Little River Wetlands Project, a local nature organization protecting almost 1,200 acres of natural and restored wetlands in Allen and Huntington Counties, offers interesting and informative nature events this September through November. All are free and open to the community.

Every Tuesday in September, 9 to 11 a.m. “Little River Ramblers.” Meet at the Boy Scout office parking lot (west end of Eagle Marsh), 8315 W. Jefferson, Fort Wayne to hike and explore the interesting plants and wildlife of the preserve. Sponsored by Little River Wetlands Project. Free. Contactinfo or 260-478-2515 for information.

Tuesday, September 1, 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. “Project Learning Tree: Part I.” In this two-day Department of Natural Resources certification program, registrants will learn about trees and how to teach others about trees by using hands-on methods, activities, and games. There is a $20 registration fee and all participants will receive a PLT resource guide book on trees. Part I will be held at the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, 3411 Sherman Blvd, Fort Wayne. Part IIwill beon Thursday, September 3, 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Eagle Marsh barn, 6801 Engle Road, Fort Wayne. Sponsored by Little River Wetlands Project and the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo. Contact info or 260-478-2515 for information and to make your reservation; space is limited.

Thursday, September 10, 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. “Breakfast on the Marsh: Happy Anniversary, Little River Wetlands Project.” Light breakfast and nature presentation for nature lovers 50+ at Coventry Meadows Senior Community on W. Jefferson Blvd., Fort Wayne. Join Paul McAfee and Sam Schwartz, two founders of Little River Wetlands Project, as we celebrate our 25th anniversary with a presentation and stories showing how it all started and our growth over the past 25 years. Sponsored by Little River Wetlands Project. Free. Contact info or 260-478-2515 for information.

Sunday, September 13, noon to 4 p.m. “Monarch Festival at Eagle Marsh.” Meet at Eagle Marsh, 6801 Engle Road, Fort Wayne for this family-friendly event offered with major support from Lutheran Health Network and a Wells Fargo Environmental Solutions for Communities grant. Visitors will view monarch caterpillars and adults while learning about their life cycle, migration, and threats to survival. They can enjoy numerous interactive learning experiences, help tag monarchs to track their migration, hike to see wildflowers and a variety of butterflies, plant a milkweed at the preserve or take it home, check out a Pollinator Farmers Market, and much more. Sponsored by Little River Wetlands Project. Free. Contact info or 260-478-2515 for information.

Wednesday, September 16, 9 to 10 a.m. “Short Hikes for Short Legs: Trees.” Meet at the Eagle Marsh barn, 6801 Engle Road, Fort Wayne. (For children ages 3 to 5 and a responsible adult.) Shake hands with a tree! Join us to learn what lives in and on trees, make a tree and nest, and enjoy a short hike in our wooded area. Dress for the trails and the weather. Sponsored by Little River Wetlands Project. Free. Contact info or 260-478-2515 for information.

Saturday, September 19, 10 a.m. to noon. “Eagle Marsh Fall Clean-up,” Meet at the entrance to Eagle Marsh, 6801 Engle Road, Fort Wayne. We need your help to remove all the trash along the edge of Eagle Marsh. We will provide gloves and trash bags. Sponsored by Little River Wetlands Project. Free. Contact info or 260-478-2515 for information.

Saturday, September 26, 9 to 10:30 a.m. “Allen County Trailblazers Hike: Eagle Marsh.” Meet at the Boy Scout parking lot (west end of Eagle Marsh), 8315 W. Jefferson, Fort Wayne. Join us for a leisurely hike along Trail 2, Eagle Marsh’s designated trail to meet Allen County Trailblazers’ (info or 260-478-2515 for information.

Every Tuesday in October, 9 to 11 a.m. “Little River Ramblers.” Meet at the Eagle Marsh barn, 6801 Engle Road, Fort Wayne to hike and explore the preserve’s interesting plants and wildlife. Sponsored by Little River Wetlands Project. Free. Contact info or 260-478-2515 for information.

Saturday, October 3, 8:30 a.m. to noon. “Stockbridge Audubon Bird Hike.” Meet at the Boy Scout office parking lot (west end of Eagle Marsh), 8315 W. Jefferson, Fort Wayne. Ed Powers, John Winebrenner and other members of Stockbridge Audubon Society will lead this hike to look for migratory and shore birds. Binoculars recommended. Dress for the trails and the weather. Sponsored by Little River Wetlands Project. Free. Contact iinfo or 260-478-2515 for information.

Thursday, October 8, 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. “Breakfast on the Marsh: Welcome, Mr. Wolf?” Light breakfast and nature presentation for nature lovers 50+ at Coventry Meadows Senior Community on W. Jefferson Blvd., Fort Wayne. Join Dr. Larry Wiedman, University of Saint Francis biology professor, as he discusses what happens when new or reintroduced native wildlife, such as wolves at Yellowstone or otters at Eagle Marsh, show up in an ecosystem. Sponsored by Little River Wetlands Project. Free. Contact info or 260-478-2515 for information.

