April - June Programs
ADULTS ( 16+ )

Your interest may be the deciding factor to run a program!  Most programs require advanced registration. Click HERE for a registration form.  Please try to register at least 7 days in advance.  Waiting until the last minute may result in a program being canceled due to low enrollment or missing out because it is full. Please register for classes by calling 309.874.2174 or emailing register@sugargrovenaturecenter.org.

Our newsletter, The Nature of the Grove, is available in PDF form. Check it out, HERE.

Growing Up Wild/Early Childhood Project Learning Tree
Workshop for Formal & Non-formal Educators:
Thursday, April 12; 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Introduce your students to a critical component of childhood development. 
Designed for early childhood educators of children ages 3-7, this program will provide an introduction to environmental education at a key developmental period in children's lives.  You will learn how to encourage children to explore and discover their natural surroundings and communicate in expressive ways.  Topics include exploring nature with five senses, meeting neighborhood trees, experiencing trees through the seasons, engages children in outdoor play, and much more.  All lessons are correlated to the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Standards and the Head Start Domains.  In addition to the curriculum guides, participants will receive the accompanying PLT CD features music from children's musician Billy B. Brennan that encourages children to sing, dance and move.  Project Learning Tree is the environmental education program of the American Forest Foundation and sponsored in Illinois by the Environmental Education Association of Illinois.
Fee: $50 includes both curriculum guides, resources, and snacks.  CPDU’s available.  Registration and prepayment required.  Download form at www.sugargrovenaturecenter.org/registernow.pdf.

Stewardship Work Day
Saturday, April 14; 9:00-11:00 a.m.
Don Schmidt leads a faithful group of volunteers in a variety of stewardship activities every other Saturday.  Stop out on occasion or join the group on a regular basis to assist with exotic species removal, seed collection, and other projects.  Work days include learning about Illinois' natural history first-hand, while spending a nice morning with friends who believe in the importance of being stewards of the environment.
Fee: Free; no registration required for individuals.  Groups interested in helping must contact the Nature Center at least one week prior to the workday to determine whether the planned activity is suitable.

Wildflower Walk
Sunday, April 22; 2:00 p.m.
Celebrate Earth Day with a walk in the woods led by Wild Ones members to discover the flowers that carpet the forest floor every spring.  Note that due to the early spring, the topic may be altered depending on what is in bloom.
Fee: Free/members of SGNC or Wild Ones, $5/person non-members; registration required.

Stewardship Work Day
Saturday, April 28; 9:00-11:00 a.m.
Don Schmidt leads a faithful group of volunteers in a variety of stewardship activities every other Saturday.  Stop out on occasion or join the group on a regular basis to assist with exotic species removal, seed collection, and other projects.
Fee: Free; no registration required for individuals.  Groups interested in helping must contact the Nature Center at least one week prior to the workday to determine whether the planned activity is suitable.

RiverWatch Citizen Scientist Training Workshop
Saturday, April 28; 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Join RiverWatch to become a part of a large network of volunteers who steward and protect Illinois streams.  RiverWatch certified volunteers, referred to as Citizen Scientists, are trained to detect and track the changes in water quality as suggested by changes in the population of macroinvertebrates, such as dragonfly nymphs, beetle larva, midges, and snails.  In doing so, they provide valuable insight to the health of our rivers and streams.  This interactive workshop will give you the tools to test water quality and collect reliable data.  No previous experience is necessary, just enthusiasm and the willingness to learn.  Visit ngrrec.org to learn more about RiverWatch.
Fee: $50/person, registration required.  Registration is through the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center. For more information on registering, visit ngrrec.org/riverwatch or contact Nate Keener at 618-468-2782 or nkeener@lc.edu.  Please bring a sack lunch. 

Watercolors Series with Cynthia Kukla: A Special Focus on Color, Spring
Sunday, April 29; 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Since color is one of the hardest areas to gain confidence with when you paint, Cynthia has designed a special set of workshops to help you gain in confidence with using color.  The seasons naturally will guide us. For spring, we have colors to explore in the Delicate Triad and in full palette mixtures including cadmium yellow and red, alizarine crimson, violet, ultramarine blue and hooker's green (along with several variant colors.)  Combining a rich investigation of color choices with the gentle and inspiring subjects available to us at Sugar Grove, we can have a great experience advancing our confidence with painting.  Those working with acrylics are welcome to participate, too. All levels, from beginner to advanced, are encouraged to attend.
Fee: $35/members, $40/non-members, registration and prepayment required, form available at www.sugargrovenaturecenter.org/registernow.pdf.  Supply list will be sent upon registration.

