Join us for a unique opportunity to harvest native prairie seed from SwampLover’s Preserve, an Ice Age Trail Alliance-owned preserve along the Table Bluff Segment in Dane County.

Walk through flowing grasses—big blue stem—and exuberant stands of wildflowers, picking seed from pale purple cone flower, culver’s root, wild bergamot, and more! Alliance staff and expert volunteers will be on hand to guide you through the process, ensuring you know what and where to pick. (The Alliance will also provide clippers for snipping seed heads and collection buckets or bags.)

This fun, easy, casual event allows volunteers of all ages and abilities to participate in an essential aspect of habitat restoration—seed collection.

Later, the collected seed is cleaned at the Alliance’s “Seed Shed” before it is spread, in late winter, across other Alliance-owned preserves to increase plant diversity for struggling pollinators.

Come any time between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. (open-house-style) to help with this crucial habitat improvement task.

Event Details: 

• Where: SwampLovers’ Preserve, Table Bluff Segment, Dane County
• When: Wednesdays, September 4 through October 30
• Time: Open-house-style, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Parking and Check-In: Picnic Hill: Scheele Rd, Cross Plains, WI 53528. View map.
• Terrain: Expect a steep climb to the top of “Picnic Hill”. Expect tall grasses in a fairly level prairie.
• Registration: Not necessary. Alliance staff will be there collecting seeds and ready to greet you.

What to Bring:

• Gardening gloves
• Close-toed shoes
• Sun hat/sunscreen
• Bug spray
• Long pants, long-sleeve shirt (we will be in tall grass)
• Personal drinking water and container
• Raingear – we will work in light rain, please check the forecast

Volunteer Agreement Form:

If you are new to volunteering or haven’t filled out a Volunteer Agreement form in the last 12 months, please complete an agreement before attending this event.

Please email your completed agreement to the National Park Service (iatr_vip_ice_age_trail@nps.gov) to establish your Individual Volunteer Agreement.

Questions about the Volunteer Agreement Form?
Email Dan Watson, Volunteer Coordinator, National Park Service – Ice Age Trail: Daniel_Watson@nps.gov