We support and promote the conservation efforts of The Nature Conservancy at Kankakee Sands, Indiana DNR, and the Friends of the Kankakee. Our Calendar of Events lists upcoming volunteer workdays (and other events) for us and our partners. Events are free and open to all ages and abilities.
Four ways to get involved
Help Friends of the Sands with our Native Plant Sale! In the fall, local seed is collected, cleaned, and stored until planting in the Kankakee Sands greenhouse in late winter. Once our plants are growing, volunteers transplant seedlings into larger pots, make thousands of plant tags, and prepare for our May sale date. We also maintain a native plant garden at the Newton County Fairgrounds in Kentland, Indiana and need help tidying up the garden before the fair in July. Contact Jeanette Jaskula (FriendsoftheSands@yahoo.com) for more information.
Join The Nature Conservancy at Kankakee Sands for a Weed Wrangle, a workday to maintain the Native Plant Display Garden at the nursery, or other workdays on 8,000 acres of prairie and oak savanna. Visit Volunteer with The Nature Conservancy in Indiana or contact Alyssa Nyberg (anyberg@TNC.org) to learn more.
Help the DNR at Beaver Lake Nature Preserve throughout the year. Removing invasive plant species, conducting brush pile burns, and collecting seed are vital to maintaining the health of this unique oak savanna and prairie complex. Come be a part of it! Visit the DNR Volunteer Opportunities page or contact Gus Nyberg (NybergGus@gmail.com) to learn more.
Volunteer with Friends of the Kankakee. Help out with ongoing efforts to remove trash and pull invasive plant species from their Willow Estate property in Beaverville, Illinois, enhance habitat at the Kankakee National Wildlife Refuge, and more! Check out their Facebook page for workday events or contact Gus Nyberg (NybergGus@gmail.com) to learn more.
Friends of the Sands 