Severson Dells Nature Center

Severson Dells Nature Center Our mission is to connect people to nature through education and research. The Nature Center is located on the grounds of the Severson Dells Forest Preserve.
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Hard to believe it's been 50 years of bringing nature education to our community! Thank you to all who have been a part ...
06/20/2026

Hard to believe it's been 50 years of bringing nature education to our community! Thank you to all who have been a part of these glorious 50 years.

We invite you all to celebrate with us on June 27th from 10am-2pm at an open house with cake, games, activities, and a walk down memory lane here at Severson Dells Nature Center. See you there!

Thank you to our sponsors for this event: Constellation, Savant Wealth Management, The Laudicina Preston Group - Baird Private Wealth Management, The Morrissey Family Businesses, & RES.

Looking for a weekend brew? We've got you covered! Have you tried the Dandelion Belgian Blonde at Prairie Street Brewing...
06/19/2026

Looking for a weekend brew? We've got you covered! Have you tried the Dandelion Belgian Blonde at Prairie Street Brewing Co.? Check it out! Plus, a portion of every glass comes back to us at Severson to celebrate our 50th Anniversary!

"For as the earth breathes, so do we. Because this is our home." — Erin Sharkey, from A Darker Wilderness: Black Nature ...
06/19/2026

"For as the earth breathes, so do we. Because this is our home." — Erin Sharkey, from A Darker Wilderness: Black Nature Writing from Soil to Stars

Juneteenth is crucial day in America to reflect upon what freedom means to our community. To us, Juneteenth is a celebration of the freedom of African Americans and Black individuals, as well as a reminder that ensuring freedom is an everyday responsibility and action. We believe nature holds space for each of us and we should hold space for nature. It is our home. And that home includes all of us.

We also want to highlight Outdoor Afro today. Outdoor Afro is a nonprofit reconnecting Black people to lands, water, and wildlife through outdoor education, recreation, and conservation. You can find information about local Outdoor Afro groups or donate here: https://outdoorafro.org/places/midwest/

There is no better way to spend your summer than outside! If you're looking for a new way to experience nature, why not ...
06/18/2026

There is no better way to spend your summer than outside! If you're looking for a new way to experience nature, why not turn your next outdoor adventure into a game?

Gamification is the process of adding elements of games, such as challenges, competition, and rewards, to everyday activities. Gamifying the outdoors can make spending time outside more engaging, especially for families, kids, and between friends.

Here are a few ways to gamify your next outdoor adventure!

Just two spots remain for our Blazing Paddles canoe camp next week! Our Canoeing adventure will take us on beautiful loc...
06/17/2026

Just two spots remain for our Blazing Paddles canoe camp next week!

Our Canoeing adventure will take us on beautiful local rivers and lakes as we build technical and teamwork skills along the way.

Register at https://www.seversondells.org/summercamp

Science Saturday is back in July! This time, we'll see you on the second Saturday in July for Backyard Animals!On July 1...
06/17/2026

Science Saturday is back in July! This time, we'll see you on the second Saturday in July for Backyard Animals!

On July 11th, learn how to attract birds to your birdfeeder, help plants grow, and how to identify the little bugs crawling on the leaves in your backyard. PLUS! Get up close to some of the animals that might call your backyard home!

Science Saturdays are FREE events! See you there!

06/16/2026

Bat populations are declining across the country, including here at home in Winnebago County. You can help support them by becoming a bat monitor! Bat monitoring is a community science program that is suitable for all ages, and we need your help monitoring!

To become a bat monitor, all you need to do is check out one of our free BatPacks! We will provide you with a rundown on how to use monitoring materials, and then you can monitor your favorite park, preserve, or even your own backyard!

Interested in getting started? Email us at [email protected] to request a BatPack!

At Severson Dells, our "other duties as assigned" can make for some pretty funny stories! This week, we asked staff what...
06/14/2026

At Severson Dells, our "other duties as assigned" can make for some pretty funny stories! This week, we asked staff what the most unique or unexpected thing they've done on the job is. Stay tuned for next week's Staff Sunday!

Thank you to the more than 60 volunteers that came out over the last two days to help with restoration work at Prairie’s...
06/13/2026

Thank you to the more than 60 volunteers that came out over the last two days to help with restoration work at Prairie’s Edge (former Elliot Golf Course).

Friday .aerospace volunteers came out to organize plant plugs, do a trash cleanup and golf ball hunt, and removed all the weeds and non-native plants from the front of the building that didn’t require a chainsaw!

This morning, over 40 volunteers planted 1,000 native plant plugs in our first year prairie and removed weeds and non-native plants from the backside of the building.
Thank you to the volunteers that came out from , local Rotary Clubs and the general public.

Restoring an old golf course into native habitat is a large multi-year project, but the end result will be a beautiful resource for the community. We appreciate all those that generously invest their time to help make this vision a reality.

We hope that members of the community feel a sense of ownership and pride in the success of this project.

Elton Trueblood wrote: “A man has made at least a start on discovering the meaning of human life when he plants shade trees under which he knows full well he will never sit.”

We look forward to creating a welcoming space where people and nature can thrive and we look forward to having the community be a part of the process.

Address

8786 Montague Road
Rockford, IL
61102

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 4:30pm
Saturday 8am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+18153352915

Website

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