Discover Your Place in Nature

Come and explore Wild Roots Nature Center. We offer a wide range of engaging programs for all ages to connect with nature.

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    Discover a Sense of Belonging

    Everyone belongs in nature. Join us as a member and discover a sense of community with other nature lovers and the wild world itself! Your membership helps to make nature education more accessible to everyone now and for future generations. Click below to learn more about the benefits of joining as a member of Wild Roots Nature Center.

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    Field Notes Blog

    The Ocean Just Hit Its Hottest Temperature on Record

    By Emma Zimmerman • August 27, 2026
    In August, global ocean surface temperatures reached their highest temperature ever recorded. On Saturday, August 22, the average sea surface temperature reached 21.1°C (70°F) , according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, surpassing the previous record of 21.09°C that was set in March of 2024. The Copernicus record extends back to 1979, and the normal baseline for the global average sea surface temperature is traditionally around 16°C to 20°C (60°F to 68°F).

    Caroline's Farewell

    By Caroline Pacheco • August 20, 2026
    It is hard to believe that it has already been a year since I came to Rockford and started at Wild Roots Nature Center. It’s even harder to believe that my time as an AmeriCorps member here is ending.

    Olivia's Farewell

    By Olivia Price • August 13, 2026
    As the goldenrod has begun to bloom over the past week, the prairie has started to look closer to how it did when I first started my AmeriCorps term here last fall. I have loved spending so much time on this land for the past year, a year which has been hallmarked by the breathtaking colors, sounds, and smells that the forest and prairie have taken on as the seasons turned. Being a witness to this nearly everyday has changed me for the better, and I will forever be grateful to have gotten to know this place and its people.

    Land Acknowledgement Statement

    Severson Dells Forest Preserve is located on the traditional lands of the Ho-Chunk (Winnebago), Meskwaki, Winnebago (Nebraska) and Potawatomi.  We recognize these people, among others, for their stewardship of this land.


    To learn more about territory acknowledgments and to find out more about the land you are on, visit:     Native-Land.ca | Our home on native land. Please contact us if you have additional information or suggestions.