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, visit the page Volunteer with The Nature Conservancy in Indiana or visit TNC’s Kankakee Sands webpage. For learn more about volunteering at Beaver Lake Nature Preserve, contact Gus Nyberg (NybergGus@gmail.com). Interested in Friends of the Kankakee? Visit their events calendar.
To receive a weekly email about upcoming events and volunteer workdays for us and our partners, please send a message to Alyssa Nyberg (anyberg@TNC.org) and let her know you would like to be added to her email list. Stay in touch with us on our Facebook page, too!
Please note: all times are Central Time.
OCTOBER 2026
Saturday, October 10, 9 am to 11 am, central time – October BIG DAY Birding Hike at Kankakee Sands
Celebrate fall migration at land trust properties across Indiana while contributing to a global day of community science. Participating in October Big Day means you’re part of a global birding celebration that fuels migration research and conservation. Spend a fall morning exploring Indiana Land Protection Alliance (ILPA) member land trust properties, discover a new birding destination, and add your bird observations—counts, photos, or audio—to a worldwide effort in citizen science. To register, click here. Click on “Get Tickets” to register. In an effort to make events at Kankakee Sands free and open to all, enter the promo code BISON100 at the top of the page when you register. The $5 registration fee will be waived for the BIG DAY hike at Kankakee Sands. We’ll meet at 9:00 am (CENTRAL TIME) at the Kankakee Sands Visitor Welcome Center at 3294 US-41, Morocco, IN 47963. Please contact Jeanette Jaskula (jmjaskula@yahoo.com, 219-869-1004) with questions.
Saturday, October 10, from 9 am to noon, central time – Weed Wrangle© at Rensselaer Central Outdoor Lab, Jasper County, IN
This event is hosted in partnership with Jasper County Weed Control Board, Jasper County SWCD, SICIM, Jasper County Invasives Initiative, and Rensselaer Central Middle School. Join this outdoor workday to learn about invasive species, treatment methods, identification and how to limit the spread of invasive plant species. Then help to manage honeysuckle and other invasive plant species at the Rensselaer Central Outdoor Lab! Wear clothes that can get dirty and close-toed shoes. Bring a water bottle. Gloves, water, snacks and insect repellent will be provided. Meet at Rensselaer Central Middle School located at 1106 Bomber Blvd, Rensselaer, IN. For more information contact Shay Seibring at jcweedcontrolboard@gmail.com or 219-869-7884.
Wednesday, October 21, from 9 am to 3 pm, central time – Rain Garden Restoration Workshop, Jasper County, IN
This event is hosted by Rensselaer Parks and Recreation with Jasper County SWCD. This workshop will focus on learning about and designing raingardens in the morning, and then in the afternoon, the group will get hands-on experience as they work on a rain garden at Potawatomi Park in Rensselaer. Locations: Morning learning session at Rensselaer Library located at 208 W Susan St, Rensselaer. Afternoon outdoor session: Potawatomi Park located at 155 N. Austin Ave, Rensselaer, IN. Program fee: $20. To register, go to https://tinyurl.com/JCSWCD. For more information, call 219-869-8216 or email to jaspercountysoilandwater@gmail.com.
Thursday, October 22, 8 am to 11 am, central time – Fence Row Rejuvenation at Beaver Lake Nature Preserve, Newton County, IN
This event is hosted by Friends of the Sands in partnership with DNR. October into November will see our attention directed at the area in between the DNR and TNC’s burn units on the southside of Beaver Lake Prairie, to reduce the woody trees and encouraging woody shrubs in this land in between. During the workday we will be cutting and stacking brush into brush piles. The group will be meeting in the parking lot located on CR 200 W, south of Beaver Lake Ditch. Gloves, water and snacks will be provided. For more information and to RSVP, contact Gus Nyberg at 765-427-4345.
Friday, October 23, 9 am to noon, central time – Conrad Station Savanna Weed Wrangle© Series
Join us every fourth Friday of the month to focus our attention on 15 acres at Conrad Station Savanna. Over the course of a year of workdays and Weed Wrangles, we will be improving this overgrown woodland and creating a flower filled Savanna. We can’t wait to see it in 2027! This month’s workday will focus on removing honeysuckle and autumn olive. Meet at the Conrad Station Savanna Parking lot, located along the gravel road 725 N through Conrad Station Savanna. The parking area is at the bend in the road. Gloves, eye protection, tools and snacks will be provided. Please RSVP. For more information and to RSVP, contact Alyssa Nyberg at anyberg@tnc.org or 219-866-1706.
Saturday, October 24, 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm, central time – Conrad by Moonlight Evening Hike, Newton County, IN
This event is hosted by Friends of the Sands in partnership with TNC. We will start our walk on the Conrad trail in the fading light of the day, stopping to talk about the history of Conrad and finish in the early part of the night under the glow of a day before full moon. The group will be walking along a owed 1.6 mile trail, with sections of uneven ground. The group may encounter mosquitoes as well as ticks. Feel free to bring a flashlight for the last part of the trail, should the moon decide not to join us. For more information and to RSVP, contact Jeanette Jaskula at jmjaskula@yahoo.com or at 219-869-1004.
Thursday, October 29, 8 am to 11 am, central time – Fence Row Rejuvenation at Beaver Lake Nature Preserve, Newton County, IN
This event is hosted by Friends of the Sands in partnership with DNR. October into November will see our attention directed at the area in between the DNR and TNC’s burn units on the southside of Beaver Lake Prairie, to reduce the woody trees and encouraging woody shrubs in this land in between. During the workday we will be cutting and stacking brush into brush piles. The group will be meeting in the parking lot located on CR 200 W, south of Beaver Lake Ditch. Gloves, water and snacks will be provided. For more information and to RSVP, contact Gus Nyberg at 765-427-4345.
Saturday, October 31, 2 pm to 4 pm, central time – Mid-fall Hike at Beaver Lake Nature Preserve, Newton County, IN
This event is hosted by Friends of the Sands in partnership with DNR. October 31 is the halfway point in the fall, and we will mark this point with a walk into the prairie to see the work that is being done to bring back species to the site. The walk will meander off-trail into the prairie across relatively level terrain with some uneven footing. Halloween-themed treats to be shared. Meet at the Beaver Lake Parking Area located on 200 W, south of Beaver Lake Ditch. For more information and to RSVP, contact Gus Nyberg at 765-427-4345.
NOVEMBER 2026
Friday, November 27, 9 am to noon, central time – Conrad Station Savanna Weed Wrangle© Series
Join us every fourth Friday of the month to focus our attention on 15 acres at Conrad Station Savanna. Over the course of a year of workdays and Weed Wrangles, we will be improving this overgrown woodland and creating a flower filled Savanna. We can’t wait to see it in 2027! This month’s workday will focus on removing honeysuckle and autumn olive. Meet at the Conrad Station Savanna Parking lot, located along the gravel road 725 N through Conrad Station Savanna. The parking area is at the bend in the road. Gloves, eye protection, tools and snacks will be provided. Please RSVP. For more information and to RSVP, contact Alyssa Nyberg at anyberg@tnc.org or 219-866-1706.
