Indian Creek Nature Center https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org Thu, 09 Apr 2026 16:25:24 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/favicon-53x53.png Indian Creek Nature Center https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org 32 32 Unions Grill Up a Tradition of Service https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/blog/unions-grill-up-a-tradition-of-service/ https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/blog/unions-grill-up-a-tradition-of-service/#respond Thu, 09 Apr 2026 16:23:28 +0000 https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/?p=37133
Union members grilling at Maple Syrup Festival

Unions Grill Up a Tradition of Service

By Sarah Halbrook, Director of Development & Marketing

Early on Saturday morning of the Maple Syrup Festival, it’s quiet. The breakfast crowd is still asleep, dreaming of pancakes and sausages swimming in real maple syrup. As the sun rises over the woodlands east of Amazing Space, there’s one staff member on site. Sarah Botkin, Amazing Space Manager, arrives before the sun to greet the Carpenters Local 308.

At dawn, the members of the local carpenters’ union roll up. They hop out of their vehicles with strong, shared energy. The grills are lit, and soon the air is filled with friendly banter, rolling laughter, and the smell of sausages smoking on the grill.

The union members work like a fine-oiled machine because they’ve been volunteering at the Maple Syrup Festival for decades.

Indian Creek Nature Center’s partnership with organized labor is nearly as old as the Nature Center itself. It began in the mid‑1970s, when Rich Patterson, Stan Cooper, and carpenter apprentices worked together on a series of remodels in the barn. The two organizations have shared a great deal of history since then.

 The unions contributed significantly to the construction of Amazing Space, bringing skilled craftsmanship and strong professional standards to the project. The building later earned Living Building Challenge Petal Certification in 2019 by meeting its own set of rigorous sustainability requirements.

Many point to the Maple Syrup Festival as the clearest example of that long relationship. Both the Carpenters and the Electrical Workers bring their own grills and volunteer crews. They arrive early and stay through the morning to ensure the hundreds of guests have hot pancakes and sausages ready to go. 

Each union brings out ten or more volunteers who spend more than six hours on the grills. Their presence has become a defining part of the event and a commitment they’ve upheld for decades, no matter the weather! 

During Saturday’s grilling at this year’s Maple Syrup Festival, members of Carpenters Local 308 were asked why the partnership has lasted so long and why they continue to give their weekends. 

When asked, members of the Carpenters Local 308, Vinnie Schmitz, Terry Meade, and others shared that they think the partnership has lasted so long because they believe in giving back to the community. Jeff Cooper put it simply: “We care about our community, and that’s why we come out. And, it’s a great time. We are part of the history of Cedar Rapids. It’s been well over 30 years.” 

On Sunday morning, members of the Electrical, IBEW Local 405, took their day to operate the grills. When asked about their involvement, Jeff Cooling said, “We’ve had a long partnership with the Nature Center to support outdoor education in our community. We value that, and we value the future it helps shape.”

While the unions support Indian Creek Nature Center in many ways, it’s the sense of community created at the Maple Syrup Festival that keeps the partnership strong. In addition to celebrating maple syrup, the Festival is an annual celebration of this lasting partnership built on service, a shared commitment to outdoor education, and a long tradition of showing up for the community.

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]]> https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/blog/unions-grill-up-a-tradition-of-service/feed/ 0 The Sweet Science of Maple Syrup https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/blog/the-sweet-science-of-maple-syrup/ https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/blog/the-sweet-science-of-maple-syrup/#respond Thu, 26 Mar 2026 15:42:57 +0000 https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/?p=36971

Harvesting Nature’s Sweetest Gift

Boy smiles as maple syrup poured on his pancakes
The joy of real maple syrup includes its flavor and its journey from tree to table.

We all do it. We pour the real maple syrup onto our pancakes. Our eyes get bigger. We wonder how much we get to pour on. 

The rich, delicious maple syrup we all enjoy gets its special flavor from a place that is both expected and totally unexpected. Nature.

But how does it go from tree to table? The Maple Syrup Festival is about diving into a stack of pancakes and about diving into how maple syrup is made.

After 40-plus years of making our own maple syrup, Indian Creek Nature Center has learned the secrets of nature’s sweetest gift.

How Maple Syrup is Made

Tapping Trees

Volunteers tapping maple trees
Volunteers start the maple syruping season each February by tapping trees across the Nature Center grounds.

Maple syruping begins with tapping maple trees. Thankfully, between the three sugar bushes on Indian Creek Nature Center property (Věčný Woods, along Wood Duck Way, around the Barn site), there are about 100 maple trees big enough to tap.

Volunteers gathering to tap maple trees in mid-February has become an annual tradition at Indian Creek Nature Center. Carrying buckets with taps, hammers, and electric drills, volunteers march through the snow-covered woodlands to start the year’s maple syruping season.

Although Iowa weather is famously unpredictable, February usually offers the ideal conditions to tap. Maple tree sap flows best when nighttime temperatures drop below freezing and daytime temperatures rise above freezing. 

There is no way of knowing how many days like this will happen each winter, but when they come, they usually arrive in late February or March. The more days like this, the more sap that can be collected.

Collecting Sap

Syrup bottles showing color spectrum of syrup
Syrups come in many colors and flavors, which can vary depending on many factors.

Indian Creek Nature Center uses bags to catch the sap as it flows out of the taps. This method is highly cost-effective and leaves the beauty of the maple sugar bush unaffected, but requires manual collection. Every year, volunteers come out in February and March to help Indian Creek Nature Center staff collect hundreds of gallons of sap and bring it to the Sugar House.

Differences in climate, tree health, soil conditions, and the time of the year sap is collected can impact the sugar content. Here in Iowa, sap is typically about 2% sugar. This means it takes about 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of maple syrup. 

Whether the sap is collected early in the season or late in the season can also impact the color and flavor of the syrup because of a change in the types of sugars in the sap. This is because sap that is collected earlier in the season has more sucrose, but sap collected later in the season has a higher ratio of fructose and glucose. 

As the sap boils, the sugars in the sap carmelize. While the stable sucrose sugars remain light in both color and flavor, the less-stable fructose and glucose sugars darken during boiling and create the intense maple flavor that past Maple Syrup Festival guests will recognize. 

