The Nature Institute

The Nature Institute A conservation and environmental education nonprofit organization, that fosters awareness through preservation, restoration, and education.
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Bathrooms will be open most weekdays between 8:30am and 5pm. Remember, no pets allowed on the trails. As an Illinois Nature Preserve our goal is to keep the land as healthy and native as possible. While your pet might not visibly harm the land, there is research to show that animals avoid areas where dogs have been. We want our native wildlife to have full access to every part of our property and not be stressed out by smells of our pets.

Fly out to The Nature Institute to learn about all the animals that use migration as a winter survival strategy. We will...
09/02/2026

Fly out to The Nature Institute to learn about all the animals that use migration as a winter survival strategy. We will play a game, head on a hike, learn why migration is the right strategy for some animals and not others.

ECO Homeschool adventures is offered every month with a different topic. Spots fill up quickly, be sure to register soon: https://app.amilia.com/store/en/nature-institute/api/Activity/Detail?activityId=kgNLBjL

This fall, take your little explorer on an unforgettable adventure outdoors! ๐Ÿ‚ Join us for a caregiver + child class spe...
09/02/2026

This fall, take your little explorer on an unforgettable adventure outdoors! ๐Ÿ‚ Join us for a caregiver + child class specifically designed for curious minds aged 2.5 - 5, where we'll embark on a journey of discovery and creativity. Come and learn about nature through engaging story time sessions, healthy snack options, and art activities that will spark their imagination. And, get ready to get messy and have a blast with our outdoor exploration activities! ๐ŸŒณ

During our Nature Play Lab, we'll delve into the wonders of the natural world, exploring the sights, sounds, and textures of the great outdoors. We'll engage in sensory activities that will stimulate their senses, from touching and feeling different textures to observing the fascinating creatures that call our planet home. Our expert educators will guide you and your little one through a series of fun and interactive experiences, designed to foster a lifelong love for nature and learning. So, mark your calendars and get ready to unleash your child's inner explorer! ๐Ÿ“…

๐’๐ž๐ฉ๐ญ. ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ ๐†๐จ๐๐Ÿ๐ซ๐ž๐ฒ ๐๐š๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ž ๐๐ฅ๐š๐ง๐ญ ๐’๐š๐ฅ๐ž โ€“ ๐“๐ก๐ž ๐๐š๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ž ๐ˆ๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ฎ๐ญ๐žThe Missouri Prairie Foundation will hold a native plant sale o...
09/01/2026

๐’๐ž๐ฉ๐ญ. ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ ๐†๐จ๐๐Ÿ๐ซ๐ž๐ฒ ๐๐š๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ž ๐๐ฅ๐š๐ง๐ญ ๐’๐š๐ฅ๐ž โ€“ ๐“๐ก๐ž ๐๐š๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ž ๐ˆ๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ž
The Missouri Prairie Foundation will hold a native plant sale on Saturday, September 12, 2026 organized in partnership with The Nature Institute, 2213 S. Levis Ln., Godfrey, IL 62035 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. https://ow.ly/yANM50ZvvRN

Grow Native! native plant vendors at this event include: Green Thumb Nursery, River City Natives, Samโ€™s Native Nursery, and The Nature Institute.

Research your fall plant list using the Grow Native! Native Plant Database, Top 10 Lists, Landscape Plans, and more at grownative.org

Sky Events - September 2026September 11 - New Moon. The Moon will located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and w...
09/01/2026

Sky Events - September 2026

September 11 - New Moon. The Moon will located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will not be visible in the night sky. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.

September 18 - Venus. Venus reaches its highest evening brightness of the year.

September 23 - September Equinox. The Sun will shine directly on the equator and there will be nearly equal amounts of day and night throughout the world. This is also the first day of fall (autumnal equinox) in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of spring (vernal equinox) in the Southern Hemisphere.

September 25 - Neptune at Opposition. The blue giant planet will be at its closest approach to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated by the Sun. It will be brighter than any other time of the year and will be visible all night long. This is the best time to view and photograph Neptune. Due to its extreme distance from Earth, it will only appear as a tiny blue dot in all but the most powerful telescopes.

September 26 - Full Moon. The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be will be fully illuminated. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Corn Moon because the corn is harvested around this time of year. This moon is also known as the Harvest Moon. The Harvest Moon is the full moon that occurs closest to the September equinox each year.

Our prairies are full of blooms which will soon become seed heads ready to be harvested. Come out to learn how to proper...
08/30/2026

Our prairies are full of blooms which will soon become seed heads ready to be harvested. Come out to learn how to properly collect seed, clean it and store it. Then we will head out to one of our prairies to do some seed collecting so you can get some practice.

All seed collected at The Nature Institute will go back onto the property to reinvigorate our seed banks.

Register Today: https://app.amilia.com/store/en/nature-institute/api/Activity/Detail?activityId=kLG6Nqv

As the last of the pollinators take flight, we're reminded of the power of collective action! ๐ŸŒผ๏ธ Join us in celebrating ...
08/28/2026

As the last of the pollinators take flight, we're reminded of the power of collective action! ๐ŸŒผ๏ธ Join us in celebrating our local heroes, exploring the fascinating world of Monarch butterflies, and unlocking the secrets of the plants that sustain them. Together, let's inspire a new generation of change-makers with our ECO Homeschool Adventures - limited spots available for our older students. Register today and be part of a movement that's shaping a better tomorrow!

Did you know The Nature Institute holds Forest Playdates, typically once a month in the fall and spring months? This is ...
08/26/2026

Did you know The Nature Institute holds Forest Playdates, typically once a month in the fall and spring months? This is a free program aimed at 18 mos - 6 years. It focuses more on Reggio-invitations versus content based learning. Forest Playdates are open house style, where you arrive and leave when you want. It is not taught by an educator, but our education staff are still around to help if needed.

Come out with your young learners tomorrow and have some fun playing in nature.

Address

2213 S Levis Lane
Godfrey, IL
62035

Telephone

+16184669930

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