Thursday and Saturday Workday Sign Ups
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Thursday and Saturday workdays are a great way to begin volunteering and find out what happens at Nachusa.
Check the Calendar for upcoming workday plans. Dates are added when stewards sign up to lead workdays. Advance registration for workdays is required on SignUpGenius. Workday Safety Protocols are in effect for all workdays and other volunteer events until further notice. TNC Volunteer Agreements must be signed by all volunteers who have not submitted one since 2021. Volunteers meet at the Headquarters Barn area prior to workdays. |
Check out the answers to these commonly asked questions and the photos below to learn more about our workdays.
When and where do Workdays take place?
- From May to February, we will be offering both Thursday and Saturday workdays, dependent on the availability of steward leaders.
- May to October workdays take place from 9 am to noon, and November to February workdays begin at 10 am and end at 1 pm.
- Meet at the Nachusa Grasslands Headquarters Barn, 8772 S. Lowden Road in Franklin Grove, IL.
- Each week's plans are are posted on our Calendar, Twitter feed, and Friends of Nachusa Grasslands Facebook page two or three days in advance of workdays with open slots.
- Workdays do not occur during March and April due to controlled burn season. There are some opportunities to be a part of our controlled burns after being certified. Find out more information on our Prescribed Fire Crew Recruitment page.
What can i expect to do on a workday?
General Information:
Check out The Nature Conservancy website to learn more about other volunteer opportunities in Illinois.
- An experienced steward will plan and lead the workday, making sure that everyone understands the day's tasks and follows safety protocols.
- Training and equipment will be provided.
- Depending on the day's activities, the effort required can range from easy to strenuous.
- The safety of everyone involved is always our first priority, and each participant must remain aware of potential hazards when volunteering at the preserve.
- Processing, mixing, and planting seeds
- Loppering branches and shrubs
- Applying herbicide
- Dragging limbs and vines to brush piles
- Burning brush piles when conditions permit
- Collecting seeds, using scissors and snips
- Pulling, digging, or clipping weeds
- Applying herbicide
Check out The Nature Conservancy website to learn more about other volunteer opportunities in Illinois.
what should i wear to a workday?
- For all workdays, wear long pants, sturdy footwear, socks, a hat, and work gloves.
- Sunscreen and insect repellent, especially for ticks and mosquitoes, are recommended.
- Face masks are optional, but you are welcome to wear one if you wish.
- During winter, wear adequate cold weather gear: heavy jacket, sweatshirt, long pants, boots, gloves, and a hat.
- You may encounter multiflora rose and other thorny plants, so choose old clothing that you don't care about snagging.
- For all work in wooded areas, eye wear is required. If you do not have eye wear, safety glasses will be provided to you.
- For all tasks requiring the use of hand cutting tools (loppers, snips, scissors, bow saws, etc.), work gloves are required.
What should I bring to a workday?
- Bring:
o Work gloves (required)
o Water and snacks - Masks are optional, but you are welcome to wear one if you wish.
- Sunscreen and insect repellent, especially for ticks and mosquitoes, are recommended.
- Volunteers are invited to bring a sack lunch and eat at the Headquarters Barn with staff members and other volunteers after the workday.
- If you are coming for extra credit, bring the form or paper that the steward needs to sign. It is your responsibility to make sure this gets done.
How do I sign up in advance to attend a workday?
- To volunteer at Nachusa Grasslands, you don't have to complete a volunteer application, but you do need to register in advance to attend a workday via SignUpGenius (https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080945afa82baafb6-nachusa8).
- You will also need to sign the TNC Volunteer Agreement if you did not do so in 2021 or 2022.
- Our volunteers have diverse backgrounds, wide ranging skills and abilities, and, above all, a strong desire to make a difference.
- Just sign yourself up once for each event.
- Each volunteer should sign up separately. You can use the same email address for a different person if you wish.
- Repeat volunteers: If your answers to the required questions complete automatically, please update them as appropriate.
- If your plans change, please delete your signup or email the coordinator.
WHEN CAN COLLEGE STUDENTS ATTEND WORKDAYS TO EARN EXTRA CREDIT OR FULFILL A CLASS REQUIREMENT?
- College students seeking extra credit or fulfilling class requirements are welcome to participate in workdays as long as they come prepared to engage fully in the planned activities.
- If you are planning on attending a workday, please discuss your participation with your instructor and bring any paperwork that the steward leader should sign.
- You do not need to telephone or email us, but you do need to sign up in advance.
See our Volunteer Opportunities page for more details.
are there workday age requirements?
- During the months of November to February, special safety protocols are followed, and children under age 18 may not participate.
- From May to October, children ages 10 to 17 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
- Younger children may find the workday tasks tedious or difficult, and stewards cannot usually accommodate their interests and abilities.
what are the SPECIAL safety protocols for late fall and winter workdays?
- Safety measures and age requirements have been set up for late fall and winter workdays.
- See our Workdays - November to February page for details.
in addition to workdays, are there other volunteer opportunities at nachusa?
Additional volunteer opportunities at Nachusa include:
- Serving on a prescribed burn crew (requires certification)
- Monitoring streams and species from blooms to insects to birds
- Leading hikes and tours (cancelled for 2021)
- Serving as a Visitor Center docent
- Sharing photography, art, or writing
- Maintaining equipment, vehicles, and facilities
- Assisting with woodworking and construction projects
- Giving presentations
- Coordinating or helping with special events
- Developing publications and marketing strategies
- Raising funds
When and how are workdays and other nachusa events cancelled?
- Workdays may be cancelled when the steward leader is unavailable or special events are taking place at Nachusa Grasslands, during controlled burns, or due to inclement weather conditions: unsafe temperatures, high winds (especially for workdays in wooded areas), rain, deep snow, and/or icy roads.
- Whenever possible, cancellations are posted on our Calendar, Twitter feed, and Friends of Nachusa Grasslands Facebook page.
Workday Photo Gallery
The pictures below describe a typical May-November workday from start to finish. A photo gallery for our November-February workdays can be found on our November-February Workdays page. Follow the links below to sign-up and learn more about our current safety protocols. We hope to see you soon!
1. Before volunteers meet at the Visitor Center, the workday leader gathers all the equipment needed. Volunteers must bring their own work gloves, mask, water, and snacks. We strongly suggest wearing long pants, long sleeves, and sturdy shoes. 
2. Volunteers meet at the Headquarters Barn area to learn about the day's tasks and sign "The Nature Conservancy Volunteer Agreement" if they have not yet done so. |
3. Volunteers will be led to a specific area. Wearing masks is optional when riding in Nachusa vehicles, but not in the field. Sunscreen and insect repellent, especially for ticks and mosquitoes, are recommended. 
4. Experience is not required, only the willingness to get outside and help us! The workday leader will show you how to perform each task. Likely activities include weed removal, seed harvesting, or brush clearing. |
5. Volunteers will work throughout the morning, taking breaks as needed. Our leaders are very knowledgeable and will make sure each workday is engaging and educational.
6. At the end of the workday, equipment will be collected, brush or weeds piled up, and seeds transferred. Volunteers are welcome to stay after the workday and enjoy the rest of Nachusa on their own. |
To be notified of each workday's plans, join our weekly Workday E-Mail List and/or our Facebook page.
If your workday questions are not answered above or on another website page (including our general Nachusa FAQs), please Contact Us.
UPDATED 04/2024