monday, June 6, 2022
7 – 9 a.m.
Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve, Forreston, IL (SE corner of West Grove and Freeport Rds)
Coordinator: Juliet Moderow, 201-233-0946

Please join us for this stewardship session. Depending upon the site or week, we will be doing a variety of tasks such as removing sweet clover, burdock and wild parsnip, cutting brush, girdling saplings or otherwise reducing the competition to our native prairie, woodland and wetland species.

You Supply: Wear long pants, long sleeves, socks long enough to tuck your pant legs into (for tick avoidance), a hat and footwear that can get wet (earlier is dewier!). Take along insect repellent, sunscreen and work gloves.
We Supply: Tools, gloves, snacks and directions about our work always will be provided.

Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve is about 3 miles southwest of Forreston in the southeast corner of West Grove and Freeport Rds., with parking off of West Grove Rd.

Stewardship: Elkhorn Creek, Corner Planting

Wednesday, June 8, 2022
7 – 9 a.m.
Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve, Forreston, IL (SE corner of West Grove and Freeport Rds)
Coordinator: Mary Blackmore, 815-938-3204

Please join us for this stewardship session. Depending upon the site or week, we will be doing a variety of tasks such as removing sweet clover, burdock and wild parsnip, cutting brush, girdling saplings or otherwise reducing the competition to our native prairie, woodland and wetland species.

You Supply: Wear long pants, long sleeves, socks long enough to tuck your pant legs into (for tick avoidance), a hat and footwear that can get wet (earlier is dewier!). Take along insect repellent, sunscreen and work gloves.
We Supply: Tools, gloves, snacks and directions about our work always will be provided.

Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve is about 3 miles southwest of Forreston in the southeast corner of West Grove and Freeport Rds., with parking off of West Grove Rd.

Stewardship: Elkhorn Creek, Old Joe Seep

Friday, June 10, 2022
7 – 9 a.m.
Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve, Forreston, IL (SE corner of West Grove and Freeport Rds)
Coordinators: Nancy & Randy Ocken, 815-440-5768

Please join us for this stewardship session. Depending upon the site or week, we will be doing a variety of tasks such as removing sweet clover, burdock and wild parsnip, cutting brush, girdling saplings or otherwise reducing the competition to our native prairie, woodland and wetland species.

You Supply: Wear long pants, long sleeves, socks long enough to tuck your pant legs into (for tick avoidance), a hat and footwear that can get wet (earlier is dewier!). Take along insect repellent, sunscreen and work gloves.
We Supply: Tools, gloves, snacks and directions about our work always will be provided.

Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve is about 3 miles southwest of Forreston in the southeast corner of West Grove and Freeport Rds., with parking off of West Grove Rd.

Stewardship: Elkhorn Creek, Swamp Sparrow Wetland

Tuesday, June 14, 2022
7 – 9 a.m.
Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve, Forreston, IL (SE corner of West Grove and Freeport Rds)
Coordinator: Juliet Moderow, 201-233-0946

Please join us for this stewardship session. Depending upon the site or week, we will be doing a variety of tasks such as removing sweet clover, burdock and wild parsnip, cutting brush, girdling saplings or otherwise reducing the competition to our native prairie, woodland and wetland species.

You Supply: Wear long pants, long sleeves, socks long enough to tuck your pant legs into (for tick avoidance), a hat and footwear that can get wet (earlier is dewier!). Take along insect repellent, sunscreen and work gloves.
We Supply: Tools, gloves, snacks and directions about our work always will be provided.

Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve is about 3 miles southwest of Forreston in the southeast corner of West Grove and Freeport Rds., with parking off of West Grove Rd.

Stewardship: Elkhorn Creek, Bluestem View

Thursday, June 16, 2022
7 – 9 a.m.
Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve, Forreston, IL (SE corner of West Grove and Freeport Rds)
Leader: Kara Gallup, 815-871-8014

Please join us for this stewardship session. Depending upon the site or week, we will be doing a variety of tasks such as removing sweet clover, burdock and wild parsnip, cutting brush, girdling saplings or otherwise reducing the competition to our native prairie, woodland and wetland species.

You Supply: Wear long pants, long sleeves, socks long enough to tuck your pant legs into (for tick avoidance), a hat and footwear that can get wet (earlier is dewier!). Take along insect repellent, sunscreen and work gloves.
We Supply: Tools, gloves, snacks and directions about our work always will be provided.

Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve is about 3 miles southwest of Forreston in the southeast corner of West Grove and Freeport Rds., with parking off of West Grove Rd.

Stewardship: Elkhorn Creek, Spiderwort Vista

Saturday, June 18, 2022
7 – 9 a.m.
Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve, Forreston, IL (SE corner of West Grove and Freeport Rds)
Coordinator: Anne Straight, 815-938-3263

Please join us for this stewardship session. Depending upon the site or week, we will be doing a variety of tasks such as removing sweet clover, burdock and wild parsnip, cutting brush, girdling saplings or otherwise reducing the competition to our native prairie, woodland and wetland species.

You Supply: Wear long pants, long sleeves, socks long enough to tuck your pant legs into (for tick avoidance), a hat and footwear that can get wet (earlier is dewier!). Take along insect repellent, sunscreen and work gloves.
We Supply: Tools, gloves, snacks and directions about our work always will be provided.

Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve is about 3 miles southwest of Forreston in the southeast corner of West Grove and Freeport Rds., with parking off of West Grove Rd.

