This page lists upcoming events for Friends of the Sands and our many partners in Newton County, Indiana and counties nearby. If you’d like information specific to volunteering with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Indiana, check out The Nature Conservancy’s Volunteer Calendar or visit TNC’s volunteer webpage.
To receive a weekly email about upcoming events and volunteer workdays for TNC, Friends of the Sands, and other partners, send a message to Alyssa Nyberg (anyberg@TNC.org) and let her know you would like to be added to her email list.
All times are Central Time. Stay in touch with us on our Facebook page, too!
FEBRUARY 2026
Thursday, February 5 & February 12, 8 am to 11 am , central time – Brushpile Burn at Beaver Lake Prairie
This event is hosted by Friends of the Sands in partnership with DNR. The southern lobe of woods at Beaver Lake Prairie is improving nicely with the work over the past couple of years, but that can’t cover up the fact that it had become dominated by catalpa and other non-savanna trees. We will continue our efforts to reestablish a better savanna strucutre burning brush in piles and allowing for more thorough stewardship follow up in the growing season. We will be working around fire and recommend natural fiber outer clothing. Gloves and light snacks will be provided. For more information, including meeting location, and to RSVP, contact Gus Nyberg at nyberggus@gmail.com or 765-427-4345.
Saturday, February 7, 2:30 to 5 pm, central time – 3-Mile Ramble across Kankakee Sands
This event is hosted by Friends of the Sands in partnership with TNC. Starting from the Unit D parking lot, we will hike the burn breaks north of Beaver Lake Ditch of The Nature Conservancy Unit D. Meet at the Grace Teninga Trail parking lot located at Kankakee Sands on 600 N, ¾ of a mile east of 200 W, Lake Village, IN. RSVP to Gus Nyberg nyberggus@gmail.com or 765-427-4345.
Thursday, February 19 & 26, 8 am to 11 am, central time – Hedgerow Care at Beaver Lake Prairie
This event is hosted by Friends of the Sands in partnership with DNR. To finish out our season of resetting the structure at Beaver Lake Prairie we will be focusing on the in between lands that rest south of Beaver Lake Prairie disc line and the TNC electric fence in Unit G. We will either be cutting and stacking brush or if weather is conducive, we may be burning some of the brush in piles . The goal is to create a shrubbier hedge row for wildlife between the 2 grasslands to the south and north. Gloves and light snacks will be provided. For more information, including meeting location, and to RSVP, contact Gus Nyberg at nyberggus@gmail.com or 765-427-4345.
Saturday, February 21, 8 am to 11 am, central time – Friends of the Kankakee Brush Cutting and Piling Workday
This event is hosted by Friends of the Sands in partnership with DNR. Rejuvenate the oak savanna complex in Willow Estates through cutting and burning brush and build a stronger natural connection from WIllow Slough FWA to Iroquois County Conservation Area. Gloves and light snacks will be provided. For more information, including meeting location, and to RSVP, contact Gus Nyberg at nyberggus@gmail.com or 765-427-4345.
MARCH 2026
Tuesday, March 3, 2026, 4:45 am to 6:30 am, central time – Total Lunar Eclipse!
This event is hosted by Friends of the Sands in partnership with TNC. Join us for a pre-dawn sit and marvel. We will be enjoying the beauty of the a total lunar eclipse. The total eclipse starts at 5:04 am, central time and ends at 6:02 am, central time. Bring and chair and a warm beverage for what is likely to be a cool, crisp morning! Bring your stories about the moon, too! The group will be meeting and marveling at the Kankakee Sands Unit D parking lot on CR 200 W, just north of Beaver Lake Ditch. For more information and to RSVP, contact Gus Nyberg at nyberggus@gmail.com or 765-427-4345.
Thursday, March 7, 2026, 8 am to 11 am, central time – Hedgerow Care at Beaver Lake Nature Preserve, part 1
This event is hosted by Friends of the Sands in partnership with DNR. To finish out the winter season of working to reset the savanna habitat at Beaver Lake Prairie, we will be focusing on the ground directly south of the Beaver Lake Prairie disced burn line adjacent to TNC’s Unit G prairie in which the cattle are grazed. The group will either be burning a brushpile or cutting and stacking brush for later burning. The group will be meeting at the Beaver Lake Nature Preserve parking lot that is located on the west side of the county road 200 W. Gloves and light snacks will be provided. For more information, including meeting location, and to RSVP, contact Gus Nyberg at nyberggus@gmail.com or 765-427-4345.
Saturday, March 14, 2026, 8 am to 11 am, central time – Friends of the Kankakee Brush Cutting and Piling Workday
This event is hosted by Friends of the Kankakee in partnership with Friends of the Sands. Rejuvenate the oak savanna complex in Willow Estates through cutting and brush burning. This work will build a stronger natural corridor from Willow Slough FWA to Iroquois County Conservation Area. The group will be meeting and working at the intersection of Deer and Pike streets in Willow Estates. Gloves and light snacks will be provided. For more information, including meeting location, and to RSVP, contact Gus Nyberg at nyberggus@gmail.com or 765-427-4345.
Saturday, March 14, 2026, 11 am to 1 pm, central time – Kankakee Sands Greenhouse Workday and Snack Party!
