FIELD NOTES BLOG

A Grateful Look Back—and an Inspiring Path Forward

Ann Wasser
January 1, 2026

A Grateful Look Back—and an Inspiring Path Forward

As 2025 comes to a close, I find myself filled with gratitude—for our community, our partners, our donors, our volunteers, and every individual who chose to spend time learning, exploring, and caring for the natural world with us this year.

Your support and engagement made 2025 a year of meaningful connection. From school programs that served over 4,100 students and public hikes to restoration workdays and quiet moments on the trails, you showed up. You brought curiosity, generosity, and care—and because of that, Severson Dells continues to be a place where people and nature grow together.

Every program attended, every membership renewed, every gift made, and every conversation shared helps advance our mission. The impact of this collective effort is visible in all of the  inspired learners and stronger sense of belonging across our community. Thank you for believing in this work and in the power of nature to shape a better future.


Looking ahead to 2026, there is so much to be excited about:


Soon to be Renamed Property Update

We will continue making steady progress on habitat restoration at the former Elliot Golf Course- new name to be announced this spring. After removing all of the non-native trees in November, the first 50 acres of prairie is ready for seeding later this winter, once there is snow to seed onto. Restoration is long-term, patient work, and each year brings us closer to realizing the full potential of this remarkable place. We hope you can join us on Saturday, January 31st for the Fore the Prairie event to participate in the restoration by hitting seed bomb golf balls into the prairie, learn about the restoration process and see what the long-term plans are for the property.

We are also looking forward to gathering community input to inform the site master plan. This process is essential. We want this place to reflect the hopes, values, and ideas of the people it will serve. By listening closely and inviting broad participation, we can ensure the new property becomes a space where the community feels a true sense of ownership, connection, and possibility.


Improvements to The Grove

In The Grove, we are preparing for significant improvements after 11 years of being well loved by tens of thousands of children and exposed to the elements. Thanks to the generous support of the Kjellstrom Family Foundation and Elizabeth Crown and Bill Wallace, we will be investing in replacements and enhancements that will engage children in nature play, safely for years to come. 


50th Anniversary

Perhaps most joyfully, we will be celebrating 50 years of Severson Dells with the community on Saturday, June 27. This milestone is a testament to decades of dedication from staff, board members, volunteers, educators, donors, and supporters who believed that nature education matters. This milestone is also a testament to the value and impact of a nonprofit public partnership and our decades long partnership with the Forest Preserves of Winnebago County. We look forward to honoring our history, celebrating the present, and sharing an inspiring vision for what lies ahead.


Fifty years in, Severson Dells is still growing—still learning, adapting, and imagining what’s possible for nature education across the community. 


Thank you for walking alongside us in 2025. I can’t wait to see what we will accomplish together in 2026.


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