Making Syrup

Wood-burning stove heats the Sugar House
The evaporator that boils excess water out of the sap to create syrup is heated by a wood-burning stove.

Inside the Sugar House, a sweet smell fills the air as a wood-burning stove heats the sap to a boil, sending a trail of steam up from the large evaporator in the center of the one-room building. 

Long-time volunteer Mike Duss, who doesn’t mind the title of Sugar Master, has been overseeing the boiling process for years. Mike, originally inspired by a curiosity about syrup making, has volunteered countless hours in the Sugar House. He has helped to create hundreds of gallons of syrup and shared the secrets of syrup making with field trip students, families visiting during maple syruping programs, and Maple Syrup Festival guests. 

“Sap is piped from a storage container outside to the larger evaporator,” Mike says, pointing at a hose leading from the wall to the evaporator, “Then we boil it to remove excess water from the sap.”

After boiling it down, the sap is moved to a smaller evaporator where it’s boiled further to remove even more water from the sap. Once it’s close to the 66% sugar density required to be labeled as Grade A syrup, it is filtered and moved to a gas-heated evaporator to get the syrup just right.

Real Maple Syrup

The syrup, now finished, never leaves the Nature Center. The sap from our trees goes to the Sugar House, gets stored in the Barn, and then is served at the Maple Syrup Festival. It is not sent out to stores and restaurants. Instead, this real maple syrup is meant to bring people together at Indian Creek Nature Center. 

This syrup educates, entertains, and indulges. This syrup connects people to nature, and to each other  – and there’s nothing sweeter than that.

]]> https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/blog/the-sweet-science-of-maple-syrup/feed/ 0 All-Terrain Wheelchairs: Year 1 https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/blog/all-terrain-wheelchairs-year-1/ https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/blog/all-terrain-wheelchairs-year-1/#respond Wed, 11 Mar 2026 17:04:33 +0000 https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/?p=36937
Erbacher family hiking together

All-Terrain Wheelchairs Bring People Together in Nature

75 times. That’s how many times the all-terrain wheelchairs were used in the first year of the Nature Center offering them as a free amenity. 

75 trips into nature that were only possible because the community came together to fund the acquisition of three all-terrain wheelchairs.

75 times, someone was able to explore the woodlands, prairies, and wetlands at Indian Creek Nature Center who couldn’t before. 

Plus, there was a wide range of visitors. Chair users included a grandmother, a four-year-old, a mushroom connoisseur, a dad on his first family hike, and a student on a field trip who was fully included in the experience for the first time.

Those who understand the powerful benefits of time in nature understand how transformative it can be to find greater access to the outdoors through these chairs.

Many users were inspired to share their stories with us. Often, it wasn’t just getting an individual with a mobility impairment into nature that meant the most, but the chance to get that person into nature with others which sparked the deepest levels of gratitude.

All-Terrain Wheelchair Testimonials

“I wanted to let you know we so appreciated the child’s all-terrain wheelchair and the beautiful trails it enabled my 4-year-old grandson to ride through. He picked up maneuvering the vehicle easily. It was a complete thrill. I was also testing the all-terrain wheelchair out in hopes of bringing my 98-year-old mom. I will surely enjoy the trails with her after our positive experience. Thank you, Indian Creek!” - Sherry Westercamp
Eric cultivates lion's mane mushrooms in his home and cooks amazing dishes. He's dreamt of returning to his passion of mushroom foraging in the wild since the day he became reliant on his wheelchair 5 years ago. Today was that day! Just as he was about to return his all-terrain wheelchair, he spotted a morel mushroom glistening in the sun. "This is the BEST day I've had in 5 years! I have no words to explain how happy I am!"
“Just wanted to share some of the photos we got from our visit on National Trails Day!” - Sarah Herber
“Thank you again for the opportunity to hike as a family on Monday. I love hiking and have never been able to go with my whole family. It was so amazing to be able to do something we both love, and we now get to access this all the time. I also wanted to share my appreciation of the overall accessibility of the building and environment. It is very clear that this is intentional and I want you all to know that these small gestures go a long way. Thank you!!” - Krista Sigel
“My husband Ron and I used your all-terrain vehicles today for a hike with our son and daughter-in-law. We would not have been able to walk it at all. And, we had so much fun! We are looking forward to doing that again!!! Thank you so much!!!” - Gelene Schwertfeger
“We were thrilled to be able to use the ATW! In the past, students in wheelchairs weren't able to experience all parts of the field trip. It was too hard or dangerous to get their wheelchair to different locations. My student was able to go where his classmates were and didn't have to stay behind. He was unable to use the controls, so it was great that an adult could override it. Thank you for ensuring all students are included at Indian Creek Nature Center!” - Nicole Greazel, 3rd Grade Teacher

Reserve an All-Terrain Wheelchair

When the all-terrain wheelchairs were acquired, funding was raised for the long-term maintenance of the chairs – meaning these chairs will be available for years to come. 

Reservations can be made at no cost on a first-come basis. Visitors with any mobility impairments, from permanent ailments to broken legs that’ll heal in a few weeks, are welcome to reserve a chair. 

The chairs are available to ensure that the next time your group is going on a hike, you can bring everybody.

Learn More
]]> https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/blog/all-terrain-wheelchairs-year-1/feed/ 0 Traditions Built on Community … and Sugar https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/blog/traditions-built-on-community-and-sugar/ https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/blog/traditions-built-on-community-and-sugar/#respond Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:58:40 +0000 https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/?p=36817

A Real Sweet Tradition

James Klein drilling to tap a maple tree in February 2023
James Klein, President & CEO at CRBT, learns to tap a maple tree.

When asked why he believes the Maple Syrup Festival has stuck around for more than 40 years, James Klein smiles widely and answers, “The sugar is a huge reason.” 

He’s right. The pancake breakfast featuring grilled sausages and real maple syrup handcrafted from the trees at Indian Creek Nature Center is the main attraction — but Klein, President and CEO at Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust (CRBT), knows it’s about more than the sugar.

“There’s just a vibe of community, of happiness, of preserving nature for the long term,” says Klein, “The food is great, and the sugar makes you feel good, but it’s really just a great representation of our community.”

