Fall Prairie Harvest Day

Volunteer for nature!

The public is invited to participate in this volunteer opportunity by collecting seeds from native prairie wildflowers and grasses at Nygren Wetland Preserve. 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 along the way.

This is an important community service activity for NLI, providing thousands of dollars’ worth of seeds for its ongoing restoration projects at Nygren Wetland and our other preserves.

Refreshments provided (donuts, cider, and other yummy snacks).

Dress for the weather and bring gloves if you have them. NLI will provide any needed tools and buckets to hold the seeds.

Also Happening During Fall Prairie Harvest Day

Greenways Map:  Attendees will be invited to view the current Winnebago/Boone Counties greenways map and provide input on it at a table hosted by Region 1 Planning Council staff. We encourage you to take a look at this and offer suggestions for areas that need to be protected. Every few years the greenways map is updated and this is your opportunity to have a say in what land and water resources should be protected. Learn more about the Greenways Map project.

The Big Sit: 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 him at some point while they are at Nygren Wetland during the harvest day and find out more about what he is doing and to look for birds. The Illinois Big Sit Competition is a three day effort to count as many bird species as possible that are seen or heard within a 24-hour period and within a 17-foot area. There’s more to it, but you can read more about it and sign up to participate, if desired, at Illinois Audubon.

Location and Parking

Location of Fall Prairie Harvest Day: Nygren Wetland Preserve, 3190 W. Rockton Rd., Rockton, IL  61072. Plenty of free parking. Follow the drive up to the red barn for parking instructions.

Please register for this free event or call 815-964-6666 by 5 p.m. Fri., Sept. 26, 2025.