FIELD NOTES BLOG

Meet Caedyn

communityscience
October 24, 2025

Hello! My name is Caedyn Wells, and I am beyond excited to be serving Severson Dells as the Community Science AmeriCorps member!


This May, I graduated from Beloit College with an Environmental Biology degree with a Geology minor. Before accepting my Americorps position, I managed the Beloit College boathouse for three consecutive years. During that time I connected college students to nature through canoeing, kayaking, and outdoor activities. Additionally before ending my college career, I took a field seminar in Puerto Rico. Throughout this seminar I studied and gained an understanding of severe weather events that affect the island and people. Taking a holistic look at the Geology, I made connections between tectonics, sedimentology, stratigraphy, and paleontology, in order to better understand earth history and ways Geology and sea level rise influences society. 


I am passionate about connecting people to nature through my role in community science because it gives people unique insights into local ecosystems, and helps us better understand how to protect and enjoy our environments and others. Being from Beloit, WI I understand the importance of green spaces in thriving cities, and I am excited to work on a variety of projects with Severson Dells and partner organizations. I hope to see you all in the field, and exploring nature very soon!

RECENT ARTICLES

Take a Walk with All Your Senses!

By Liz Wiener • February 4, 2026
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Join us at Fore the Prairie!

By Linda Sandquist • January 28, 2026
Resting up from the NFL playoffs and getting ready for the Super Bowl? Looking for a unique event this weekend? Join us at Fore the Prairie , a family-friendly event focusing on the restoration of the former Elliot Golf Course with a golf twist. In 2024, Severson Dells Education Foundation purchased 168 acres of the shuttered Elliot Golf Course for the purpose of transforming it into a natural preserve that will serve the community with nature education for all ages. Since then, turf grass and non-native trees have been removed and now it’s time to plant a prairie. We will be bombing 50 acres of tilled soil with golfball size prairie seed balls. The balls can be hit with a golf club or shot from a three person sling shot. The seed balls will lay dormant and, as the soil warms up, they will come to life and be the first seedlings on the new prairie. This is only one of the events happening at Fore the Prairie . You can play in a golf simulator, participate in tabletop miniature golf, learn about our restoration of the golf course, and enjoy some hot cocoa and roast some s’mores. You’ll also be able to participate in a ticketed silent auction and see the plans for our Buy an Acre project which will allow you to purchase part of or an entire acre to support the rewilding project. Free and open to the public, activities will be ticketed at an affordable price with all proceeds going toward the restoration of the former Elliot Golf Course. For more information on how to support Severson Dells go to SeversonDells.org/ForeThePrairie

Positive Nature News in 2025

January 9, 2026
It is easy to get caught up in the endless cycle of negative news. Our society's focus on what is wrong in the world clouds over the bits that are good in the world. To us, there is good happening in the world everyday. These moments deserve to be recognized and celebrated. We've compiled a collection of Positive Nature News from 2025 in hopes of inspiring our community to join us in our mission to strive for more environmental protection, restoration, and discovery in 2026. Local News Local to Illinois and neighboring states Bison Return to Kane County Prairies