Maple Syrup Festival
Local families’ love for pancakes covered in real maple syrup has kept the Maple Syrup Festival going for 43 years!

Now in its 43rd year, the Maple Syrup Festival has become a tradition that brings generations of families together for pancakes covered in sweet maple syrup and for maple syruping demonstrations where guests can get hands-on trying syruping techniques themselves.

“I had the opportunity to tap a tree a few years ago.” Klein says, “I can tell you I love syrup, but before that, I really didn’t understand the process. It was a very cool and unique experience.”

Inspired by shared community values (with an assist from the sugar), CRBT has consistently been a lead sponsor of the entire maple syruping season, which includes public maple syruping programs throughout March and the Maple Syrup Festival.

“The Maple Syrup Festival is one of the premier events in this area, and we’re proud to be a long-time partner,” says Klein. 

A Tradition Built on Community

Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust
Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust was founded as a community bank in 2001.

CRBT, now celebrating its 25th anniversary, has established its own tradition — creating win-wins in the community.

Klein shares that it started “In the late 90’s, when after a series of bank mergers, there was a strong need in the Cedar Rapids and surrounding communities for a strong community bank. Four veteran bankers believed this community deserved a locally-focused bank committed to its employees, clients, and community. So, they started CRBT.”

After starting with only 17 employees in 2001, they grew by focusing on that original calling to be a strong community bank. “Community is a big part of who we are,” says Klein. And he has the receipts to back it up. (He is a banker after all.)

CRBT Volunteers at ICNC
CRBT employees pitched in to help remove invasive plant species at ICNC’s barn.

During their 25 years as a community bank, CRBT has, in total, given more than $10 million to local community nonprofits. And they spread the love, too. 

CRBT has worked with well over 100 nonprofits in 2025 alone. Their employees are dedicated volunteers, spending over 8000 hours volunteering in the community in 2025, including sharing their financial expertise with nonprofits by serving on board committees.

“It feels good to help people, right? That’s always been a part of our culture at CRBT. It’s a win-win. We continue that circle going, and it makes our entire community better.”

Creating Win-Wins at Indian Creek Nature Center

Volunteer leading a maple syruping program
Environmental education programs, like the It’s Maple Syrupin’ Time programs, are a big part of why CRBT supports ICNC.

Naturally, CRBT’s community support extends to Indian Creek Nature Center because of the impact the Nature Center has on the community that CRBT is so dedicated to.

Klein feels that “you cannot go to another community in the United States and find Indian Creek Nature Center. It is so unique. It’s so different.

“We want this to be a great community for our friends and family to enjoy,” and supporting the Nature Center supports that goal. Klein says, “The programming they offer, the schooling they provide, the awareness they build — it’s really critical to our community. We’re proud to be a part of it.”

“It’s about true partnerships where everybody can win. Indian Creek is a great partner, and we create win-wins.” The Maple Syrup Festival, with its deep community roots, connections to nature, and delicious pancake breakfast, might be the ultimate win-win-win.

“The Maple Syrup Festival is one of those key components of the Cedar Rapids area,” says Klein, “You can see at the event the social connections that are made, the awareness, the people enjoying the outdoors. It’s really a phenomenally unique amenity for our area.”

“It’s one of those well-done, feel-good events in our community where people walk away with more knowledge, sugar in their system, and maybe a new friendship they made at the event,” says Klein, “and we promise it’s not just the sugar talking.”

]]> https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/blog/traditions-built-on-community-and-sugar/feed/ 0 Creekside Forest School Gear Library https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/blog/creekside-forest-school-gear-library/ https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/blog/creekside-forest-school-gear-library/#respond Thu, 12 Feb 2026 16:34:22 +0000 https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/?p=36712

dressed for outdoor learning

preschoolers hiking
The Creekside Forest School gear library allows every student to engage in long stretches of outdoor learning and discovery!

“There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.” This is one of those phrases that people toss around often in the nature community, and it is true, having the right clothing and gear is very important to enjoying the outdoors in a variety of weather conditions. The thing about this saying, however, is that high-quality outdoor clothing and gear can be a huge investment. 

At Creekside Forest School, our preschoolers spend between 65% and 85% of their time outdoors. In fact, they get outside every single day, even on the rainiest spring days and most frigid winter days. The ability to get outdoors with preschoolers is dependent upon high-quality gear. Students are provided with all the gear they will need to feel dry, warm, and comfortable in all weather conditions. This gear is lent to the students, free of charge, for the whole school year.

While the gear allows for comfort, it also allows something much more important, accessibility. We know every student is being outfitted in the same quality gear. We partnered with SOKO Outfitters to establish our gear library and leaned into their guidance and expertise for the purchase of all of the items we provide our students. 

Playing in rain gear
Head-to-toe rain gear keeps students dry as they explore outdoors, no matter the weather.

For our rainy and muddy days, each student has sturdy rain boots, rain bibs, rain jackets, and rain hats. We have a class set of rain mittens we hand out as needed for those transitional weather days when the air is warm, but the water in Bena Brook is still chilly. 

In winter, we provide snow boots, snow bibs, snow jackets, balaclavas, fleece mittens, waterproof mittens, and optional stocking caps (because sometimes a kid’s dinosaur hat is way cooler than a plain stocking cap). We also provide a preschool-sized backpack and a reusable snack container. 

One of the best parts of our gear library, which deserves celebration, is that reusing our gear year after year has kept it out of the landfill! 

Our gear has been used for five years, and while we occasionally have to replace items, like those pesky mittens that always seem to lose their match, the gear has held up extremely well. 

Teacher helping student with mitten
The gear library ensures every student has access to the high-quality gear necessary for hours of outdoor play and learning that give these young Champions of Nature a sense of belonging in the natural world.

We also regularly send items back to the manufacturer for repair, which is done at no charge.  Creekside Forest School students don’t just wear their gear occasionally when it’s snowy or rainy, they wear some piece of gear almost every single day. Snow pants provide the warmth needed for exploring the woods and turning downed trees into an imaginary boat. Rain pants and boots let the kids stay dry while chasing frogs through the chilly spring waters.

Beyond the gear, our teachers send parents a message every night with suggestions of how to dress for the next day’s activities. Whether baselayers and mid layers are needed, and if it’s a balaclava day or not. We recently had a parent share that they had spent hours out playing in the snow as a family, because thanks to forest school, they know how to dress to enjoy it! 

