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!
DECEMBER 2025
Wednesday, December 17, from 2:30 to 4:30 pm, central time- Brush pile burning at Beaver Lake Nature Preserve, workday 3 of 3
This event is hosted by Friends of the Sands in partnership with DNR. Join the ongoing efforts to de-woodify the border of Beaver Lake Prairie and Kankakee Sands Unit B to create a more open continuous habitat. The group will be cutting and dragging woody material to a brush pile for burning. Weather permitting, the group will be burning the brush, which will be a great place to warm one’s hands! 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, December 20, from 8 to 11 am, central time – Friends of the Kankakee Savanna Rejuvenation Workday
This event is hosted by Friends of the Kankakee. Join Friends of the Kankakee in rejuvenating oak savanna habitat on Friends of the Kankakee Property in Illinois! The group will be meeting and working at 407 Pike, Beaverville, Illinois. The work will involve cutting, dragging, stacking and possibly burning cut brush. Gloves and light snacks will be provided. For more information and to RSVP, contact Gus Nyberg at nyberggus@gmail.com or 765-427-4345.
Wednesday, December 24, from 10 am to 11: 30 am, central time – Hike to Celebrate the Holidays on the Grace Teninga Trail
This event is hosted by Friends of the Sands in partnership with TNC. Holiday preparation complete? Join us for an early winter hike and enjoyment of the natural wonders of the world. The group will walk the 2-mile mowed trail through the sand prairie. Meet at the Grace Teninga Trail parking lot located at Kankakee Sands on 600 N, ¾ of a mile east of 200 W, Lake Village, IN. RSVP to Gus Nyberg nyberggus@gmail.com or 765-427-4345.
Wednesday, December 31, from noon to 3 pm, central time – New Years Eve Ramble at Conrad Station Savanna
This event is hosted by Friends of the Sands in partnership with TNC. Close out 2025 year with a 4-mile ramble through Conrad Station Savanna Nature Preserve. On this hike, the group will walk the firebreak of the burn that was completed in September of 2025, roughly 2 miles, before heading into the savanna to hike the Conrad Station trail. At the end of the hike, we will share our hopes for 2026. Meet at the Conrad Station Savanna parking lot on the corner of gravel roads 725 N and 250 W, just east of US 41, Lake Village, IN. For more information and to RSVP, contact Gus Nyberg at nyberggus@gmail.com or 765-427-4345.
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
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 