Northwest Illinois
Photo Credit: Caleb DeWitt
Northwest Illinois
Photo Credit: Caleb DeWitt
About Our Chapter
Mission and Service Area
The Northwest Illinois chapter of The Prairie Enthusiasts (NIPE) is committed to the protection, restoration, and management of prairies, savannas, and other fire-dependent ecosystems in the Driftless Area of Illinois. The area contains hill prairie, oak woodland, sand prairie, oak savanna, sedge meadow, oak barren, and tallgrass (black soil) prairie. NIPE primarily serves Jo Daviess, Carroll, Stephenson and Whiteside counties.
Steering Committee
With the retirement over the past two years of some long-time members of the Board of Directors and a subsequent need to scale back its efforts, NIPE has spent several months deciding how best to continue NIPE’s mission and activities. NIPE has decided, at least for now, to dispense with a formal Board of Directors. Instead, a Steering Committee will guide NIPE for the foreseeable future.
Current members of the Steering Committee are Jay Rutherford, Barb Siekowski, Vicky Wagner, Jake Pulfer, Leanne Martin, and Laura Dufford. Regarding NIPE’s activities, Laura comments that “We are continuing on with seed collecting, education, and working at keeping our properties maintained.”
2023 in Review
NIPE had a productive year, including
- Summer survey walks at Hanley Savanna
- Hanley Savanna’s 20th Anniversary celebration on July 9
- Casper Creek Natural Cemetery presentation and tour on October 1
- The big November 2 prescribed burn at Hanley Savanna with help from the Northwest Illinois Stewardship Cooperative
- Seed picking and mixing efforts
CCNC PResentation and Tour participants of all ages. Photo by Marilyn Anderson.
Hanley Savanna prescribed burn. Photo by Becky Janopoulos.
Looking Ahead to 2024
February 18: “Tracks, Scat, and Sign: Winter life on the Prairie.” Location and Time: Hanley Savanna, 1:00-3:00 pm.
This family-friendly event is weather-dependent. Participants will need to check NIPE’s Facebook page the day of the event to make sure this event to take place. Attendees should dress appropriately for the weather and bring water. We will begin in the shelter near the corner of S. Hanover Hill Road and S. Whitton Road in rural Hanover. NIPE will provide handouts of tracks and other signs of winter wildlife.
August 24 (tentative date): Another family-friendly event at Hanley Savanna of seed picking and flower dissection. NIPE will provide art/craft supplies and seed containers so participants may take home seeds for their own prairie garden. Time and other specifics to be provided later.
Check in closer to the growing season for information about possible field trips!
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