We are so grateful for the gear we are able to provide our students. The gear library allows them to adventure further, climb higher, and enjoy the beauty of nature in all seasons and all weather. 

]]> https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/blog/creekside-forest-school-gear-library/feed/ 0 Access to Information Creates Access to Nature https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/blog/access-to-information-creates-access-to-nature/ https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/blog/access-to-information-creates-access-to-nature/#respond Thu, 29 Jan 2026 14:45:46 +0000 https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/?p=36507 Everyone deserves access to nature – and that includes access to information about how to access nature.

As a leader in providing access to the healing benefits of nature, Indian Creek Nature Center worked to enhance the website’s infrastructure with accessibility features designed to improve the user experience for visitors with visual, hearing, or mobility impairments. These improvements, in turn, create a more seamless experience for all visitors.

While you may have noticed our website has a refreshed look, there’s much more to the website changes that you may not notice unless you rely on one of these accessibility features to fully and easily access information on the Nature Center website.

Enhanced Website Accessibility Features 

A mix of hardware and design changes has been used to foster inclusivity in our online spaces and improve the online experience for all visitors.

Navigation and Structure

Restructuring and simplifying our menus and dropdowns facilitates easier navigation for users who depend on screen readers or other assistive technologies to find information online. 

Text Alternatives for Images

Providing descriptive alternative text (commonly called “alt text”) for images and multimedia content ensures that users with visual impairments can access a comprehensive understanding of the photos and graphics on the webpage. 

Color Contrast

Creating design features, such as buttons and menus, with contrasting colors helps users with visual impairments or color blindness read essential text while increasing readability for all users.

Keyboard Accessibility

Designing the website so it can be navigated using only a keyboard ensures compatibility with various assistive technologies.

Forms and Interactivity

Implementing accessible forms and interactive elements that are easily usable for individuals with different abilities provides greater access to forms, such as our form for reserving a golf cart tour of the Nature Center’s grounds.

Accessibility Issues Form

Our ongoing accessibility efforts work toward making our website as accessible as possible. We welcome feedback on how to improve the site’s accessibility for users with disabilities. Visitors can let us know about any accessibility barriers they encounter on ICNC’s website by using our Accessibility Issue Form.

]]> https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/blog/access-to-information-creates-access-to-nature/feed/ 0 2025 Volunteer Award Recipients https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/blog/2025-volunteer-award-recipients/ https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/blog/2025-volunteer-award-recipients/#respond Thu, 15 Jan 2026 20:32:52 +0000 https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/?p=36357

Recognizing Our Volunteers

Every day, volunteers move our mission forward by sharing their time and talents with Indian Creek Nature Center. Every aspect of our mission is enhanced by community members who pitch in whether it is once a year or once a week.

Volunteers show up for the mission in nearly countless ways, including raising native prairie plants, tapping maple trees, making beautiful holiday decor, maintaining trails, feeding the chickens, washing dishes, filling bird feeders, chainsawing,  and just about any other tasks that need to be done.

During our Volunteer Recognition Event on January 15, 2026, we celebrate the contributions of all our volunteers, and acknowledge a few of our most dedicated and impactful volunteers.

2025 Volunteer Award Recipients

Click on the award recipient’s name to read about their volunteer work.

Education and CFS Volunteer of the Year Award

Awarded to a volunteer who shows dedication to the ICNC mission of creating Champions of Nature through education, above-and-beyond the average volunteer, and/or provided support integral to an educational project or program.

Laurie Wyatt has been a valued member of the Indian Creek Nature Center education team for just under a year, joining us after retiring from a teaching career and relocating from the Des Moines area. In that short time, she has volunteered an extraordinary 72 times, demonstrating remarkable commitment, generosity, and passion for education.

Laurie brings a calm, confident presence and a wealth of experience to every interaction. Always positive and focused, she requires very little direction and seamlessly steps into her role. Her strong educational background has proven invaluable, enriching our programs and strengthening our team.

One of our young educators recently shared how much they enjoy working alongside Laurie, noting that she has a rare ability to sense when transitions are needed — and to make them before it’s too late — an essential skill when working with children. They also shared how much they have learned simply by observing Laurie’s thoughtful and skillful interactions with young participants.

Laurie’s dedication, professionalism, and quiet leadership have made a lasting impact on our organization and the community we serve. She is truly a deserving recipient of this Education Volunteer of the Year Award.

Brian is a devoted community organizer and advocate for clean water. Some may know Brian through his work with the Department of Natural Resources’ IOWATER program that trained and equipped volunteers to test water quality in rivers and streams across the state. Others may know Brian through his work with Project A.W.A.R.E, the state’s largest river cleanup event. 

Creekside Forest School knows Brian as a dedicated father and volunteer who shows up weekly to help guide students through the brook, prairie, and woods, as well as through their own emotional landscape. He can often be found knee deep in the brook talking about bugs, pausing on the trail to point out animal tracks, or cracking dad jokes to make a student’s day a little brighter. 

In December, when temperatures dropped below zero, Brian rallied students to use shovels and sleds to make a giant snow pile. Later that evening, he brought two of his children back to the nature center to transform that snow pile into a fort called a quinzee. This quinzee inspired hours of play, offered shelter from the wind, and provided an opportunity for our students to work together as a community. 

CFS kids have come to appreciate Brian for his humor and knowledge of the natural world. We teachers appreciate his thoughtfulness, energy, and passion towards our program. I am pleased to present this volunteer award to Brian Soenen.

Land and Sugar Grove Volunteer of the Year Award

Awarded to a volunteer who shows dedication to land stewardship, ICNC property, grounds, and the facility, above-and-beyond the average volunteer, and/or was part of projects that would have been challenging to complete without their support.

Matt Doty has officially been volunteering here for just over a year. And in that year, he has accomplished a tremendous amount.

Whether it is taking a chainsaw to dangerous trees year-round or helping with Maple Syruping, Matt is here. He worked closely with the Americorps team members, helping them develop their construction skill set, and also recently worked through the skidloader’s required 500-hour maintenance with Nick. The maintenance itself didn’t quite take 500 hours, but it felt like it was close. Machine maintenance is a really important part of what our team does.

