Events

Join us for a fall hike at Wickiup Hill. 

The Wickiup Hill Natural Area is a 700-acre piece of the Cedar River Greenbelt in Linn County which has benefited from protection efforts since the 1980s.

With more than five miles of scenic trails, we can stroll the wetland boardwalk to a peaceful observation deck, take in prairie, woodland, and savanna habitats alive with wildlife, and hike past Native American mounds.

Meeting point
Meet in front of the Wickiup Hill Learning Center, where there is plenty of parking and restrooms available.

This event is open to all, and there's no need to RSVP.

Cancellation/Reschedule
If the hike gets canceled due to weather, we will announce it here - with a possible reschedule date of Sunday, September 27th.

The Wings & Wild Things Festival showcases the wild and wonderful flora and fauna of our region, as well as outdoor recreation activities in our area. 

The event will feature hands-on learning activities, guided exploration, and animal meet & greets. Meet a live owl, study Iowa’s threatened box turtles, get your hands dirty making milkweed seed balls, pick up native plants for your yard, practice fire-building techniques, learn about local wildlife, and more. Visitors can also enjoy guided bird walks, mushroom forays, and fishing activities, and grab food from local food trucks.

Wild Ones Cedar Rapids Iowa City Chapter will have a table at this event for community outreach. Stop by and say hello, get a temporary tattoo, and chat with us about gardening with native plants

Volunteers needed!
If you’re a Wild Ones member and would like to help staff the outreach table, we’d love to have you join us! Sign up to volunteer.

Join us for a fall hike at Ciha Fen Preserve, an 80-acre sand prairie/savanna complex and wildlife preserve on a wind-deposited sand ridge. It contains the Ciha Fen, which is one of the only two documented remaining nutrient-poor fens known in the state of Iowa. It has numerous rare plant and animals species.

The site is a wonderful place to find solitude, stroll through short-grass prairie and under ancient oak trees. Read more about Ciha Fen's history and features, and the science and significance.

What to expect
The site is an ideal wildlife refuge, but is primitive for human visitors with ​no restroom facilities, and a small parking area at the entrance.

Hiking is welcomed throughout the property, though there are no maintained trails. The terrain can be uneven and damp. We recommend wearing pants and closed-toe shoes for poison ivy protection. 

This event is open to all, and there's no need to RSVP.

Meeting point
Meet at the small parking lot and “trailhead” at the south-east corner of the preserve: https://maps.app.goo.gl/93yZc6dT4jmpDU1x5

Optional: We may have lunch afterwards at Baxa's Sutliff Store & Tavern.

Cancellation/Reschedule
If the hike gets canceled due to weather, we will announce it here.

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.

Etzel Sugar Grove Farm uses regenerative and organic practices to model the future of agriculture for a more resilient, sustainable world. The farm includes a mature woodland, a pasture, tillable fields, vegetable beds, berry bushes, and fruit and nut trees. 

The farm team are weaving prairie buffer strips throughout the cropland and restoring the woodlands to encourage ecological diversity and wildlife. The prairie forbs are diverse and concentrated, making seed collection very rewarding! 

Most of the seeds collected will be used to maintain the health and beauty of the lands at Indian Creek Nature Center. A few select seeds may be taken home with participants. 

A restroom is available.

What to bring
A least one of the following: a plastic ice cream pail with a handle, a cloth grocery bag, or a sturdy paper sack with handle.

Registration 
All ages are welcome. Please register at the link, below. 
***  Wild Ones may register at no cost, using the code WildOnes  ***

Annual Meeting and Election, 1 - 2:30 p.m. 
Elections will be held for the Chapter Board of Directors. Board members will then vote on who will fill each Chapter Officer position. Voting and meeting participation will take place in-person only.

All members are encouraged to participate! A list of open positions and a call for nominations will be sent by email prior to the meeting.

The agenda also includes updates on chapter finances, membership growth, and other 2026 activities, along with event planning for 2027.

Native Plant Seed Share, 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Following the meeting, we will have a members-only seed swap from 12:30 - 3:30 with access to the chapter's seed library. Before this event we will publish a wish list of seed species sought to replenish the library.

Social Hour, 4 p.m.
After packing up by 4 p.m., join us for an optional social hour at Big Grove Brewery.

Zoe Evans, rewilding coach and VP of Partnerships & Programs at Wildr shares a practical, science-informed framework for evaluating a home landscape, identifying its greatest habitat opportunities, and choosing actions that support more plants, insects, birds, and other wildlife.

Registration link coming soon.

No yard required. Learn how native plants can turn patios, balconies, containers, and other small spaces into meaningful habitat for pollinators and other wildlife. This practical panel will cover plant selection, container design, seasonal care, and realistic ways to support biodiversity in limited spaces.

Registration link coming soon.

Birds depend on healthy, connected habitats for food, shelter, nesting, and migration support. Join experts from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to explore how native plants and thoughtful landscape choices can support birdlife at home. Learn how gardens, yards, and community spaces can provide the insects, seeds, berries, cover, and habitat structure birds need throughout the year.

Registration link coming soon. 

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.