Chapters in Illinois

Pre-Orders Begin Online Monday March 23,2026Visit shop.rrvcwildones.orgOnline Orders Du e
Friday, April 24, 2026Pick-up Dates and Times

Members-only Early Pre-Order Pickup:
Thursday, May 7, 2026 from 1:00-6:30 pm

General Pre-Order Pickup and Public Sale:
Friday, May 8, 2026 from 1:00-6:30 pm
Saturday, May 9, 2026 from 9:00 am-2:00 pm

Wild Ones Tri-State Driftless Area is happy  to present a workshop “Planting Natives in Containers ”at the Galena Public Library's  annual plant and seed swap.  Bring seeds and plants and swap with your neighbors. Vegetables, herbs, native plants and houseplants are welcome. Even if you don't have plants to bring, come to get plants and seeds to take home!

Planting Natives in Containers workshop begins at 11:30. You will learn how and why to plant natives in containers and take home available plants for your container!

No registration required. 

Convervation Work.  Contact Rob Liva (630) 346-6588  or [email protected] for details and meet location.  Bring gloves, water, tools

Note: This program will be presented both in-person and via livestream.  A link to join the livestream is available here https://www.youtube.com/live/7SE__WAoVqM?si=zwClXs_qiNYA3p5N. A recording will also be available on our YouTube channel.

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In 2013, The Conservation Foundation (in Naperville) purchased 253 acres of land north of Ottawa, IL on the east side of the Fox River. One hundred and fifty-three acres had been deemed high quality woodland in the 1999 INAI survey. The property has since been certified as a Land & Water Reserve by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and is known as Dayton Bluffs Preserve.  A devoted corps of volunteers has cleared many acres of honeysuckle & buckthorn, helped maintain hiking trails, constructed a 100 acre tallgrass prairie and assisted with prescribed prairie and woodland burns. They have also recently created two small wetlands, planting over five thousand native species plugs.  The diversity of habitats present on the property have made it popular with wildlife and human visitors. Volunteers at Dayton Bluffs Preserve near Ottawa, IL will introduce us to the history of the Preserve and many of the plant species found there. 

Presenter Bios:

David Manigold started volunteering at the Dayton Bluffs Preserve before retiring from the practice of medicine. Over time he became certified as an Illinois Extension Master Naturalist and assumed the duties of Volunteer Coordinator. In that role he helps coordinate the workdays of volunteers who are involved in removal of invasive species; collection, processing and dispersal of native seed; development and maintenance of trails; and organizing prescribed burns. He has also coordinated the restoration of an abandoned pioneer cemetery on site. 

Chris Woeltje has been an Illinois Extension Master Naturalist since 2024 but has been passionate about the natural world since he was a young boy.  For a brief time, Chris worked at Pizzo Nursery as the nursery manager and his world opened to learning about native plants and ecological restoration. He became obsessed with the native plants in his area and wanted to recreate a prairie on his own property. Fast forward several years and Chris began volunteering at Dayton Bluffs Preserve.  It was here that he began participating in multiple volunteer opportunities and was able to learn more about ecological restoration. Chris’ proudest accomplishments stem from being involved with The Conservation Foundation, where he was introduced to citizen science projects, like frog call surveys, plants of concern and acoustic bat monitoring. 

We’re hosting a special screening of The Extraordinary Caterpillar, a beautifully shot 60-minute documentary that reveals the vital—and often overlooked—role caterpillars play in our ecosystems.

Watch the trailer here! https://vimeo.com/1117213704

From blooming meadows to city parks and backyard gardens, this inspiring film celebrates the magic of nature while showing families practical ways to make a difference.

Along the way, you’ll see the groundbreaking work of The Caterpillar Lab, entomologist David Wagner, and Doug Tallamy, co-founder of Homegrown National Park.

Event Details
DATE: April 23, 2026
TIME: 6:00 PM
LOCATION: ICC North Campus Arbor Hall Auditorium
PRICE: FREE
PRESENTED BY: Wild Ones - Illinois Prairie Chapter, Ecology Action Center, Parklands Foundation, Grand Prairie Bird Alliance, Normal Parks & Recreation and Normal Theater

What you’ll get:

--Inspiring stories about why caterpillars are essential to healthy ecosystems

--Simple steps you can take to create habitat in your own yard or community

--A chance to ask questions during a live Q&A

--Free handouts to help you take action right away

This is a chance to see nature in a whole new light—and to be part of the movement to bring it home. We hope you’ll join us!