Join NICHES Land Trust at Clegg Memorial Garden for our Phenology Hike series to track seasonal changes in plants throughout the 2026 growing season. Phenology is the study of seasonal patterns in nature, observing and tracking events like when plants bloom, leaves appear, or fruit ripens, and how these events change over time. These guided hikes […]
Celebrate the arrival of autumn with an evening hike through the preserve. We’ll explore how shorter days and cooler temperatures influence the behavior of local wildlife, learn about nocturnal animals that become active after sunset, and experience the forest through our senses as night falls. This leisurely guided hike is perfect for anyone curious about […]
October Big Day is here: a global day of birding where people around the world head outside to see, hear, and record as many bird species as possible! Join Sycamore Land Trust and David Rupp of Indigo Birding at Sam Shine Foundation Preserve as we take part in this worldwide effort. We'll spend the morning […]
Join Ouabache Land Conservancy for an easy 1-mile hike where participants will learn how to identify many of the 34+ species of trees growing at Whitaker Woods Nature Preserve.
Join Shirley Heinze Land Trust for the third hike in our seasonal Phenology Hike series with a guided fall walk exploring the changing rhythms of the natural world as autumn settles in. As temperatures cool and the days grow shorter, plants and animals prepare for the coming winter through migration, seed dispersal, dormancy, and other […]
Join Sycamore Land Trust for our Hike the Trust hike at Porter West Preserve! As we hike the 2.5 mile upland loop, we'll see how this landscape continues to evolve: shaped by past storms, shifting plant communities, and the steady processes of forest succession. We'll take time to botanize, and keep our eyes and ears […]
The season is changing, and so are the trees! Come to Meadowbrook for a cozy story time and nature adventure as we read If You Find a Leaf by Aimee […]
Help restore natural areas! As NICHES staff and volunteers restore habitats and remove invasive plant species from our preserves, we can help reduce reinvasion and rebuild biodiversity by collecting locally […]
Participants will learn how to harvest seeds from 3 species of grasses and about 40 species of wildflowers growing in the original 4-acre prairie restoration. This event is part of […]
What happens when an emergency occurs far from help? On this scenario-based hike, participants will work through simulated wilderness medical situations while hiking the mile loop trail at Wayne Cave Preserve. Led by experienced instructor (and IKC Board member) Danyele Green, this program emphasizes practical skills, clear thinking under pressure, and adapting first aid principles […]
Join Shirley Heinze Land Trust's Phenology Hike series with a guided fall walk exploring the changing rhythms of the natural world as autumn settles in. As temperatures cool and the […]