Many hands make light work. And for volunteers collecting and processing native seeds, it can be fun work, too!
On any given fall day, you can likely find volunteers collecting native seeds from a local prairie. For years, many organizations, including Clean Lakes Alliance, have offered this volunteer opportunity and encouraged people to join us in the prairie.
October 15, 2025 @ 4:15 pm – 5:45 pm
Join us for a native seed collection event to help our lakes! We’ll be at Holy Wisdom Monastery on Wednesday, October 15, from 4:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. Meet at the main entrance to the Holy Wisdom Monastery building (stay right at the fork in the driveway). Please wear closed toed shoes and pants as we’ll be in the prairie, off trail. Long layers are highly encouraged to protect yourself from bugs/ticks/scratches. All tools and training will be provided! All are welcome, including chaperoned children!
How do native plants help the lakes? The more native plantings and prairie spaces we have near our water bodies, the healthier they’ll be. Native plants have profound root systems that prevent erosion and soil loss, stabilize shorelines, slow and filter contaminated runoff before entering the lake, and provide invaluable habitat for our pollinators and wildlife. Seed collections are always a volunteer favorite because you can go at your own pace, do it solo or walk with a small group, and learn a new native plant or two along the way. No experience necessary; all tools are provided!
When rain gardens are added to our local landscape, they help manage stormwater, improve water quality, support biodiversity, and beautify outdoor spaces. You can create a rain garden — a shallow depression filled with native plants that capture runoff — relatively easily at your home or business. They don’t need to be located directly beside a lake to be beneficial to our waters. What happens on the lands surrounding the lakes can have a big impact on the lakes, too!
August 21, 2025 @ 8:45 am – 11:00 am
Join us for an invasive species removal event to help our lakes! We’ll be at Holy Wisdom Monastery on Thursday, August 21, from 8:45 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Meet at the Monastery (stay right at the fork in the driveway). Wear closed-toed shoes and long layers to best protect yourself from bugs, scratches, poisonous plants, and sun. Bring a water bottle, sun protection, and anything needed to keep yourself comfortable working outdoors for three hours.
Removing invasive species allows our native species to thrive and do what they do best – capture and filter runoff before it can enter our lakes. Our native species are well-adapted to mitigate flooding, provide valuable habitats for pollinators and wildlife, and stabilize soil to prevent erosion. The more native plants we have surrounding our shores, the healthier our lakes will be!