This event is hosted by Friends of the Sands in partnership with TNC.. Join us for a morning of transplanting little green native plant seedlings into individual pots! We’ll also have a snack party, so if you’d like to bring a snack, please do! The greenhouse is warm, conversations are enjoyable, and working with the little plants is a springtime joy. This workday is appropriate for all ages and abilities. We will be meeting and working at the Kankakee Sands Greenhouse, located at 1492 W CR 250 N, Morocco, IN. Please RSVP. For more information and to RSVP, contact Alyssa Nyberg at anyberg@tnc.org.
Saturday, March 14, 2026, 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm, central time – Fairy Shrimp Hike
This event is hosted by Friends of the Sands in partnership with DNR. Join us for a short walk to an ephemeral wetland that is home to fairy shrimp. Fairy shrimp are small, short-lived crustaceans that live locally in fish-less wetlands that dry up by summer. Bring rubber boots and a change of clothes in case you get wet while we wade the wetland! This is a wonderful program for children. We’ll have containers for kids and adults to collect and view these wetland wonders. We will host the event, rain or shine. Dress for warmth! We’ll meet at the Area 4 parking lot at 1:00 pm at Willow Slough Fish and Wildlife Area. If you’re unsure of the location, feel free to meet at 12:30 pm at the Kankakee Sands nursery (1492 W CR 250 N, Morocco, IN) to carpool to Area 4. Please RSVP. For more information and to RSPV, contact Jeanette Jaskula at jmjaskula@yahoo.com or 219-869-1004.
Thursday, March 19, 2026, 8 am to 11 am, central time – Hedgerow Care at Beaver Lake Nature Preserve, part 2
This event is hosted by Friends of the Sands in partnership with DNR. To finish out the winter season of working to reset the savanna habitat at Beaver Lake Prairie, we will be focusing on the ground directly south of the Beaver Lake Prairie disced burn line adjacent to TNC’s Unit G prairie in which the cattle are grazed. The group will either be burning a brushpile or cutting and stacking brush for later burning. The group will be meeting at the Beaver Lake Nature Preserve parking lot that is located on the west side of the county road 200 W. Gloves and light snacks will be provided. For more information, including meeting location, and to RSVP, contact Gus Nyberg at nyberggus@gmail.com or 765-427-4345.
Saturday, March 21, 2026, 8 am to 11 am, central time – Waterfowl Migration at LaSalle FWA’s Blackberry Marsh
This event is hosted by hosted by Friends of the Sands in partnership with DNR. Join DNR staff on a hike around LaSalle’s newest wetland complex – Blackberry Marsh! This location boasts approximately 400 acres of wetlands that provide habitat to a host of different waterfowl, shorebird and wading bird species. The hike is a 2.3-mile loop on a gravel, pavement and grass. Wear sturdy footwear, such as hiking boots, for the varied terrain. Meet at the Parking Area at Blackberry Marsh located on 1200 N, west of SR 55 in Newton County. GPS coordinates for the Parking Area at Blackberry Marsh are 41.17353° N, 87.33828° W. Please RSVP. For more information and to RSVP, contact Gus Nyberg at nyberggus@gmail.com or the LaSalle Fish and Wildlife Office at 219-992-3019.
Saturday, March 21, 2026, 11 am to 1 pm, central time – Kankakee Sands Greenhouse Workday and Snack Party
This event is hosted by Friends of the Sands in partnership with TNC. Join us for a morning of transplanting little green native plant seedlings into individual pots! We’ll also have a snack party, so if you’d like to bring a snack, please do! The greenhouse is warm, conversations are enjoyable, and working with the little plants is a springtime joy. This workday is appropriate for all ages and abilities. We will be meeting and working at the Kankakee Sands Greenhouse, located at 1492 W CR 250 N, Morocco, IN. Please RSVP. For more information and to RSVP, contact Alyssa Nyberg at anyberg@tnc.org.
Saturday, March 21, 2026, 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm, central time – Another Fairy Shrimp Hike!
This event is hosted by Friends of the Sands in partnership with DNR. This year we are offering a second opportunity to join us for a short walk to an ephemeral wetland that is home to fairy shrimp. Fairy shrimp are small, short-lived crustaceans that live locally in fish-less wetlands that dry up by summer. Bring rubber boots and a change of clothes in case you get wet while we wade the wetland! This is a wonderful program for children. We’ll have containers for kids and adults to collect and view these wetland wonders. We will host the event, rain or shine. Dress for warmth! We’ll meet at the Area 4 parking lot at 1:00 pm at Willow Slough Fish and Wildlife Area. If you’re unsure of the location, feel free to meet at 12:30 pm at the Kankakee Sands nursery (1492 W CR 250 N, Morocco, IN) to carpool to Area 4. Please RSVP. For more information and to RSPV, contact Jeanette Jaskula at jmjaskula@yahoo.com or 219-869-1004.
Thursday, March 26, 2026, 8 am to 11 am, central time – Reestablishing American Plum at Beaver Lake Nature Preserve
This event is hosted by Friends of the Sands in partnership with DNR. American plums are an important spring nectar source for early emerging bees, such as queen bumble bees. The group will be planting American plums to grow the species presence locally and move towards a richer early nectar landscape at Beaver Lake Prairie and near by lands. Gloves, shovels, tools and light snacks will be provided. For more information, including meeting location, and to RSVP, contact Gus Nyberg at nyberggus@gmail.com or 765-427-4345.
Friends of the Sands 