Matt helps us with chicken feed runs and hardware store runs, as well as longer missions, like picking up the All-Terrain Track Chairs that enable people of different mobility levels to enjoy our trails.

Matt is gentle, caring, and patient. He is happy to share if he knows how to do something, happy to learn what he doesn’t know, and makes working on every project more enjoyable for those around him. He enjoys problem solving, doesn’t mind working independently, and stays engaged until the job gets done and everything is put away. Often, I go out in the shop and Matt is working on a much-needed project that has spent too long on my to-do list.

Matt saw us through two Americorps NCCC teams this year, and is looking forward to maple syruping in 2026. Matt, we would like to say thank you for a great 2025.

Kim Hayes gets the job done before we even know there’s a job that needs to be done. I met her at the Creek Cleanup in 2024, and she’s been a volunteer powerhouse here ever since. 

From supporting the Plant and Art Sale and Monarch Festival, Kim is there. She supported the Practice in the Prairie series and is always happy to help us clear obnoxious vines during woodland restoration projects. If I need an egg delivered or fence posts pounded in when the ground is frozen, Kim will be there.

When Kim signs up for a project, I know that I will learn something new, the conversation will go in a direction I wasn’t expecting, and I will laugh. Kim is great to work with, honest, and has some wonderful life experience that she brings to our projects that make us more efficient and creates a positive atmosphere for other volunteers. Kim, thank you for a fantastic 2025.

Like the other volunteers I am recognizing this evening, Grace doesn’t exactly pick a lane and stay in it. She is happy to sign up for a wide variety of things, including helping with the Creek Cleanup and the Barn to Farm Bike Ride. But mostly, I think where Grace is happiest is working independently with the chicken flock.

As you may know, the Nature Center has 180 laying hens producing organic eggs. And those hens need to be tended every day. Their water buckets freeze in the winter, everything from mice to an opossum has managed to sneak into the hen house, the birds escape the fence, and if you ever go to feed the hens later than they think they should be fed, you will quickly find multiple birds perched on your head, shoulders, and the feed bucket you are trying to carry. 

Grace takes it all in stride, and she visits the flock often enough to have a solid routine and help others, knows how to problem solve, and supported us through the holidays. Also, I can tell if Grace hasn’t been around for a few days because Bob the cat complains about her absence.

Grace, thank you for being one of our lead chicken tenders at Etzel Sugar Grove Farm.

Outstanding Service by a Community Supporter Award

Awarded to an individual, organization, company, corporation or foundation who makes a substantial contribution of volunteer time, as a group/entity, shows particular dedication to the ICNC mission of creating Champions of Nature through education and/or inspiration.

The Watson Family has been engaged with the Nature Center for more than 20 years as a dedicated sponsor. Over the past six years, under Ben’s leadership, they’ve deepened their connection to our work and become true advocates for our mission. Their support of programs like free yoga and the Barn to Farm bike race reflects their commitment to healthy food, active living, and strengthening our community. They carry this commitment beyond their business as well, choosing as a family to support the Nature Center through annual giving.

IFF has supported the Nature Center in so many meaningful ways. Their team consistently shows up ready to engage — removing invasive species, planting crops and grasses, cleaning up derecho debris, cutting down hawthorn trees, and painting. This past summer, they even cleared a particularly gnarly area near the old barn and stayed until the job was done.

We deeply appreciate the ownership they bring to every project. Beyond their volunteer work, they’ve become annual sponsors of Trails & Tastings, funded the Lynch Wetland dredging and replanting, and always bring a can‑do spirit to everything they do.

We are truly grateful for the IFF Green Team and all the employees who make this partnership so strong.

Commitment to Excellence Award

Awarded to a Board Member who shows particular dedication to the ICNC mission of creating Champions of Nature through education and/or inspiration, and/or provided support integral to a project or program.

Pat gives generously of his time to the Nature Center, not only helping guide our charitable trust investments as a member of the Board of Trustees, but also championing our programs and events in meaningful ways.

This past year, he invited more than 20 guests to our Farm to Table fundraising dinner and personally hosted over 10 of them. His enthusiasm for the Barn to Farm Bike Ride is equally inspiring.

Pat’s dedication, energy, and genuine commitment to our mission make him a valued partner to the Nature Center.

David’s leadership as Board Chair — and well beyond that role — has been truly instrumental to the Nature Center. His ongoing commitment as a sustaining member and the thoughtful guidance he brought to our planning and growth, especially during our milestone 50th year, have left a lasting impact on our mission.

David is always willing to strategize, share connections, and quietly lift up everyone around him. His generosity of time, insight, and spirit has strengthened this organization in meaningful and enduring ways.

Jack-in-the-Pulpit Award

Length of involvement is more than one or two years and their work has some continuity. Quality of the involvement includes effective work with positive results for the Nature Center, as well as a variety of kinds of volunteer work.

Jill Jamieson has been volunteering for years, and her dedication shines through in everything she touches. She’s one of those remarkable volunteers who seems to be everywhere at once. From setting up and tearing down tents at outdoor events, supporting our many festivals, helping attendees carry out their purchases at Nature’s Noel, and stepping in wherever extra hands are needed.

At Etzel Sugar Grove, she eagerly takes on special projects, helps with planting and invasive species removal, and tackles any odd job we put before the Wednesday Warriors. Jill is also a steady presence in our egg-washing and delivery operations, keeping things running smoothly behind the scenes.

You truly never know where Jill will pop up, and we are so fortunate she shares her talents and can-do spirit with us.

Justin Voss is a very familiar face around the nature center.  He is an extraordinary helping hand at so many of our Nature Center events.

Whether he’s hopping on a bike to support Barn to Farm, graciously serving guests at our many Farm to Table dinners, pitching in to clean up after Trailside Tastings, or keeping things running smoothly at Maple Syrup Festival, Justin shows up with dedication, energy, and a spirit of service that elevates every event.

We’ve seen him roll up his sleeves to help with Derecho clean up, volunteer his time to collect sap, and help with maple syrup production. 

We are deeply grateful for all the ways he contributes to our community.

