Connecting People With Nature
Nature At The Confluence invites you to stop in for a visit to discover nature just steps from the city. We’re located on about 80 acres surrounded by the Rock River, Turtle Creek and Kelly Creek, and you’ll find scenic beauty during every season. The campus offers a 5-acre prairie restoration, trails, learning gardens, pollinator gardens and programs are held throughout the year for all ages and interests! Visit our calendar to see all we have to offer and come see us soon!
Upcoming Events
Planting For Pollinators Party – Join Us!
Bring your gardening gloves and trowel and join us for a planting party to improve our Pollinator Garden and Woodland Trail! ► Come any time between 9am and 11am - […]
Find out more »Jr. Explorer Adventures: Discoveries Of Land, River & Sea | Time Travelers Series
Time to put on your explorer’s hat! On this Jr. Explorer Adventure kids, ages 7-11, will become part of the Confluence Discovery Team! They'll dig with us into the history […]
Find out more »Filled! Bird Hike With Audubon featuring Brian “Fox” Ellis
This event is filled - Sorry! But you can join us for another program at 1pm, "Adventures With Audubon" - register here. Take A Walk With John Audubon! Brian “Fox” […]
Find out more »“Adventures With Audubon” Program with Brian “Fox” Ellis
Come gather 'round as Brian “Fox” Ellis, portraying John Audubon the artist, weaves stories of his travels in the wildest places on the planet. Listen to tales of his adventures […]
Find out more »Starry, Starry Nights | Free Night Hikes & Community Fire
Ever wonder what goes on at night in nature? Join us as we explore the nighttime sights, smells, and sounds on this guided hike at Nature At The Confluence. Night […]
Find out more »Detecting the Past – Metal Detecting Adventure for Kids Ages 10+
Time to put your exploration and detecting hat on! In this fun interactive program you'll learn how to use a metal detector and learn a bit about the amazing history […]
Find out more »Jr. Explorer Adventures: Discoveries Of Land, River & Sea | Time Travelers Series
Time to put on your explorer’s hat! On this Jr. Explorer Adventure kids ages 7-11 will become part of the Confluence Discovery Team! They'll dig with us into the history […]
Find out more »Starry, Starry Nights | Free Night Hikes & Community Fire
Ever wonder what goes on at night in nature? Join us as we explore the nighttime sights, smells, and sounds on this guided hike at Nature At The Confluence. Night […]
Find out more »Visit Our Full Calendar
Latest News
Earthwalk Trail launched to celebrate Earth Day | featuring quotes from Braiding Sweetgrass
To celebrate our 5th Anniversary and Earth Day, we are launching the “EarthWalk Trail” on April 16. We invite you to come walk our trail to find 15 EarthWalk stops where you'll be able to read and ponder our favorite quotes from Braiding Sweetgrass:...
Big Birding Day featuring John Audubon – May 16
We're bringing Brian “Fox” Ellis, an internationally acclaimed author, storyteller, historian, and naturalist to Nature At The Confluence to bring John Audubon to life! Brian, portraying John Audubon the artist, will be featured in two programs on Sunday,...
Oak Sapling Giveaway April 17
Nature At The Confluence celebrates Earth Day with a Free Oak Sapling distribution. Saturday, April 17, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m - Free Oak & Sapling Distribution - Take home a free bare-root Bur Oak, Red Oak, or Swamp White Oak sapling to plant...
The “American Letter” Home – How Irish Immigrant Women Supported Their Families Back Home in Ireland
In 1854 a group of 15 Irish families settled right here on the land at Nature At The Confluence. The recent Irish immigrants had come to build the new railroad, while their young wives strived to build a new home here. They called their small settlement "Illinoy", and...