Talahi Lodge
This is the education center.
Kemp and Cora Hutchinson Bird Sanctuary
Photographer Name
Date
OUR MISSION
The Nature Institute works to foster an awareness and appreciation of the natural world through preservation, restoration, and education.
The Nature Institute (TNI) is a non-profit land conservation and environmental education organization based in Godfrey, IL. Since its founding in 1980, The Nature Institute’s board and staff have worked to foster an awareness and appreciation of the natural world through preservation, restoration, and education.
Each summer TNI hosts about 400 children, grades pre-K through 6th, for Discovery Day Camp, a premier, ACA, nature day camp. Every school year, more than 8,000 area students visit TNI for field trips, including high school and college students. TNI also owns and manages more than 450 acres of protected land, such as the Olin Nature Preserve, the Mississippi Sanctuary, the Kemp and Cora Hutchinson Bird Sanctuary, and the Heartland Prairie Project at Gordon Moore Park. These natural areas provide unique places for the public to experience the diversity of the Riverbend area with its hardwood forests, prairies, and wetlands.
Jul 2026
Heartland Prairie Hikes are a long-running volunteer-led hike at Heartland Prairie at Gordon Moore Park in Alton. Join other prairie enthusiasts on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday each month April – October at 5:30 pm for a leisurely hike around Heartland Prairie.
Registration is not required for this event, you can just show up the night of and join the group.
Alton, IL,62002
Location: We will be working on TNI’s Mississippi Sanctuary Preserve at the bottom of the bluff adjacent to the Sam Vadalabene Bike Trail. Volunteers are encouraged to park in the public parking area at Hoffman Gardens and walk down the bike trail to the worksite. Map of Worksite with Parking
Terrain: The terrain will be mostly easy, but there are opportunities to remove honeysuckle on steep hillsides. This is natural forest, so there are many tripping hazards in the form of stumps, vines, sticks, and rocks.
The Job: We will be removing invasive species such as honeysuckle, oriental bittersweet, japanese hops, and beefsteak plant just to name a few. These will be removed by hand pulling, and cutting with loppers or saws. TNI staff members will use herbicide as necessary in very targeted methods. TNI staff may be using chainsaws or other power tools during the work day.
What to Wear/Bring: Volunteers should wear safe, sturdy shoes that they don’t mind getting dirty. Long pants are required, long sleeves and a hat are encouraged. Bring a filled water bottle. Please wear any extra safety gear you deem necessary. Basic work gloves and hand tools (loppers and hand saws) will be provided
Please Note: The ticks are here. Please bring and use your desired bug spray.
You can just show up or RSVP Here. If you RSVP you will receive a reminder email a few days before with further details.
Godfrey, IL,62035
Join us on a night hike through the woods. On the trails of the Mississippi Sanctuary and Olin Nature Preserve the terrain is light to moderate (may include some elevation change) and is appropriate for families. You can expect the hike to be about 2 miles, and will include stops along the way. Guides choose routes based on the group and do not pick the route until the night of the hike.
Things to Note:
- Please be on time, the hike leaves at the start time.
- Meet in front of Talahi Lodge
- Park in the lower parking lot (the rock lot at the bottom of the hill).
- Please check your email the day of the event for cancellation due to bad weather.
Program Fees:
- Members – Free
- Nonmembers – $5
Registration Required:
- Yes
Things to bring:
- Reusable water bottle
- Bug spray
- Dress in layers
- Appropriate footwear
- Flashlight, optional (guide will encourage you to keep it off for most of the hike)
Godfrey, IL,62035