FRIENDS OF NACHUSA GRASSLANDS

To support scientific endeavors,the Friends may award monetary grants to qualified candidates conducting scientific research significant to Nachusa Grasslands. Research projects should focus primarily on prairie and savanna land management practices, such as prescribed fire, seed collection, weed control, and natural areas restoration.

Qualifications for Scientific Research Project Grants:

The expected outcomes of the scientific research project should be pertinent and practical to the specific work and goals of Nachusa Grasslands. Contact [email protected] for further information.

Research must be conducted at Nachusa Grasslands – additional sites may be included, but the majority of the study should take place at Nachusa Grasslands.

Proposals will be evaluated in regard to each project’s direct applicability to challenges in management practices for restoration effectiveness and species of concern.

Stewards and other volunteers are the heart and soul of prairie restoration at Nachusa. Whether it’s planting, harvesting, educating, monitoring, photographing, repairing, or advocating, we have a role that fits your passion and schedule.

Friends provide warm and welcoming opportunities throughout the year, inside or out, working with both flora and fauna. There is much to be done. Your stewardship will make an important difference.

Note: Several of the activities described above and elsewhere, including workdays, prescribed burns, and youth education are offered and overseen by The Nature Conservancy (TNC). Except for specific Friends-sponsored events such as the Prairie Potluck, all Nachusa volunteers are under the auspices of TNC. Friends provides this information about programs and opportunities to help fulfill our goals of encouraging stewardship, science and education, but Friends is not responsible for these activities.

We harvest and plant native seed, manage invasive plants, and conduct prescribed fires. We educate the public about the value of grasslands and their restoration through photography, narrative, workdays where we do the on-the-ground stewardship, and site tours.

Friends' participation in land protection is intended to ensure that sites are acquired at the quickest possible pace and, thus, support the timely realization of the project's geographic goals.

Working cooperatively with The Nature Conservancy, Friends will support land protection opportunities on a case-by-case basis. This could include matching funds, acquisitions in unique situations, and other activities. If you have questions about our land protection efforts, feel free to contact an officer or board member.