Chapter Events

Join Xerces Society Ambassador, Brandie Dunn, as she sheds some light on the enchanting world of fireflies. Learn about their distribution and life history, as well as how human activities are placing them more and more at risk. Leave inspired to adopt simple acts that add up and brighten the future for these charismatic and universally beloved creatures.

Public gardens hold tremendous power to influence landscaping norms and inspire change. By showcasing the beauty, functionality, and ecological value of native plants, these spaces help foster biodiversity, advocate for sustainable practices, and engage communities in environmental stewardship. 

This webinar will explore how public and demonstration gardens serve as powerful tools for native plant advocacy. Attendees will learn how gardens move beyond aesthetics to spark action—turning appreciation into engagement and inspiring participants to replicate these practices in their own communities.

We will hear insights from Nicole Machuca, Environmental Social Scientist at the Field Museum, on how public gardens influence behaviors, foster stewardship, and connect people to conservation efforts through research and community engagement. The Wild Ones Capital Region NY and the Wild Ones San Diego (CA) Chapters will share their experiences building native plant demonstration gardens and how these spaces drive community engagement, education, and advocacy. And We'll finish with a conversation exploring how public gardens create a lasting impact beyond planting day moderated by Kelly Kapuzzi, Demonstration Garden Char with the Wild Ones Hocking Hills (OH) Chapter.

Join author and natural history educator Cindy Crosby, as she discusses how Illinois' original garden, the tallgrass prairie, has been shaped by bison. Learn how these charismatic megafauna are being restored to Illinois prairies and listen to tales of their connections, both historical and  contemporary, to some Native American tribes. 

Learn about the Lake County Forest Preserve District’s Plant-Pollinator Monitoring Program. Restoration Ecologist Dan Sandacz, will share results from the first few years of the program and how preserve ecologists use the monitoring efforts to inform future restoration and conservation strategies. Native plant recommendations to support pollinator habitat will also be discussed.

Registration link coming soon

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon!