The Nature Institute Works to Preserve Native Wildlife in Godfrey
The Nature Institute in Godfrey is working to protect native wildlife through preservation, restoration, and education. Learn how the nonprofit invites the community to connect with nature.
GODFREY - The Nature Institute aims to protect native wildlife, and you can be a part of this mission.
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Located at 2213 S. Levis Lane in Godfrey, The Nature Institute (TNI) is a nonprofit that offers camps, educational classes, and public walking trails to the community. Outreach Director Ramona Pollard explained that the organization works hard to be good stewards of the environment, and they hope their work encourages others to appreciate and care for nature.
“The Nature Institute works to foster an awareness and appreciation of the natural world through preservation, restoration, and education,” she said. “No day is the same here at TNI, and all of us get to do a lot of different fun things…I’ve been here for a long time doing a lot of different jobs, but I have loved every single one.”
TNI was established by a “a dedicated group of volunteers committed to preserving the natural landscape” in 1980. The land was at risk of being developed into a subdivision, but these volunteers fought hard to save it.
In 1982, the first Discovery Day Camp invited kids to engage with wildlife through a summer camp. Today, TNI hosts camps, field trips and other public programs that raise awareness around protecting nature.
The stewardship team continues to restore the land by removing invasive plants, planting native seeds, and other practices that aim to keep the land in its “healthiest state,” Pollard said.
From April through November, TNI has walking trails that are open to the public. These trails are open from dawn to dusk; the gates open at 7 a.m. The trails are closed December through March.
“We invite everybody to come out and enjoy the trails,” Pollard said. “We are an Illinois Nature Preserve, which means everything here is protected, so we have a few rules and regulations.”
TNI asks that no pets join their owners on the trails. These are walking trails, so no bikes are allowed. Additionally, Pollard said there is “no collecting; everything that is growing here and living here has to stay here.” She also urges community members not to dump animals on their property.
TNI works hard to be a place where people can appreciate native wildlife and learn more about how to take care of the environment. Pollard noted that her own love for nature started young, hunting in the woods with her father. She wants to help others have that same experience and love for nature.
“That’s the first time I ever saw a beaver. That’s where I experienced hearing thousands of ducks lifting up off of the water in the middle of the night,” she remembered. “That was really impactful for me, and I want everyone to be able to have experiences like that. I want people to come out and listen to the birds singing around them and really be able to connect with the place that they live. That’s why I do the job. That’s why a lot of us do this job and are passionate about educating the public about these spaces that need to be protected.”
Pollard added that TNI is always looking for volunteers, and they encourage people to come out to see the site for themselves. For more information about The Nature Institute, visit their official website.
The RiverBend Growth Association (RBGA) recognizes a member nonprofit bi-monthly. For more information on the RBGA, the regional chamber of commerce, contact them at 618-467-2280 or visit online at growthassociation.com.
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