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
Location: Depending on the weather and what the stewardship crew is currently working on volunteers might be removing invasive plants or planting native species in selected locations.
Parking: Please park in the main parking lot just past Talahi Lodge. Be aware of children as you arrive and leave as we have camp going on this time of year.
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.
Or we will be planting native species in our demonstration gardens and other selected areas. You will be using trowels and other small hand tools. Some workdays might also include some weeding of demonstration garden plots.
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
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
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