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.
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!
AUGUST 2026
Saturday, August 8, from 8 am to 11 am, central time – Friends of the Kankakee Workday at Willow Estates, Iroquois County, IL
This event is hosted by Friends of the Kankakee. On this workday, the group will be cleaning up scattered trash piles and if the weather is conducive, burning a small bushpile to clean up woody debris along the prescribed fire control line. Power tools welcome. 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.
Wednesday, August 12, 7 to 10 pm – Blazing Stars and Shooting Stars Evening Wildflower Wander
At the beginning of this event, we will have a short wander into the blazing star bloom at Beaver Lake Prairie, transition to enjoying the sunset and then sit and appreciate the sky looking for shooting stars. Bring a chair and a drink or a snack to share if you like. Some light walking and much appreciation of the world will be had. Meet at Beaver Lake Nature Preserve (1999 W 600 N, Lake Village, IN). GPS location: 41.086647847657936, -87.42959847576341. For more information and to RSVP, contact Gus Nyberg nyberggus@gmail.com or 765-427-4345.
Thursday, August 13, from 8 am to 11 am, central time – Conrad Station Savanna Workday, Newton County, IN
This event is hosted by TNC in partnership with Friends of the Sands. On this workday, the group will continue their focus on these 15 acres at Conrad Station Savanna. The area is really looking good! Thanks to all the efforts this year, the area is on its way towards the goal of becoming a flower filled Savanna. Gloves, eye protection, tools and snacks will be provided at this workday. 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. Please RSVP. For more information and to RSVP, contact Carly Hlebasko at carly.hlebasko@tnc.org.
Saturday, August 15, from 8 am to 11 am, central time – Friends of the Kankakee Island Workday on Kankakee River, Newton County, IN
This event is hosted by Friends of the Kankakee. On this second island workday, the group will continue to remove invasive species, such as catalpa trees and trumpet creeper vines, to make way for young oak trees, swamp milkweed, lizard’s tail and native loosestrife plants. Friends of the Kankakee is assisting Lake County Parks with the management of 48-acre island in the Kankakee River, across the Shelby public Access Site. The group will be ferried across the river by boat ride! Gloves, tools, and light snacks will be provided. For more information and to RSVP, contact Gus Nyberg at nyberggus@gmail.com or 765-427-4345.
Saturday, August 22 – Save the Date for the Everglades of the North annual float on the Kankakee River
This event is hosted by Indiana Paddler’s Association. Details to come.
Saturday, August 22, 8 am to 9 am – Yoga on the Prairie
Join Friends of the Sands and The Nature Conservancy for an all-levels Yoga on the Prairie series focused on the foundations of body alignment and awareness. No experience needed. Children welcome with adult caregiver. Dates for the series are all Saturdays: May 30, June 20, July 18, and August 22. Come for one session or for all! Please bring your yoga mat and be ready to stretch. Your instructor, Colleen Edmonson has taught yoga since 2019. She earned a yoga certificate from PureLightYoga Academy and then completed her 200-hour training with Crystal Gray Yoga. She is passionate about sharing the practice in a way that is accessible to all. Meet at the Nature Conservancy’s Native Plant Nursery at Kankakee Sands (1492 W 250 N, Morocco, IN). In the event of inclement weather, Colleen will notify attendees of cancellation. Please RSVP to her at colleen.m.edmonson@gmail.com.
Friday, August 28, 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 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.
Friday, August 28, from 7 pm to 8:30 pm, central time – Prairie Cairie-in and Hike with Pocket Gophers!
This event is hosted by Friends of the Sands in partnership with TNC. At this evening event, the group will be able to watch the moon rise over the prairie as we hike the Pocket Gopher Trail at the Kankakee Sands nursery. The 1.6 mile trail is flat and will meander along mowed paths. Some of the paths are decorated with large sand piles made by pocket gophers! Bring water and supportive hiking shoes. There may be ticks and mosquitoes, please plan accordingly by wearing long sleaved pants and shirts, and/or insect repellent. After the hike, the group will gather in the Kankakee Sands Greenhouse for a pitch-in carry-in (cairie-in!) snack party. Meet at the Kankakee Sands Nursery located at 1492 W 250 N, Morocco, IN 47963. Please RSVP. For more information and to RSVP, contact Jeanette Jaskula at jmjaskula@yahoo.com.
SEPTEMBER 2026
Saturday, September 12, 1 to 3 pm central time – Monarch Migration Celebration
Learn about and participate in Monarch Watch, a citizen science program to capture, tag, and release monarch butterflies as they migrate through Indiana on their journey to Mexico. Even if the weather does not cooperate, we’ll still meet to learn more about this research and why it is done. Children and families especially welcome! Meet at the Kankakee Sands Native Plant Nursery (1492 W 250 N, Morocco, IN). Please RSVP for this event. Contact Jeanette Jaskula (jmjaskula@yahoo.com, call/text 219-869-1004) for more information or to RSVP.
Saturday, September 12, 7 to 9 pm central – Moths of Conrad Station Savanna
Late summer is a great time to discover moths at Kankakee Sands! We’ll use a mercury vapor light to attract moths to a white sheet where we’ll identify each species. Each moth has a fascinating story to tell us about how important the prairies and savannas are to its brief life. We’ll hike the loop trail less than a quarter mile into Conrad Station Savanna to a light station for viewing moths. Ticks and mosquitoes are possible, so plan accordingly. Remember to bring a good flashlight and hiking shoes for exiting the trail after dark. There are no restrooms available at this location. We’ll have a brief introduction to moths at the parking lot before hiking to the light station. Meet at the Conrad Station Savanna Parking lot, located along the gravel road 725 N. The parking area is at the bend in the road. GPS coordinates: 41.104766, -87.439496. Please RSVP! For more information and to RSVP, please contact Jeanette Jaskula (jmjaskula@yahoo.com, call/text 219-869-1004).
Friday, September 25, 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 non-native bittersweet. 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.
OCTOBER 2026
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.
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.
Friends of the Sands 