Friends of Nachusa Grasslands
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Autumn on the Prairie

Saturday, September 16, 2017; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This annual event is open to the public. Parking is $5, and donations will also be accepted at the Welcome Tent.
Riding Prairie Tours – Look for Bison
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Tickets until 2 p.m.)
  • Each person take a number at the Tours Tent.
  • The Bison Tours ticket supply will be limited, based on festival attendance and the location of the herd, so pick up your tickets by 2 p.m.
  • You can join a tour anytime your number is below the one written on the white board.
  • When you are ready, walk west to the tent by the fence gate and get in line.
  • Bring your ticket, as it will be collected.
  • First come, first served for all numbers less than the one posted.
  • You will ride on a trailer through the preserve.
  • Visitors with low mobility must be able to climb a set of steps into the trailer.
  • Finding the bison is not guaranteed, as they cannot always be seen from the lanes.
  • The last tour will leave at 4 p.m., so please get in line before 3:45 p.m.
Guided Hiking Tours
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Experienced guides will lead walking tours of Nachusa's prairies, woodlands, and wetlands.
  • Details on the times, destinations, length, and difficulty of the hikes will be available before AOTP.
  • This information will also be posted by the Tours Tent.
  • Several walking tours will depart from the AOTP site.
  • Shuttled tours will drop you off and pick you up at a place on the preserve and then return you to the AOTP site.
  • Meet at the Tours Tent at least 5 minutes before the scheduled departure.
  • Tours inside the Bison Unit will be limited to 12 people and will be cancelled or relocated if the herd is in the vicinity.
  • The number of participants for other tours may be limited, based on available transportation.
  • All tour length times are approximate.
  • Sturdy shoes and long pants are recommended for the Hiking Tours, as most are off trail with hills.
Activities at the AOTP Site
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

  • Self-Guided Plant ID Walking Path
  • Catering by Oliver’s Market (11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
  • Northern Illinois Raptor Rehab & Education
  • Welcome Tent Info and T-Shirt Sales (New Design!)
  • Children’s Tent Activities
  • Books on First Sales
  • Kettlecorn by Farming Heritage, Inc.
  • Bison Exhibits
  • Live Music
  • Prairie Art and Photography
  • Native American Skills
  • Ojibwe Beadwork Demonstrations
  • Woodcarving Display
  • Local Produce Sales
All posted plans are subject to change.

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2075 Lowden Road             |           Franklin Grove, IL 61031              |             Contact Us


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  • Home
  • About Friends
    • Mission, Leadership, Objectives, and Financials
    • Endowments
    • Heritage Heroes Initiative
    • Friends Annual Reports
    • Newsletters >
      • PrairiE–Update (email)
      • A Prairie Calling (print and digital)
    • Friends Annual Meeting 2022
    • Commenting Policy
  • Plan Your Visit
    • Hours & Parking
    • Directions and Map
    • Visitor Center
    • Pet Policy
    • Public Bison Tours
    • Bison Viewing
    • Hiking >
      • Hiking Guidelines
      • Hiking Destinations
      • Stone Barn Savanna Tour
      • Visitor Center Trail
      • Scavenger Hunt
    • What's In Bloom?
    • Autumn on the Prairie
    • Exploring Nachusa Grasslands on Your Own
    • Things to Do
    • Places to Eat and Stay
    • Local Sites to Visit and Explore
  • Donate
  • Calendar
  • Volunteer
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Thursday and Saturday Workdays >
      • Workday Signup
      • Volunteer Workday Safety Protocols
      • Workdays – November to February
      • Leader Workday Safety Protocols
      • Steward Workday Tips
    • Stewardship Teams
    • Workday Email List
    • Steward Login
  • Stewardship
    • Nachusa Stewardship
    • Restorations
    • Planting Histories >
      • Stewardship Unit Planting Histories
      • Planting Histories in Chronological Order
      • Science Symposium Abstracts 2016
    • Stewards and Staff
    • Groups and Committees
    • Available Units
    • Controlled Burns
    • Prescribed Fire Recruitment
    • Restoration Publications
    • Stewardship Resources >
      • Weekly Top Picks
      • Seed Collection Guides
      • Invasive Plant Management
      • Invasive Identification
      • Monitoring
      • Links & Resources
  • Science
    • Science at Nachusa Grasslands
    • Science Grants >
      • Science Grants 2023
      • Science Grants 2022
      • Science Grants 2021
      • Science Grants 2020
      • Science Grants 2019
      • Science Grants 2018
      • Science Grants 2017
      • Science Grants 2016
      • Science Grants 2015
      • Science Grants 2014
      • Science Grants 2013/2012/2011
    • Science Symposium 2023
    • Science Symposium Abstracts >
      • Science Symposium Abstracts 2019
      • Science Symposium Abstracts 2018
      • Science Symposium Abstracts 2017
    • Potential Research Topics
    • Scientific Publications
    • Testimonials >
      • Dr. Holly Jones
      • Dr. Nick Barber
      • Kimberly Elsenbroek
    • Science Videos
    • Become a Community Scientist >
      • About Community Scientists
      • Butterfly Monitoring
      • Calling Frog Monitoring
      • Dragonflies & Damselflies
      • RiverWatch
  • About Nachusa
    • General Info
    • Prairie Smoke Annual Reports
    • Plant Inventory >
      • Common Names
      • Genus Species
    • Animal Inventory >
      • Amphibians
      • Birds
      • Bison Bison >
        • Bison
        • Bison Babies Broadcast Videos
      • Fish
      • Insects
      • Mammals
      • Other Arthropods
      • Reptiles
    • History
    • Jobs
    • Hunting
    • Geology >
      • Geology Part 1
      • Geology Part 2
      • Geology Part 3
    • 30th Anniversary Memories
    • Websites of Interest
  • BLOG AND MEDIA
    • Nachusa Blog
    • In The News
    • Photo Gallery >
      • Spring Photos
      • Summer Photos
      • Autumn Photos
      • Winter Photos
      • Visitor Photos
    • Submit Your Photos
    • Videos
  • Contact Us / FAQs