Field Trip: Navigating the Wild

Saturday, June 18, 2022
10 – 11 a.m.
Oakdale Nature Preserve, Newell Tract (west side) 4433 S. Cranes Grove Rd., Freeport, IL
Coordinator: Adam Moderow, adamoderow@gmail.com, 815-541-5842

Want to know how to turn your watch into a compass? Do you know how to find East using a stick in the ground? Do you think moss only grows on the North side of a tree? We will talk about these strategies for navigation and more at Oakdale Nature Preserve. Meet in the shelter/parking area of the Newell Tract (the part of Oakdale on the west side of Crane’s Grove Rd.)

Contact Adam Moderow at adamoderow@gmail.com or at 815-541-5842 to register in case it becomes necessary to limit the number of participants.

Stewardship: Elkhorn Creek, Elkhorn Riparian Strip

Monday, June 20, 2022
8 – 10 a.m.
Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve, Forreston, IL (SE corner of West Grove and Freeport Rds)
Coordinator: Jeremy Dixon, 815-821-3921

Please join us for this stewardship session. Depending upon the site or week, we will be doing a variety of tasks such as removing sweet clover, burdock and wild parsnip, cutting brush, girdling saplings or otherwise reducing the competition to our native prairie, woodland and wetland species.

You Supply: Wear long pants, long sleeves, socks long enough to tuck your pant legs into (for tick avoidance), a hat and footwear that can get wet (earlier is dewier!). Take along insect repellent, sunscreen and work gloves.
We Supply: Tools, gloves, snacks and directions about our work always will be provided.

Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve is about 3 miles southwest of Forreston in the southeast corner of West Grove and Freeport Rds., with parking off of West Grove Rd.

Stewardship: Elkhorn Creek, Fruit Bowl

Wednesday, June 22, 2022
7 – 9 a.m.
Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve, Forreston, IL (SE corner of West Grove and Freeport Rds)
Coordinator: Kara Gallup, 815-871-8014

Please join us for this stewardship session. Depending upon the site or week, we will be doing a variety of tasks such as removing sweet clover, burdock and wild parsnip, cutting brush, girdling saplings or otherwise reducing the competition to our native prairie, woodland and wetland species.

You Supply: Wear long pants, long sleeves, socks long enough to tuck your pant legs into (for tick avoidance), a hat and footwear that can get wet (earlier is dewier!). Take along insect repellent, sunscreen and work gloves.
We Supply: Tools, gloves, snacks and directions about our work always will be provided.

Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve is about 3 miles southwest of Forreston in the southeast corner of West Grove and Freeport Rds., with parking off of West Grove Rd.

Stewardship: Elkhorn Creek, Elkhorn Riparian Strip

Friday, June 24, 2022
8 – 10 a.m.
Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve, Forreston, IL (SE corner of West Grove and Freeport Rds)
Coordinator: Jeremy Dixon, 815-821-3921

Please join us for this stewardship session. Depending upon the site or week, we will be doing a variety of tasks such as removing sweet clover, burdock and wild parsnip, cutting brush, girdling saplings or otherwise reducing the competition to our native prairie, woodland and wetland species.

You Supply: Wear long pants, long sleeves, socks long enough to tuck your pant legs into (for tick avoidance), a hat and footwear that can get wet (earlier is dewier!). Take along insect repellent, sunscreen and work gloves.
We Supply: Tools, gloves, snacks and directions about our work always will be provided.

Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve is about 3 miles southwest of Forreston in the southeast corner of West Grove and Freeport Rds., with parking off of West Grove Rd.

Stewardship: Elkhorn Creek, Fruit Bowl and New Planting

Monday, June 27, 2022
7 – 9 a.m.
Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve, Forreston, IL (SE corner of West Grove and Freeport Rds)
Coordinator: Mary Blackmore, 815-938-3204

Please join us for this stewardship session. Depending upon the site or week, we will be doing a variety of tasks such as removing sweet clover, burdock and wild parsnip, cutting brush, girdling saplings or otherwise reducing the competition to our native prairie, woodland and wetland species.

You Supply: Wear long pants, long sleeves, socks long enough to tuck your pant legs into (for tick avoidance), a hat and footwear that can get wet (earlier is dewier!). Take along insect repellent, sunscreen and work gloves.
We Supply: Tools, gloves, snacks and directions about our work always will be provided.

Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve is about 3 miles southwest of Forreston in the southeast corner of West Grove and Freeport Rds., with parking off of West Grove Rd.

NIAS Newsletter Deadline

Tuesday, June 28, 2022

New Moon Firefly Campfire at Elkhorn Creek

Wednesday, June 29, 2022
8 p.m.
Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve, Forreston, IL (SE corner of West Grove and Freeport Rds)
Coordinator: Mary Blackmore, 815-938-3204

New Moon Firefly Campfire at our Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity Preserve at 8 p.m. First we’ll take a stroll to observe nesting birds and blooming plants. The campfire begins at 8:30 p.m., with s’mores provided. We hope to see an impressive display of fireflies. Bring a lawn chair, flashlight, insect repellent and, if desired, water.

The Elkhorn Creek Biodiversity preserve is about 3 miles southwest of Forreston in the southeast corner of West Grove and Freeport Rds., with parking off of West Grove Rd. If weather is questionable call Mary at 915-938-3204.