Founders’ Award

The Founders’ Award is given in honor of our founders, B.B. Stamats and Jean O’Donnell. It is given to those individuals who have at least two decades of service to Indian Creek Nature Center. Recipients of the award personify the values of Indian Creek Nature Center and its founding and believe in the mission to get people outside to enjoy nature and the outdoors.

Neil has been a member since at least 2003 and actively participates in programs, especially leading regular bird banding programs.

Neil has volunteered in every area of ICNC’s operations, including having served on the board of directors previously.

Carol is a charter member of the Nature Center and has been an active member and volunteer since 1973.

Every year she can be seen behind the counter at Maple Syrup Festival serving drinks with a cheerful smile. She is an active member of the Friends group where she volunteers for both the Plant & Art Sale and Nature’s Noel.

Terry is a regular Maple Syrup Festival volunteer and was a volunteer for ICNC’s Junior Naturalist program.

She has been a regular volunteer since 1980 and an active member for decades.

Phil volunteers for many different areas of ICNC’s programs and land. He has been an active Teacher Naturalist for many years, often assisting with maple syrup programs and helping to harvest sap and make syrup.

He is a jack of all trades and his work can be seen throughout Amazing Space from the watershed table to benches for kids to watch the animals.

Thank you volunteers!
]]> https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/blog/2025-volunteer-award-recipients/feed/ 0 2025 Wrapped https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/blog/2025-wrapped/ https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/blog/2025-wrapped/#respond Wed, 31 Dec 2025 15:30:45 +0000 https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/?p=36273

Looking Back at 2025

See how during 2025 the community connected with Indian Creek Nature Center and how the Nature Center provided immersive outdoor experiences that brought our community closer to nature.

Seeking Nature Online in 2025

Most Engaging Facebook Post

The announcement of free All-Terrain Wheelchair reservation system in March sparked an outpouring of support and gratitude for this new longterm amenity in our community.

Most Popular Reel

This video of Creekside Forest School students chasing giant bubbles captured the joy of the future Champions of Nature at our outdoor preschool.

Most Read Blog

In the first 30 days of this blog, about the volunteers behind the native plant giveaway at Monarch Fest, had 506 readers.

Native Plant Giveaway

Native Pollinator Plant Giveaway

July 3, 2025

Helping pollinators, like the monarch butterfly, by restoring their habitat is easier than ever, thanks to Indian Creek Nature Center volunteers who organize a native plant giveaway at Monarch Fest. 

Read More »

Finding Nature at ICNC in 2025

Kids in Sugar HouseTapping into Nature’s Sweetness: 

533 children and adults attended learned about the connection between nature and the food on their plates at maple syruping programs through hands-on activities.

Connecting Children to Nature:

More than 2,000 students and staff connected with nature during ICNC field trips through group hikes, hands-on STEM activities, and encounters with our resdient animals.

Couple using all-terrain wheelchairsIncreasing Access to Nature:

75 individuals got to explore nature with an all-terrain wheelchair through the free reservation system established in March 2025.

Creating Champions of Nature:

Creekside Forest School students spent a cumulative 20,000 classroom hours outside, allowing them to create a deep, meaningful relationship with nature.

Amazing SpaceA Natural Gathering Place:

Amazing Space welcomed more than 4,000 guests during 120 building rentals, including business meetings, conferences, birthday parties, family gatherings, and 10 weddings.

Your Home for a Nature Break:

More than 40,000 visitors came to Indian Creek Nature Center for educational programs, special events, or simply to explore the trails, grounds and indoor exhibits.

Thank you for being a part of the Indian Creek Nature Center community in 2025. We can’t wait to see what we can accomplish together in 2026 and beyond.

]]> https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/blog/2025-wrapped/feed/ 0 Volunteer Group Sustained by Community https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/blog/volunteer-group-sustained-by-community/ https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/blog/volunteer-group-sustained-by-community/#respond Thu, 18 Dec 2025 04:05:24 +0000 https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/?p=36205

Building a Volunteer Community

The Friends of the Nature Center (formerly named The Guild) has been going strong for 50 years, because of the good they do and the community they create.

“The key word is community, because we have a terrific community of people who work hard and volunteer,” said Kathy Severson, President of the Friends of the Nature Center.

By hosting two fundraising events (Nature’s Noel and the Spring Plant & Art Sale) each year, their volunteer work raises tens of thousands of dollars annually to support Indian Creek Nature Center’s educational programs and land restoration projects. 

It’s impossible to truly measure the far-reaching and powerful impact the group has had on the Nature Center over the decades. But it’s not only their impact that keeps the group’s members coming back year after year. 

Kathy knows that “what keeps us all coming back each year is each other.”

Friends of the Nature Center
The Friends of the Nature Center gathered to celebrate another successful year of hosting fundraising events to benefit Indian Creek Nature Center.

A Friends Group Built by Friends

“My best friend said, ‘This year, I’m going to train you to be a cashier.’ Did that. Had a nice time doing that,” Kathy said about how she started with the group. “And then somebody wanted me to fill in and help with soup. So I helped with soup. Now, it’s been 12 years.”

“I got roped into it by a friend as well,” said Mary Christensen, “The Nature Center has always been a special place to me. So, when my girlfriend, who was in charge of Nature’s Noel, asked me to come help with frozen foods, I said okay.”

Jane Schildroth, who bestowed upon herself the title of Empress of Soup, shared a similar origin story, saying, “I got involved with the Plant Sale. Just arranging plants and digging. Berta Ringold is the one who roped me in. Then pretty soon I was helping to make soup for Nature’s Noel.”

While many members were “roped in” by friends, the welcoming community helps build friendships within the group as well. 

Even during the busy week leading into Nature’s Noel, when members are handcrafting hundreds of holiday centerpieces from fresh evergreens, the air is still filled with joy because of the collaborative and supportive environment. 

“This week before Nature’s Noel is just magical,” Kathy said with a smile, “You smell the evergreen when you walk into the barn, and there are all these people and all this stuff we’ve collected, or that’s been donated. And all these people just working, and making beautiful things. It’s really neat.”

“It goes from a pile of stuff on a table to things people buy and take home to put on their table. It’s just inspirational,” shared Jane, “I don’t consider myself creative, but it is really fun working on a hanging basket or centerpiece, because we don’t do it in isolation.”

