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!
JANUARY 2026
On Saturday, January 10, from 1 to 3 pm, central time – Friends of the Sands Seed Stratification and Seed Sorting
This event is hosted by Friends of the Sands in partnership with TNC. Join Friends of the Sands for an afternoon of seeds! This workday will focus on preparing seeds for germination. The group will work together to fill bags of seed with moist sand before we place them in the refrigerator for 30 days to mimic winter conditions. After seed stratification, the group will begin to organize extra seeds into small packets for sharing at outreach events in 2026. The group will be meeting and working at The Nature Conservancy’s office located at 3294 N US 41, Morocco, IN. To RSVP, contact Jeanette Jaskula at jmjaskula@yahoo.com or 219-869-1004.
Saturday, January 10 AND Sunday, January 11, from 3 to 5 pm, central time – Two Evenings of Owl Prowling at Kankakee Sands
UPDATE (1/2/2026): Both Owl Prowls are FULL. Contact Jeanette if you want to be placed on the waiting list. In the event of cancellations, you will be notified if spots become available. This event is hosted by Friends of the Sands in partnership with TNC. Chose an evening to join three bird-watching enthusiasts, Barb Lucas, Tisha Tolle, and Jeanette Jaskula, as they search the prairies of Kankakee Sands for owls at dusk. It’s highly likely that other raptors will be flying too, such as Northern Harriers and Rough-legged Hawks! The group will meet first at The Nature Conservancy’s office for a short introduction to owls before carpooling to a several parking areas for owl-viewing. Dress warmly and bring binoculars. There is a limit of 20 per evening. RSVP necessary. Contact Jeanette Jaskula at jmjaskula@yahoo.com or 219-869-1004 for more information and to RSVP.
Saturday, January 17, from 8 to 11 am, central time – Brush Cutting and Stacking Workday at Willow Estates
This event is hosted by Friends of the Sands in partnership with Friends of the Kankakee. Assist with the rejuvenation of the oak savanna complex in Willow Estates through cutting and burning brush. Willow Estates is located between Willow Slough FWA in Indiana and Iroquois County Conservation Area in IL; work at Willow Estates connects these properties and increases enlarging the footprint of high-quality natural areas. 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.
Monday, January 19, from 10 am to 2 pm, central time – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service: Tree and Shrub Cutting, Dragging and Stacking Workday at Beaver Lake Nature Preserve
This event is hosted by Friends of the Sands in partnership with DNR. On this holiday, the group will be burning a brush pile in the disced firebreak at Beaver Lake Prairie, to make room for growing the natural area. Join for a portion of the day, or all day! All effort is very appreciated. 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, January 31, from 1 to 5 pm, central time – Mid-winter Brush Pile Burning Workday at Beaver Lake Nature Preserve
This event is hosted by Friends of the Sands in partnership with DNR. Celebrate crossing the midwinter point with brush pile burning to further the recovery of the oak savanna lobe in the southern end of Beaver Lake Nature Preserve. Gloves and light snacks will be provided. Bring your marshmallows! For more information, including meeting location, and to RSVP, contact Gus Nyberg at nyberggus@gmail.com or 765-427-4345.
Friends of the Sands 