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.
Nov 2026
Volunteers have been busy this fall collecting native prairie seeds, now it is time to prep them for planting. Join us for a morning of breaking seed out of its husk, cleaning it, and bagging it for storage. All the seed collected and cleaned at TNI will go back ont the property to increase biodiversity and will be planted in our greenhouse.
Volunteers should meet at the Maintenance shed on Levis Lane.
Godfrey, IL,62035
Description:
Have an old telescope laying around, but never use it? Always wanted to look at the universe through a telescope, but don’t own one? You are in luck! Come on out to the Talahi Lodge on the night after a full moon and we will have some set up. You can also bring your own and we can help you use it. We will talk about how telescopes work and look at the moon and other night sky objects.
Program Fees:
Free for members, $5 for non-members
Registration Required
Yes
Things to Bring:
Water Bottle
Telescope you would like to learn how to use (optional)
Binoculars (optional)
Godfrey, IL,62035
Nature Journaling Edition
This month we are going to skip our walk and enjoy a morning of creating art. We will gather some materials from outdoors to inspire our journal entries.
Feel free to bring your own nature journal and favorite art medium. I will have some basic kits available to use as well.
Description:
Roaming Naturalists is a monthly hike designed for adults (all ages welcome) that want to learn more about the natural world. Topics will range from birds to plants to insects and beyond. While each hike will have a topic of focus, we will allow the interest of the group and the surprises that nature throws at us to determine what we learn on our hike.
Meet your guide at the trail head parking lot. Hikes will range from 1-2 miles (rarely 3 miles) and easy to moderate terrain. These hikes will occur rain or shine. In the event of icy conditions, or excessive snow, the hike may be canceled. The Nature Institute closes for the weather when Alton Public Schools close.
Program Fees:
Free, but donations are appreciated
Registration Required:
No, but preferred (You will receive a reminder email if you register ahead of time.)
Things to bring:
Reusable water bottle
Nature Journal (Optional)
Art Supplies (Optional)
Godfrey, IL,62035