Mary Schlichte having fun collecting fresh evergreens for Nature's Noel with fellow volunteer George McClain.
Kathy Severson has been bringing joy and cheer to Nature's Noel for years with her leadership and her red 'Rudolph' nose.
Jane Schildroth, Empress of Soup, at Nature's Noel with her special assistant and potential heir to her soup throne.

The Future of the Friends Group

The group is always finding ways to evolve to meet challenges, improve their events, and welcome new volunteers. Their favorite story of this evolution is how they improved their methods for preparing the frozen soups sold at Nature’s Noel.

Mary shared that “It started out with individuals doing soups in their homes, but soon we decided we needed to do it together.” This ensured a higher quality of soup but left the challenge of lifting and moving heavy soup pots, and they kept needing to find a new kitchen.

“We were doing soups in various places, but then we started thinking about how to make it sustainable. Then we came up with the idea of vendors giving us the soup,” said Jane, who began getting local restaurants to donate the soup.

Now, in the group’s 50th year, the Friends are still thinking about what it will take to keep the group going for another 50 years. There have been discussions of hosting wreath-making classes, and finding more sustainable ways to run the events, and, critically, preserving the Barn facilities.

Friends in the Barn
The Barn facilities are essential to the Friends of the Nature Center’s work.

Mary makes clear that “the barn is so vital to what we do today. When I started we were working in big canvas tents out in the yard by the barn with fires to keep us warm. Working outside where your fingers were freezing and you were trying to twist wire to hold pine cones on your centerpiece. We were so grateful when we finally had space inside. I don’t know exactly what the future holds for the barn, but I sure hope it continues to be a workplace for the Friends group.” 

As pivotal as the Barn space is for the group, every member knows the heart of the group is the people.

Kathy wants everyone to know how easy it is to start volunteering with the Friends, saying, “There is no secret handshake or anything. It does not cost to be a member of the friends group.”

“We have to keep finding those folks that will step up and have the energy to keep it going,” said Jane. “I’ll need someone to take over my place as Empress of Soup.”

Who knows, maybe the next sovereign of soup, regent of wreaths, or monarch of magnolias will be you.

Learn more about the Friends group by visiting our Volunteer page.
SIgn Up to Volunteer
]]> https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/blog/volunteer-group-sustained-by-community/feed/ 0 Doing Corporate Conservation the Right Way https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/blog/doing-corporate-conservation-the-right-way/ https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/blog/doing-corporate-conservation-the-right-way/#respond Thu, 04 Dec 2025 15:33:57 +0000 https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/?p=36066

A Model for Corporate Environmental Programs

It’s common for corporations to highlight their sustainability initiatives without building an environmental program that leads to meaningful action. ITC Midwest is different.

ITC Midwest operates an environmental program that leverages its unique advantages to make a real-world impact on one of the most pressing ecological challenges of our time – habitat loss.

Restoring native habitat is one of the most powerful tools for supporting healthy ecosystems where wildlife, native plants, and humans can all thrive. 

Pollinators, such as the monarch butterfly, play a crucial role in any healthy ecosystem. In an effort to help the monarch butterfly and other pollinators, ITC Midwest is working to plant and preserve more than 38,000 acres of pollinator habitat in Iowa.

“At ITC, we always want to do the right thing. With this program, we can make a difference in our communities by engaging in efforts to restore and protect the monarch butterfly population.”

ITC Environmental Manager, Mike McNulty
ITC Midwest is creating monarch butterfly habitat by planting milkweed and nectar plants in near warehouses, substations, and under transmission lines.

Planting and Preserving Pollinator Habitat

As an energy company, ITC Midwest manages right-of-ways and easements that are necessary to access and maintain its electric transmission lines. Owning all this land presented ITC Midwest with the opportunity to make a real impact for pollinators.

The program focuses on converting turfgrass or undesirable vegetation in transmission corridors and at substations into diverse native prairie plantings and installing rain gardens with native plants at warehouses. Many of the acres are in rural areas, but they are also making a difference in our backyard.

Already, 128 acres of land in Linn County alone have been planted with different varieties of milkweed (the sole food source and nesting locations of monarch caterpillars). Milkweed seeds have been spread at Beverly Park, McLoud Run Park, Squaw Creek Park, and along the Cedar Valley Nature Trail, and the Sac and Fox Trail.

By planting milkweed in corridors across the state, ITC Midwest is operating an environmental program that will make a real and lasting impact on pollinators.

Holiday centerpieces on sale at Nature's Noel
As lead sponsor for Nature’s Noel, ITC Midwest is investing in Indian Creek Nature Center’s land restoration work and environmental education programs.

Supporting Local Environmental Leaders

ITC Midwest’s commitment to sustainability doesn’t end there. They also use corporate giving to support local organizations, like Indian Creek Nature Center, that are working to preserve native habitats. 

This year, ITC Midwest is the lead sponsor of Nature’s Noel, a holiday market that supports sustainable shopping by offering gifts that are from local vendors, sold secondhand, or handcrafted from evergreens. Plus, the proceeds from Nature’s Noel are used to support the environmental programs and land restoration work that Indian Creek Nature Center has been doing for more than 50 years.

By pairing their effective environmental program with mindful corporate giving, ITC Midwest is able to amplify their positive impact on the environment.

Thank you, ITC Midwest, for supporting Indian Creek Nature Center and for showing how to do corporate environmental initiatives the right way.

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Americorps team leaves its mark

This fall, Indian Creek Nature Center welcomed a nine-member AmeriCorps team for a six-week service project. In this short window of time, September 29 to November 12, these young individuals left an incredible impact on the Nature Center, and the Nature Center on them.

The team’s contributions can be seen across the Nature Center grounds. The easiest to see is a new shelter at the outdoor classroom, Hazelnut Hideaway. This project gave team members the opportunity to learn new skills, ranging from using basic tools like a tape measure to reading detailed project plans.

There are many other marks left by the AmeriCorps team that might be harder to see than a new shelter. The team also participated in prairie seed collection, where they learned to identify native prairie plants, and planted pawpaw trees, where they learned about tree care and more tools.

Team members also certainly learned what a hard day’s work felt like, as they spent many hours doing the intense work of removing invasive and problematic plant species. 

