Natural Land Institute

Filing Period

Jan 1, 2012 to Dec 31, 2012

Signed

May 10, 2013

Return Version

2012v2.1

Gross Receipts

$1,572,352

Mission

Major Activities

Activity 2

Nygren wetland preserve - restoration of 705-acre preserve at the confluence of the rock and pecatonica rivers. Many volunteers have contributed significant time and effort to the restoration. The tasks completed range from removing invasive plants and monitoring plant and animal species to mowing and controlled burning and even heavy machinery repair. Natural land institute coordinated and hosted several events and programs throughout the year to create awareness about restoration and preservation work that is done at nygren wetland preserve and to give people a way to connect to the natural world. A class of retired individuals from the center for learning in retirement (clr) of rock valley college took a tour on september 20th. The honors biology class from hononegah high school moved their classroom outdoors for two days in september so they could learn firsthand what lives in and around the different bodies of water at the preserve. The education committee worked with four third grade classes from washington academy on october 1st at nygren wetland preserve. The students explored the preserve by looking for plants, bodies of water, insects, signs of wildlife and taking pictures of what they saw.south beloit high school biology students visited in october to do water sampling and a vegetation survey. They saw the large beaver dam on raccoon creek and learned how it impacted the area above and below the dam.wander at the wetland was held on sunday, january 8. About 250 people attended the moonlight hike and enjoyed hot cocoa, cookies, luminaries and bonfires. Wesley willows residents who signed up were treated to a bus tour around the preserve in june.wildflower weekend was july 14 and 15 . Attendees were able to see how prairies are drought resistant and saw the splendor of the deep-rooted compass plants, prairie sage, milkweed, black eyed susans and hoary vervain, among others. More than 240 people attended the two day event that featured activities, exhibitors, a photo scavenger hunt, wildflower prairie tours and wagon rides around the preserve .

Activity 3

Mississippi blufflands projects - preserve natural land along the bluffs of the mississippi river. America's great outdoors report listed the mississippi river bluffs as one of more than 100 projects in 50 states designed to protect special place and increase to outdoor spaces. This recognition of the improtance of the bluffs region was the result of a strategic education effort by the program.natural land institute worked with the quad city audubon and the interstate rc & d stewardship volunteers to present a spring open house at milan bottoms so the public could have a chance to see migrating birds, a heron rookery and other wildlife. More than 300 attended the event.during the summer eric anderson, nlis mississippi blufflands project director, worked with graduate students from western illinois university to measure turtles - 26 painted turtles and 3 snapping turtles were captured and released.on september 11th, 32 john deere international employees from the quad cities area helped plant 500 trees at the preserve.

Filer

EIN

36-2478025