Natural Land Institute (NLI) invites the public to participate in a volunteer opportunity by collecting seeds from native prairie wildflowers and grasses. The communal event will take place at Nygren Wetland Preserve, 3190 W. Rockton Road, Rockton, IL 61072, during Fall Prairie Harvest Day. The collecting times are 9:00 a.m. to noon, Saturday, September 27, 2025.
“One of the easiest jobs that someone can do to help take care of the land is collecting seeds,” said Kim Johnsen, NLI’s Director of Marketing and Membership. “NLI has volunteer opportunities to do this on an ongoing basis. In the fall we hold the annual Fall Prairie Harvest Day at Nygren Wetland Preserve. We invite the greater Northern Illinois community to participate and to learn how this “gives back” to natural areas where they live. Plus, it’s downright fun!”
Individuals, families, and all groups (Scouts, Girl Scouts, 4-H, Home School, Church, Youth, Service, and 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 seeds from the plant. Benefit from the fresh air and exercise. See birds, insects, and animal signs while you are in the prairie.
Other activities include giving input on the next version of the Boone and Winnebago Counties Greenways Plan. Region 1 Planning Council staff will host an information table. View the current map, and share your ideas for the next one.
NLI’s Executive Director Alan Branhagen will participate in “The Big Sit,” by counting birds from within a 17-foot circumference area. Two benches overlooking the big wetland will be used by volunteer counters for several hours during this same day. Event attendees are invited to chat with Branhagen. Find out what he is doing, and look for birds.
Branhagen noted, “Collecting seeds is an important community service activity for NLI, providing thousands of dollars’ worth of seeds, for its ongoing restoration projects at the Wetland and other NLI preserves.”
Refreshments will be provided. Dress for the weather, and bring work gloves if possible. NLI will provide tools and buckets to hold the seeds.
Registration is requested for this free event. For information and to register by
Friday, September 26. Visit https://www.naturalland.org/event/fall-prairie-harvest-day-2025 or call 815/964-6666 with questions. There is plenty of free parking on site.
About Nygren Wetland Preserve: The Carl and 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.)