Black locust was removed from behind Amazing Space, the area around the amphitheater, near Lynch Wetland, and the Stimple Prairie. Thorns and tangled branches make black locust a daunting challenge to remove. It’s astounding how much the team removed. 

One area that may be unrecognizable (in a good way) after the AmeriCorps team’s hard work is the barn site, where ICNC was originally headquartered. The team grubbed out honeysuckle bushes and cut back encroaching mulberries. 

Benjamin, an AmeriCorps NCCC team member who was also here in the spring, noticed progress made in the battle against invasive species. During a project-wrapping presentation, Benjamin shared, “When we went to remove the invasives in the spring, they were big. When we came this time, they were much smaller. That was nice to see.”

The team also removed sumac and Siberian Elm from the Lynch Wetland, honeysuckle from the outdoor classroom, and autumn olive from the Cedar Rapids Prairie. By now, team members may be experts at identifying a variety of invasive species, a skill that will be valuable for any future careers in conservation.

Etzel Sugar Grove Farm also benefited from the AmeriCorps team’s service. The team helped plant prairie around the farm’s new workshop, assembled office furniture, helped with land maintenance, and planted garlic in the permaculture field.

While getting their hands dirty at the organic farm, team members learned how to use different farming tools and equipment, contributed to the fall harvest, and gained first-hand knowledge about regenerative agriculture.

Each of these wide-ranging projects left a positive impact on Indian Creek Nature Center’s mission, and having the team on site advanced the timeline for each project. Jean shared the simple beauty of having the team by saying, “When you have nine more people, you get more done.”

Indian Creek Nature Center is grateful for these young individuals who choose to serve their country through the AmeriCorps NCCC program. Beyond all the tangible skills the participants learned during their six-week service project, team members also got to experience the sense of community nurtured at the Nature Center.

“You have been a great staff, a great host for us, our team,” Benjamin said during his presentation. “I have been here twice. I’ve spent probably over three months here in total, and I have a very high opinion of this place. I think it’s amazing. I love the land. I really feel connected to the community working here. So, thank you.”

And, thank you.
]]> https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/blog/americorps-completes-service-project/feed/ 0 Sustainable Holiday Tips https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/blog/sustainable-holiday-tips/ https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/blog/sustainable-holiday-tips/#respond Thu, 06 Nov 2025 20:55:05 +0000 https://live-indian-creek-nc-org.pantheonsite.io/?p=35369

Holidays with less waste

The holiday season brings good cheer, fun festivities, cherished memories, and usually lots of trash heading to the landfill. 

According to Stanford Researchers, between Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve Americans create about 25% more waste compared to the rest of the year.

You can help reduce the amount waste the holidays create without losing out on the good cheer with these tips for a more sustainable holiday season.

sustainable shopping

Finding ways to reduce waste while shopping can be complicated when factoring in packaging, transportation of godds, and still trying to find that just-right gift.

With a little creativity, we can find ways to make sustainable shopping simple.

Gift Experiences

There’s no rule that says your gift has to be a thing. Why not gift an experience?

The experience can be big or small. It could be a gift card to a restaurant they’ve mentioned wanting to try, tickets to a theatre production, a pass to local museum, or a membership to Indian Creek Nature Center.

It can even be an experience with you! After all, there’s no greater gift than the gift of time together.

Shopping online with a warm cup of cocoa while wearing your favorite holiday pajamas is really convenient, but it also comes with lots of packaging, much of which can’t even be recycled.

Instead, get out the door and visit local shops, such as the Creekside Shop. This boosts the local economy, reduces waste and energy costs from transportation, and usually you’ll find rare gifts you can’t find anywhere else. Plus, you can still wear those pajamas if you want.

New isn’t always better. There are tons of things that for one reason or another people move on from well before the item is worn, broken or outdated.

Everything from books and toys to board games and jewelry make wonderful secondhand gifts. There is also plenty of fun secondhand decorations available in Noel’s Attic at Nature’s Noel each year.

sustainable gifting

It’s an unspoken holiday tradition. After the thrill of family members ripping open their gifts, someone comes around with a garbage bag to start collecting the wrappers. Soon the bag is stuffed full, tied off and set outside to await delivery to the landfill.

There are plenty of alternatives to traditional wrapping paper that remove the waste but preserve the joy of opening a gift.

Gift Bags

Reuse your gift bags, and encourage those you share gifts with to do the same. 

After the holidays, simply removing any stickers or other identifiers of who the gift was to or from, fold it flat, and store it until next time. Bags with holiday designs are fun, but solid colors or nondescript patterns can allow you to reuse the bag at any occasion.

Love the tradition of wrapping presents? If you have a sewing machine and basic sewing skills, you can make reusable wrapping paper from fun fabrics bought at your local quilting shop.

When using the reusable wrapping paper, don’t forget to share that it’s reusable with the one opening the gift so they don’t accidentally throw it away.

Simple instructions on how to make reusable wrapping paper.

sustainable decoratng

From the lights on the roof to the wreath on the front door, decorations have long been part of the holiday tradition.

Whether you put up your decorations in December or the day after Halloween, you can fill your home with holiday joy while minimizing waste.

Buy a Real Tree

According to the Nature Conservancy, buying a real tree is better for the environment than buying a fake tree.

10 million fake trees are purchased in America every year with 90% of those needing to be shipped from China, increasing their carbon footprint. Most of these millions of fake trees are made from non-recyclable materials that are eventually headed to a landfill.

Getting a real tree supports local tree farmers, who plant 2 to 3 new trees to replace each tree sold. Even though your tree is cut down, your purchase helps support the maintenance of healthy forests. There are also ways you can sustainably dispose of your real tree.

Take a nature break to stroll outside and collect pinecones. 

Pinecones can make beautiful ornaments for the tree, add holiday charm to decorations on your door or fireplace, or be tied to a present with twine for a festive and natural touch.

Replace the plastic decorations with handcrafted decorations created with real evergreens.

Every year, volunteers with the Friends of the Nature Center handcraft wreaths, kissing balls, and centerpieces using freshly harvested evergreen branches. These one-of-a-kind creations are sold at Nature’s Noel on the first Saturday of December.

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