Events/Festivals

Currently Looking for Help With:

Help us better the Earth and our community by planting native Illinois plants in our prairie. Sign up for half an hour or the whole time, whatever works for you. If you have any questions, please feel free to email our volunteer coordinator or call 217-235-4644.
-Masks are required
-Groups of 10+ will be split to groups of 10 (including chaperones, even if they aren't planting)
-Bring your own gardening gloves if desired

Want to stay connected? Stay up to date on when we will be looking for our next festival volunteers by joining our mailing list or texting "involved" to 844-721-1427

Festivals Through the Year (these are subject to change)

Earth Day- April 24, 2021

For obvious reasons, Earth Day is a big deal for The Douglas-Hart Foundation. Help plant native prairie plants in our prairie, run games, assist with crafts, serve food, talk about nature-based programs or help run any of our other stations. There are many places to get involved to help make a difference!

2021 Covid adaptation- just planting and plant sale! We are currently looking for planters to help. Sign up with the button below!

Honey Harvest- Summer

Did you know that we have two beehives on the Nature Center property? During our honey harvest patrons can watch or take place in the honey harvesting process! Help out with this free event by managing the front desk, help with the harvesting process, or maybe even trying on a bee costume for the kids.

Fallfest- October

Fallfest is our "give back to the community" event. As the leaves change and the smell of bonfires fill the air, fall has a certain loveliness to it. Help us celebrate that with this event. The best part? Everything at Fallfest is free to the public! From caramel apples to face painting to games to pumpkin decorating, there is so much for families to do and we need a lot of hands to help accomplish it all.

Haunted Hike- October

Haunted Hike is our biggest event of the year. For two nights our trails change from peaceful and serene to haunting and spooky. Help create decorations, set up, run sound effects, direct traffic, run the campfire, or yes, even help us scare a few people. Whatever your comfort level, we have a spot with your name on it.

Winterfest- December

As the year winds down we want to celebrate the charm that the winter season brings. With a Christmas light walk, chestnuts roasting over an open fire, games, cookie decorating, and a whole lot more, there are many ways our volunteers can help out.

Conservation Events

Conservation Saturdays

Ever month we have a Conservation Saturday that happens at The Douglas-Hart Nature Center. Although what you may be doing depends on the season, there is always a way to make a big impact.

MLK Day of Service- January 15, 2022

MLK day is a day off for most schools and businesses. Instead of taking the day off, the federal government has designated it as a "day of service" and encourages Americans to go out to the community and make a difference. Help us work on our conservation work to prepare for the coming spring!

Prairie Burns- As Needed

Although they do not happen often, occasionally we have prescribed burns in one of our prairies. This allows new growth to happen in the prairie. Volunteers are extremely helpful to have for these to make sure everything is as controlled as possible. To participate in the burn, volunteers have to complete the required (free) training.