Friday, October 9, 7 to 8:30 p.m. “Bats with Bob Walton.” Meet at the Eagle Marsh barn, 6801 Engle Road, Fort Wayne. Fun for all ages! Bob Walton, local bat expert, will share information about these flying mammals and the important niche they occupy in our ecosystem. Bob will bring several different bats native to Indiana with him. Sponsored by Little River Wetlands Project. Free. Contact info or 260-478-2515 for information.

Saturday, October 10, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. “Land Management Field Day.” You must register by October 8 for this event at the Phil Eicher property, 1755 E. 650 S, Berne, Indiana. Join others from the Upper Wabash Watershed to learn more about wetland and wildlife habitat, native grass establishment, forest stand improvements, cost share programs, and leasing rights on private lands. Keynote speakers will be Scott Feders of the US Fish & Wildlife Service, Ben Hess of IDNR, and Paul Alvey of Basecamp Leasing. Free. Lunch is provided, but reservations must be made by October 8 by calling 260-724-3763, ext. 3 or contacting sandy.voglewed. Sponsored by Adams and Wells County Soil and Water District, Davey Resources Group, USDA, Indiana Dept. of Agriculture, and Little River Wetlands Project.

Wednesday, October 21, 9 to 10 a.m. “Short Hikes for Short Legs: Leaves.” Meet at the Eagle Marsh barn, 6801 Engle Road, Fort Wayne. (For children ages 3 to 5 and a responsible adult.) The leaves are taking on their fall colors! Learn why, paint a leaf and use it to make a print card, then go on a color scavenger hunt in our wooded area. Dress for the trails and weather. Sponsored by Little River Wetlands Project. Free. Contact info or 260-478-2515 for information.

Wednesday, October 21, 6 to 8:30 p.m. “Native Pollinators: Bees, Butterflies, Bats, and Beetles.” Meet at the Aboite Branch Library, 5630 Coventry Lane, Fort Wayne. Dani Bradtmiller, LRWP’s Director of Preserves and Properties Assistant, will give a presentation on the importance of our native pollinators, how to attract them, and what plants will nurture them. Sponsored by Little River Wetlands Project. Free. Contact info or 260-478-2515 for information.

Every Tuesday in November, 9 to 11 a.m. “Little River Ramblers.” Meet at the Eagle Marsh barn, 6801 Engle Road, Fort Wayne to hike and explore the preserve’s interesting plants and wildlife. Sponsored by Little River Wetlands Project. Free. Contact info or 260-478-2515 for information.

Saturday, November 7, 9 to 10:30 a.m. “Allen County Trailblazers Hike: Arrowhead Marsh.” Meet at Arrowhead Marsh, 8624 Aboite Road, Roanoke. Join us for a hike along Trail 1, Arrowhead Marsh’s designated trail to meet Allen County Trailblazers’ (info or 260-478-2515 for information.

Thursday, November 12, 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. “Breakfast on the Marsh: Cathie Rowand: Looking at the Marsh through a Lens.” Light breakfast and nature presentation for nature lovers 50+ at Coventry Meadows Senior Community on W. Jefferson Blvd., Fort Wayne. Cathie Rowand, Visual Editor for the Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette, will share a reporter’s and photographer’s perspective of Eagle Marsh through the years in this presentation. Sponsored by Little River Wetlands Project. Free. Contact info or 260-478-2515 for information.

Wednesday, November 18, 9 to 10 a.m. “Short Hikes for Short Legs: Seeds.” Meet at the Eagle Marsh barn, 6801 Engle Road, Fort Wayne. (For children ages 3 to 5 and a responsible adult.) Seeds are the grocery store of the marsh, feeding our wintering animals. We will start with a seed activity in the barn and then hike the marsh looking for seeds on the winter plants. Dress for the trails and the weather. Sponsored by Little River Wetlands Project. Free. Contact info or 260-478-2515 for information.

Wednesday, November 18, 7 to 8 p.m. “We Can’t All Go to Florida–Where Do the Animals Go in Winter?Meet at the Aboite Branch Library, 5630 Coventry Lane, Fort Wayne. Ever wonder what happens to the bunnies and bees of summer when winter sweeps over Indiana? Where do the animals go? Join Liz Hincks, LRWP’s Environmental Outreach and Education Coordinator, for a presentation on the animals living on the marsh in winter and those that spend winter in unusual ways. Sponsored by Little River Wetlands Project. Free. Contact info or 260-478-2515 for information.

Saturday, November 21, 9 to 10:30 a.m. “Winter Wonders: Weeds and Seeds.” Meet at the Eagle Marsh barn, 6801 Engle Road, Fort Wayne. Fun for all ages. We’ll start in the barn exploring different seeds and their importance to our wintering animals. Then we’ll hike looking for and identifying the marsh’s winter plants and their bounty. Dress for the trails and the weather. Sponsored by Little River Wetlands Project. Free. Contact info or 260-478-2515 for information.