This spring, we introduced new trail maps, and we are pleased to announce that corresponding signage has now been installed. A new trail kiosk has been placed at the Mississippi Sanctuary trailhead, and shortly, a map will be available along Beaver Trail to enhance navigation. Our primary objective is to ensure that visitors feel safe and can confidently traverse our trail system. If you encounter a trail sign that contradicts the map or appears confusing in its placement, please notify us so we can investigate and rectify the issue.

Recently, five brave people helped to save The Nature Institute and perhaps most of the lower Mississippi River from utter ruin and destruction. The tension was high during this more than three-hour ordeal that took place on the Mississippi Sanctuary property, which overlooks the river in question, as our heroes faced challenge after challenge. One of the intrepid folks was a young lady who took time out of her day to help, BEFORE she went to her own wedding rehearsal! Ultimately, in the end, they saved the day and TNI, and most people won’t ever hear their story…until now.

How did such a momentous event happen and never make it to the news? It all has to do with the dastardly character known only as “The Denaturizer.” The Denaturizer hid, all over the property, five devious challenges, along with five poison bombs, that if allowed to go off, would poison all life from Alton down to New Orleans. Not completely without a conscience, he left clues to solve, so that if someone clever enough could find and solve them, they could then be able to disable the poison bombs and save everyone.

If this all sounds melodramatic and hard to believe, fear not, it is just the premise to TNI’s very own “Outdoor Escape Room.” What is an outdoor escape room? Well, it is just what it sounds like, an escape room-like challenge that takes place outdoors. It is designed for ages 16 and up and takes place entirely outdoors. This program runs for up to 4 hours and may only be booked for one group at a time. Group size must be 4 – 8 people. Participants will traverse two or more miles of terrain as they search for, find, and then solve five different challenges that are themed around birds, trees, mammals, stars, and water. A staff member will be on hand to give hints and lead the group from place to place.

Our most recent group to take the challenge was here as part of a bachelorette party. They were five young women out to have fun and experience a challenge while working together to try and stop the devious Denaturizer. They completed the challenge, despite a bit of rain and a time crunch regarding getting the prospective bride to her wedding rehearsal on time! They needed few hints and completed the challenge with a time of 3 hours, 20 minutes, and 20 seconds!

If this sounds fun and you would like to book this experience for your small group, go to thenatureinstitute.org and look under “Nature Programs” and then under “Adult and Family Programs.” Perhaps you, too, can save the day and defeat the devious Denaturizer!

As the end of the year rapidly approaches, the stewardship team is reflecting on our efforts to maintain the beauty and functionality of our site for both visitors and the wildlife preparing for winter. This fall season has been particularly busy, including activities such as seed collection, mowing goldenrod, thinning weedy trees, planning controlled burns, and consistently removing invasive species. I am so excited to see these beautifully revitalized areas come spring.

Over the past two years, we have devoted significant time to the restoration of our prairies. Upon entering the site, you may notice patchy mowing in Hutchinson Prairie, where we are managing goldenrod to allow other vital prairie species to thrive. In 2023, we received a grant from the state to support our prairie restoration efforts, which has recently concluded. We have significantly reduced many aggressive invasive species and will continue our efforts to eradicate any remaining threats. We look forward to seeing the seeds we have planted flourish in areas previously dominated by invasives in the coming years.

With the completion of this grant, we are moving on to a new initiative funded by another recently awarded grant aimed at revitalizing some of our largest woodland areas along the main trails. Over the next two years, as you hike these trails, you may observe our team actively removing invasives such as honeysuckle and oriental bittersweet, as well as reducing the presence of weedy tree species. Our goal is to restore these woodlands to their historical open oak and hickory ecosystems.

If you are interested in participating in this vital work, we warmly invite you to join us this week on November 6th at 9 AM for our fall honeysuckle sweep. I hope to see you there!

Oh boy, were we ever in a whirlwind of fundraising this fall! Kicking things off with our 'In Harmony with Nature' concert alongside the Alton High Symphonic Orchestra, we hit a high note with over $3,400 in donations—our best year yet!

Next up, we rolled out Forest Fest on October 4, swapping out the Enchanted Forest for a sunlit day of family fun. Think education partners, mouth-watering food trucks, and carnival games galore! It was a blast and a half.

Our last two fundraisers were a breeze. We teamed up with Schwartzkopf Printing for a Fall Merch Sale and clinked glasses with Old Bakery Beer Company as their October Drink for a Cause partner.

We're always on the hunt for fresh ways to reel in the community and rake in some dough for our mission. Got a knack for painting or photography and want to share your skills? Let's chat! We’ll set you up with a space for a class, and together we can raise a few bucks for a good cause. Shoot an email to Ramona at rpollard@thenatureinstitute.org if you're game for partnering on classes or fundraising brainwaves.