Events

You planted native. Your neighbor has opinions. Maybe your HOA does too. If you’ve ever felt like the hardest part of native plant gardening is the conversations, not the gardening, you’re not alone.

Wild Ones is thrilled to share this upcoming free webinar as part of the 2026 Less Lawn More Life Challenge. Join Lorraine Johnson for a practical conversation on navigating HOA rules, addressing neighbor concerns, and fostering community conversations about native plant gardening and ecological landscapes.

Chase Firth, Natural Resources Coordinator - DeadRiver Walking Tour.  2.2 mile hike on a narrow, sandy path.  IllinoisBeach has the only remaining beach ridge shoreline left in the state.  Some of the less common plants that can be seen on this walk are prickly pear cactus, horizontal juniper and bearberry. Not an ADA compliant event.

Native plants are the foundation of habitat, but wildlife need more than food to thrive. Join ecologist and Certified Wildlife Biologist Shaun McCoshum, PhD, to explore how nesting sites, shelter, water, soil conditions, and other often-overlooked resources can transform a yard into a functioning ecosystem that supports biodiversity year-round.

Registration link coming soon.

At Chiwaukee Prairie group's house near Al Kampert Trail at Carol Beach in the village of Pleasant Prairie. Chapter quarterly business meeting will held at the event.

This is a continuation of our previous summit held in June. Using the feedback provided from our earlier summit conversations and recommendations were raised. This is an ad hoc advisory council. We do not set policy or make decisions regarding the chapter, its operation, or management. Our task is to make recommendations and proposals to the membership based on our conclusions.

This is a process which will consist of a series of focused conferences. Once our objectives are established, we may decide to appoint a steering committee to distill and finish the process.

We will determine our short-term, intermediate, and long-range goals by identifying our purpose and barriers that prevent us from achieving that purpose. 

Once the foundation is laid, we will begin construction of a support system that will sustain our current and future growth.
 We are here to share our vision for a positive and productive future.

What does it really take to turn a conventional lawn into a thriving native meadow? Join Owner & Principal, New Directions in the American Landscape (NDAL), Sara Weaner Cooper for a candid look at her family's ongoing lawn-to-meadow transformation featured in The New York Times and BBC. Drawing from three years of hands-on experience, Sara will share the methods, lessons learned, successes, and challenges of converting turfgrass into a dynamic native plant community. Participants will gain practical insights into site preparation, planting, management, and the ecological principles that guide successful meadow establishment, along with realistic expectations for how these landscapes evolve over time.

Registration link coming soon.

Bats are among the most important and misunderstood wildlife in our communities. Join experts from Bat Conservation International to explore how native plants, healthy insect populations, and thoughtful landscape design can help support bats. Learn about the ecological role of bats and discover practical ways to create habitat for North America's night flyers right in your own backyard.

Registration link coming soon.

Kenosha Public Museum learn how indigenous people use native plants with bergamot tea bag activity

Monarch butterflies depend on a network of habitats stretching across North America, and home landscapes can play an important role in their survival. Join experts from Monarch Joint Venture to explore the science behind monarch conservation, including the importance of milkweed, nectar resources, and regionally appropriate habitat. Learn practical ways to support monarchs through native landscaping and help sustain one of the world's most remarkable migrations.
 

Registration link coming soon.