Fall Prairie Harvest Day 2026

The public is invited to participate in a community service day for nature!

Collect seeds from native prairie wildflowers and grasses. Learn how to identify these plants in their dormant stage and best practices for collecting seeds. The seeds will be used by NLI for future prairie plantings at Nygren Wetland Preserve and NLI’s other preserves.

This is a fun and easy outdoor activity that kids and adults will enjoy. Great for all kinds of volunteer groups – Scouts, 4-H Clubs, families, church youth groups, employee teams. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy closed toe shoes. Refreshments available (donuts, cider, more).

This weekend is also the Illinois Big Sit Competition.  Alan Branhagen, Executive Director of Natural Land Institute, will lead a team to count birds at Nygren Wetland Preserve from 9:00 a.m. through mid afternoon. Anyone attending Fall Prairie Harvest Day is invited to visit Alan and his team on the trail at the 2 benches overlooking the east side of the big wetland. Find out what birds he has seen and what the Big Sit is all about.

Registration requested. For more information and to register call 815/964-6666 or register in the form below.