Natural Land Institute (NLI) invites the public to participate in a volunteer opportunity by collecting seeds from native prairie wildflowers and grasses at Nygren Wetland Preserve (3190 W. Rockton Rd., Rockton, IL 61072) during Fall Prairie Harvest Day, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Sat., Sept. 27, 2025.
“One of the easiest jobs that someone can do to help with taking care of the land is collecting seeds,” said Kim Johnsen, NLI’s Director of Marketing & Membership. “NLI has volunteer opportunities to do this on an ongoing basis and in the fall we have the annual Fall Prairie Harvest Day at Nygren Wetland Preserve to invite the greater northern Illinois community to participate in and learn how this gives back to natural areas where they live. Plus, it’s downright fun.”
Individuals, families and all kinds of groups (Scouts, Girl Scouts, 4-H, Home School, Church, Youth, Employee) are invited to join in this easy and fun activity. Learn how to identify plants in their dormant stage and how to properly collect the seeds from the plant, as well as benefit from the fresh air and exercise. See birds, insects and animal signs while you’re out in the prairie.
Other activities available during this event include giving input on the next version of the Boone and Winnebago counties Greenways Plan. Region 1 Planning Council staff will be hosting an information table where you can view the current map and share your ideas for the next one.
Alan Branhagen, NLI’s Executive Director, will be participating in “The Big Sit”, by counting birds from within a 17-foot circumference in the area of the two benches overlooking the big wetland for several hours during this same day. Event attendees will be invited to visit while they are at Nygren Wetland during the harvest day and find out more about what he is doing and to look for birds.
“Collecting seeds is an important community service activity for NLI, providing thousands of dollars’ worth of seeds for its ongoing restoration projects at Nygren Wetland and other NLI preserves,” said Alan Branhagen, NLI’s Executive Director.
Refreshments will be provided. Dress for the weather and bring gloves if possible. NLI will provide any needed tools and buckets to hold the seeds.
Registration is requested for this free event. For more information and to register by Fri., Sept. 26 visit: https://www.naturalland.org/event/fall-prairie-harvest-day-2025/ or call 815/964-6666. Plenty of free parking on site.
About Nygren Wetland Preserve: The Carl & Myrna Nygren Wetland Preserve is a 721-acre wildlife sanctuary owned by the Natural Land Institute and is celebrating the 25th Anniversary since the land was acquired in 2000 and the restoration from farmland was started. There are prairies, wetlands, bottomland forest, oxbow lakes and ponds in the preserve. Raccoon Creek runs through the preserve with the Rock and Pecatonica Rivers forming the southeast corner of it. The Dianne Nora Nature Trail is a free 2.5 mile hiking trail around the wetland and is part of the Prairie State Hike app (99¢ in the Apple or Android Store).
