The chapter holds monthly programs on various topics related to native plants. The chapter also sponsors and organizes a variety of other events throughout the year. These include volunteer opportunities and social events. For full details about all of the chapter’s events, view the programs and events listed below. The Volunteer page lists the various activities where we need help from members.
Programs & Events are free and open to the public (unless otherwise designated as a members-only program). Some of our programs are being held online via Zoom. To register for a specific virtual program, visit the individual program links below.
Recordings of some of our past programs can be found on our YouTube Channel.
Events Archive: 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Upcoming Events
June 2024
Donovan Park: Program and Tour Members Only
Members Only Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation Nature Walk/Hike Free Public Parking
Chapter members will be emailed information about this program.
Hedge Apple Woods Field Trip Members Only
Hedge Apple Woods in Ewing Park, 1001 Ethell Pkwy, Bloomington, IL, 61701 Map
Members Only Free Event Nature Walk/Hike Free Public Parking Lots of Physical Activity
Time and Summary to be entered later
July 2024
Board Meeting Members Only
Mennonite Church of Normal, 805 S Cottage Ave, Normal, IL, 61761 Map
Members Only Free Event Chapter Board Meeting Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking
Regular Monthly Board Meeting
What You Should Know About Herbicide Drift
Mennonite Church of Normal, 805 S Cottage Ave, Normal, IL, 61761 Map
Public Welcome Limited Access Recording Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking
Herbicide drift is a major threat to health and integrity of our forest and prairie ecosystems. Prairie Rivers Network has been monitoring and documenting herbicide injuries to broadleaf plants on both public and private lands for 6 years. This presentation will provide background on the issue of herbicide drift, discuss the monitoring data and tissue analysis results, as well as provide insight into ecological consequences of chronic exposure to herbicide drift, especially to our trees, and discuss possible solutions to the issue.
Presenter Bio:
Kim Erndt-Pitcher is Prairie Rivers Network’s (PRN) Director of Ecological Health. She works with numerous partners around the state to protect the integrity of our ecological systems. She also leads PRN’s pesticide and pollinator habitat conservation programs.
She has worked for Prairie Rivers Network for over 12 years. Before coming to PRN she was a crew member and environmental educator at Living Lands and Waters based in Moline, Illinois, and she also worked as a technician with the USGS in Kansas City, Missouri. She has spent most of her career working to promote and advocate for the protection of biodiversity and the integrity of natural systems.
Kim has a B.A. in Biology and M.S. in Biology with a focus on Ecotoxicology from the University of Central Missouri and was a NSF IGERT Fellow - Watershed Science and Technology, Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
August 2024
Board Meeting Members Only
Mennonite Church of Normal, 805 S Cottage Ave, Normal, IL, 61761 Map
Members Only Free Event Chapter Board Meeting Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking
Regular Monthly Board Meeting
Volunteer Stewards - Preserving Our Natural Areas
Mennonite Church of Normal, 805 S Cottage Ave, Normal, IL, 61761 Map
Public Welcome Program/Speaker Presentation Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking
Details TBA
September 2024
Board Meeting Members Only
Mennonite Church of Normal, 805 S Cottage Ave, Normal, IL, 61761 Map
Members Only Free Event Chapter Board Meeting Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking
Regular Monthly Board Meeting
Bats of Illinois
Mennonite Church of Normal, 805 S Cottage Ave, Normal, IL, 61761 Map
Public Welcome Will be Recorded Free Event Program/Speaker Presentation Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking Drinking Fountains
Learn about the bats of Illinois in this presentation by Dr. Joy O'Keefe, including steps you can take to provide habitat for bats in your backyard or neighborhood. Understand threats to bats and simple ways you can help to protect your local bat populations. Hear about the international effort to count and monitor bats across North America and how to get involved with this program.
Presenter Bio:
Dr. O’Keefe is an assistant professor and wildlife extension specialist in natural resources and environmental sciences at UIUC. She has been studying bats for 23 years. Her research program tackles applied questions and yields solutions to conservation challenges facing imperiled bat populations.
October 2024
Board Meeting Members Only
Mennonite Church of Normal, 805 S Cottage Ave, Normal, IL, 61761 Map
Members Only Free Event Chapter Board Meeting Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking
Regular Monthly Board Meeting
November 2024
Annual Meeting and Native Seed Exchange Members Only
Mennonite Church of Normal, 805 S Cottage Ave, Normal, IL, 61761 Map
Members Only Wheelchair Accessible Public Restroom Free Public Parking Drinking Fountains
Details will be emailed to chapter members.