Chapter Events

Aaron Sawatsky-Kingsley, Goshen City Forester and  Environmental Resilience Department Lead, will join us to chat about Goshen's efforts to support community native trees. 

Wild Ones South Bend is hosting a free community screening of the 60 minute documentary The Extraordinary Caterpillar.  The film was made in partnership with entomologist Doug Tallamy of Homegrown National Park. The Extraordinary Caterpillar follows the scientists and community activists with a peek into the dazzling world of nature’s tiniest superheroes. Suitable for all ages.

Lindsey Spaulding will lead a drop in tour of Milkweed Commons's native garden. Milkweed Commons is an urban development project on the 500 block of South Michigan which includes rehabilitation of two historic mixed-use buildings and transformation of the adjacent vacant lots into community green spaces. The larger of the two lots will be a Pocket Park and the smaller will be a Micro Farm. The project is led by Herstoric Development, with their non-profit arm Milkweed Gardens Inc. stewarding the outdoor spaces.

Native plants are the foundation of habitat, but wildlife need more than food to thrive. Join ecologist and Certified Wildlife Biologist Shaun McCoshum, PhD, to explore how nesting sites, shelter, water, soil conditions, and other often-overlooked resources can transform a yard into a functioning ecosystem that supports biodiversity year-round.

Registration link coming soon.

The Walnut Grove community in South Bend maintains a unique 10 acre native plant and wildlife habitat. Please arrive at 10am for a guided tour of this unique property.  Cars should park on 29th street and meet at the Habitat sign on the corner of N 27th Street and E Colfax.

Dr. Cortwright of Indiana University Northwest will join us to chat about our local amphibians.

What does it really take to turn a conventional lawn into a thriving native meadow? Join Owner & Principal, New Directions in the American Landscape (NDAL), Sara Weaner Cooper for a candid look at her family's ongoing lawn-to-meadow transformation featured in The New York Times and BBC. Drawing from three years of hands-on experience, Sara will share the methods, lessons learned, successes, and challenges of converting turfgrass into a dynamic native plant community. Participants will gain practical insights into site preparation, planting, management, and the ecological principles that guide successful meadow establishment, along with realistic expectations for how these landscapes evolve over time.

Registration link coming soon.

Purchase native plants from local nurseries and talk to our community partners.

John Brittenham of Blue Heron Restoration: “Fire Dependent Ecosystems”

Bats are among the most important and misunderstood wildlife in our communities. Join experts from Bat Conservation International to explore how native plants, healthy insect populations, and thoughtful landscape design can help support bats. Learn about the ecological role of bats and discover practical ways to create habitat for North America's night flyers right in your own backyard.

Registration link coming soon.

Presenter: Indiana's State Botanist, Scott Namestneck

Monarch butterflies depend on a network of habitats stretching across North America, and home landscapes can play an important role in their survival. Join experts from Monarch Joint Venture to explore the science behind monarch conservation, including the importance of milkweed, nectar resources, and regionally appropriate habitat. Learn practical ways to support monarchs through native landscaping and help sustain one of the world's most remarkable migrations.
 

Registration link coming soon.