Stewardship Work Day
Saturday, May 12; 9:00-11:00 a.m.
Don Schmidt leads a faithful group of volunteers in a variety of stewardship activities every other Saturday.  Stop out on occasion or join the group on a regular basis to assist with exotic species removal, seed collection, and other projects.
Fee: Free; no registration required for individuals.  Groups interested in helping must contact the Nature Center at least one week prior to the workday to determine whether the planned activity is suitable.

Outdoor Hatha Yoga
Session I: Thursdays, May 17 to June 28; no class June 14; 6:00-7:15 p.m.
Session II: Thursdays, July 12 to August 16; 6:00-7:15 p.m.
Experience the bliss of yoga in nature! The beauty of the natural surroundings will enhance your ability to breathe, relax, and leave your stress behind as you perform asanas that will improve your flexibility, strength, and resilience. Katie Funk, a certified yoga instructor at Deoskar Integrative Health in Bloomington, will guide students of all levels through a fun and restorative yoga practice. No previous yoga experience required.
Fee: $50/members, $60/non-members for each 6-class session.  Registration and prepayment required, form available at www.sugargrovenaturecenter.org/registernow.pdf.

Native Plant Sale -  ( Click for a List of Plant Species )
Member's Only: Friday, May 18; 4:00-7:00 p.m.
Open to the public: Saturday, May 19; 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
All members receive a 10% discount on their total purchase both days! Not a member?  We’ll be happy to sign you up on the spot!
Bring back our natural heritage while attracting wildlife to your yard by planting native species.  Not only are they beautiful, but they are adapted to our long, cold winters and hot, dry summers.  They require no fertilizer and, once established, do not require watering.  We will be offering a wonderful assortment of harder-to-find native perennials and shrubs to diversify your garden with color, height, foliage, and beauty!  These healthy, hardy, mature plants will arrive ready to begin landscaping your yard.  Quantities are limited and subject to supplier availability!  Visit our website, www.sugargrovenaturecenter.org, after May 1 for a list of available plants and prices.

Stewardship Work Day
Saturday, May 26; 9:00-11:00 a.m.
Don Schmidt leads a faithful group of volunteers in a variety of stewardship activities every other Saturday.  Stop out on occasion or join the group on a regular basis to assist with exotic species removal, seed collection, and other projects.  Work days include learning about Illinois' natural history first-hand, while spending a nice morning with friends who believe in the importance of being stewards of the environment.
Fee: Free; no registration required for individuals.  Groups interested in helping must contact the Nature Center at least one week prior to the workday to determine whether the planned activity is suitable.

Illinois Prairie Wild Ones Native Plant Sale at U of I Extension Building
402 N. Hershey Rd., Bloomington, IL
Saturday, May 26; 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Discounts given to members of Wild Ones and Sugar Grove Nature Center.
It will be moved indoors to the auditorium if the weather doesn't cooperate.  A list of plants will be available on the website (www.wildones.org/chapters/ilprairie/) closer to the time of the sale.  In addition to many varieties of native flowers and grasses, pre-selected kits will be available for butterfly gardens, hummingbird gardens, and urban gardens.  Experienced native plant gardeners will be available to help you with your purchases.  For more information email ciwildones.pres@gmail.com.
 
Basket Making Workshop
Saturday, June 9, 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Try your hand at weaving!  Our participants in the February class had such so much fun, we decided to do it again.  This time, create a beautiful Round Market Basket with instructor Trish Handel.  These baskets are great for fruit, gift baskets, gardening, or decorating the home.
Fee: $40/members, $45/non-members; all materials included.  Registration and prepayment required by June 1, form available at www.sugargrovenaturecenter.org/registernow.pdf.    

Stewardship Work Days
Saturdays, June 9 & 23; 8:00-10:00 a.m.
Don Schmidt leads a faithful group of volunteers in a variety of stewardship activities every other Saturday.  Stop out on occasion or join the group on a regular basis to assist with exotic species removal, seed collection, and other projects.  Work days include learning about Illinois' natural history first-hand, while spending a nice morning with friends who believe in the importance of being stewards of the environment.
Fee: Free; no registration required for individuals.  Groups interested in helping must contact the Nature Center at least one week prior to the workday to determine whether the planned activity is suitable.

Nature Photography Workshop with John Tobias
Saturday, June 30; 9:00 a.m.-noon
Explore the art of nature photography with photography instructor John Tobias! Learn to use the features of your camera while creating gorgeous photographs of the natural world. If you haven't already started taking photos for our Nature Photography Contest, now is the perfect time to start. Most of the time will be spent outdoors fine-tuning your skills, so dress to be outside! Bring your camera, gear, extra batteries, and a large memory card (or two).
Fee: $15/members, $20/non-members; registration and prepayment required.  Form available at www.sugargrovenaturecenter.org/registernow.pdf.  Ages 16+, class size is limited to 10.