Banking Seeds for a Changing World (Congress 2026 field trip, all day)

11/5/2026

When: Thursday, November 5, 2026
8:30 AM to 4:00 PM
Where: Meet at the College of Lake County - Grayslake Campus
19351 W Washington St
Grayslake, Illinois  60085
United States
Contact:
 Cherie Fisher (Sign in to view e-mail address)

Event Details
Rollins Savanna and Seed Nursery The native seed nursery at Rollins Savanna was established in 2005 as a source of native seed for restoration projects across the Lake County Forest Preserves properties. The nursery has grown steadily since then, now yielding over 500 pounds of seed from over 300 different species of native species each year. The nursery gives our restoration ecologists access to rare plants that are cost prohibitive or unavailable from commercial nurseries.  This tour will include a n in-depth look at our nursery beds, seed processing facility, greenhouse and aquatic nursery. Be prepared for a 1.5 mile hike, partially off trail.  Chicago Botanic Garden Go behind the scenes for a rare look inside the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Nursery and Production Greenhouses and the Dixon National Tallgrass Prairie Seed Bank. Learn how the Garden’s production department grows more than half a million plants each year, and how their work supports the Negaunee Institute for Plant Conservation Science and Action and the natural areas that make up more than half the Garden’s Glencoe campus.  Then bundle up to check out the millions of native seeds frozen in the Garden’s Seed Bank and learn why banking seed is critical for preventing extinctions, supporting habitat restoration, and contributing to scientific research.   Schedule:  8:00 AM registration begins at the College of Lake County Grayslake Campus  8:30 AM Bus Departs.  Stops include:
    Rollins Savanna –Wild Bed & Wetland Nursery, Head House and Nursery Beds 
    Chicago Botanic Garden – Seed Bank & Plant Production tours 
4:00 PM Return to the College of Lake County - Grayslake Campus 5:00 PM Optional: Join fellow attendees from all of today's field trips at a networking/social gathering at Bills Pizza and Pub North which is a short drive from the campus.