Chapter Programs

Most monthly programs are open to both members and non-members. However, some will have space or venue limitations and will need pre-registration. Indoor programs will typically be held in the Fellowship Hall on the lower level of the Emmaus Baptist Church, 712 Linden Street N, Northfield, Minnesota. Parking is located on the south side of the church.

Chapter Program Schedule

Programs at Emmaus Church unless otherwise noted.  Outside tour dates may change due to weather. 

Upcoming 2025 Programs

Saturday September 20th – 10AM Seed harvest – Nancy’s Prairie 

Come and enjoy their prairie while you harvest seeds of some of your favorite native prairie plants for your personal use.  Nancy and Jim are moving to town so this may be your last chance to visit their prairie.  
They have had hundreds of monarchs flocking up for their migration in the trees next to the prairie.  Monarchs gather up each fall to travel together on their way to winter roosts in Mexico and need to fuel up on nectar rich plants to prepare for the journey. Most will have headed south before the 20th, but some may still be around.

Sept, date TBD – Koester prairie – help with seed harvest (with master naturalists)

October 9th, 7pm at Emmaus Church- Shelley Gorham, DNR – restorations/wildlife

November 13th, 6pm start, at Emmaus Church – Native Seed share, led by Scott R., seed germination demo by Nancy S and Polly H, plus appetizers, socializing

You don’t need to bring seed to exchange, just come and find seeds you’d like and learn about winter sowing and seed germination.

December 11th, 11AM – Luncheon at St. Olaf Buntrock Commons

 

Past 2025 Programs

January 9th, 7pm zoom event: Rare ones in Wild Habitats

January 21st: Minnesota Wild Ones chapters are hosting:- Neonics & Advocacy: Protecting Pollinators and Influencing Policy

Jan 25th,  10AM-2PM: Grow Monarch Habitat  Hosted by Wild Ones Twin Cities Chapter

February 13th, 7pm: Zoom presentation – Barb Bolan – Secrets of Monarchs and Milkweeds.  How can we help this declining species recover? If you missed it, you can check out the presentation here: Secrets of Monarchs and Milkweeds. 

Feb 20th: Led by Master Naturalists: Rice County Roadside Prairie Remnants – What can you do to help protect these gems? – Presented by Nancy Braker, Arboretum Director, Carleton College and Jim Platt, Cannon River Valley Master Naturalist Leadership Team.

March 13th, 7pm, at Emmaus Church: Lessons learned in protecting and restoring biodiversity – conservation in action”.  Come and hear about this newly released book by one of the editors, Bonnie Harper-Lore.

April 10th – Chapter Anniversary Dinner

April 29th, 6:30pm – What’s blooming at Rice Lake State Park – Owatonna.

May 17 – May 18 – SE MN Prairie Partner Chapter Plant Sale.

June 17th 3-5pm – prairie remnant roadside restoration project – evaluation and workday.  

Thursday July 10th – Lake Byllesby tour stops

July 16th, 6:30pm – Weeding the spring ephemeral native planting at Lashbrook Park

Table/Booth event – Rice County Fair July 16th to 20th

Saturday July 26 afternoon – Northfield yard tours

Friday August 1st,  Twilight walk, moth observation, frog and fireflies watch… Owls… – Family event, with Master Naturalists

August 14th, 2pm – Whitewater area  -Tour of Michael Larson’s restored prairie and a visit/tour of Whitewater Gardens Farm Native Nursery tour (includes an opportunity to buy native plants)