After Pollinator Palooza, we will be hosting an open gathering for the Bell Bowl community. This will be a space to share our collective grief over the destruction of several acres of prairie while honoring the ongoing fight to protect the remaining 6 acres.

Robbie Telfer will be leading a short poetry workshop, and we will conclude with a leisurely guided hike.

Meet at the corner of S. Church St. and Elm St. for an emergency rally and press conference to support Bell Bowl Prairie! Hear updates about NLI’s emergency motion for a stay on construction until the lawsuit can be reviewed.

After the rally, some advocates will be heading to Cessna Drive for a ceremony and vigil honoring the prairie beginning at sunset Wednesday and going through dawn on Thursday.

Keep pressure on the Airport Authority to do the right thing! Destroying the prairie is unnecessary and wrong, and they still have time to change their design plans! If you would like to address the Board during public comments, please reach out to Jillian at jillian@friendsilnature.org, and she will send you the sign-up link!

Cover photo of the road leading up to the prairie from October 2021 by CMT.

Show your support for Bell Bowl! Tell City Council that you support a resolution in support of protecting the prairie!

Cover image by Paul Goyette.

Bell Bowl Prairie is in more danger than ever! Join us to hear updates and strategize how we can still stop the destruction of the prairie!

An online option will also be held via Zoom:

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85036629354

Meeting ID: 850 3662 9354

Join Save Bell Bowl Prairie advocates 15 minutes before the 5:00 p.m. Airport Board meeting to celebrate what's been accomplished throughout the past year in the movement to save the prairie. Then attend the Greater Rockford Airport Authority board meeting to show your support!

Consider signing up to speak on behalf of the prairie at this link: https://flyrfd.com/public-comments/

We'll meet in the parking lot for the 4:45 pm celebration.

60 Airport Drive, with the board meeting inside the auditorium.

Cover image by Paul Goyette.

Show your support for Bell Bowl Prairie by attending or speaking at the Machesney Park Village Board Meeting! Remember, they are responsible for appointing some of the commissioners to the airport board.

To sign up to speak, follow this link

Join fellow prairie advocates to get updates about the current status of the campaign to Save Bell Bowl Prairie. We will be meeting at Forest Preserves of Winnebago County headquarters at 7 PM.

Alternatively, you can join us on Zoom using the following link:

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89272379168

Meeting ID: 892 7237 9168

Show your support for Bell Bowl Prairie by attending or speaking at the Machesney Park Village Board Meeting! Remember, they are responsible for appointing some of the commissioners to the airport board.

To sign up to speak, follow this link

Come see Prairie Advocates at Rockford City Market! We will have fliers, postcards, and some kid-friendly activities. Stop by to express your support and pick up some materials!

Show your support for Bell Bowl Prairie by showing up, holding signs, and addressing the Winnebago County Board. Remember, they appoint members to the airport board, and will be held responsible for the actions- or lack of actions- by GRAA Board members.

The meeting will be held on the 8th floor of the Winnebago County Courthouse.

JOIN BELL BOWL PRAIRIE ADVOCATES FOR THE GLOBAL CLIMATE STRIKE: CHICAGO!

Fridays For Future Chicago is working with local 350 movements, Sunrise Chicago, Rising Tide Chicago, Chicago Youth Climate Coalition, the Progressives of Kane County, and the Save Bell Bowl Prairie Movement to host the Global Climate Strike in Chicago!

We are striking to demand Climate Reparations and Justice, a Fossil Fuel Federal Reserve, protection of Biodiversity, and Fossil Fuel Divestment!

Who: You!
When: September 23 at 11:00 am CST
Where: Pritzker Park

For More Information: https://tinyurl.com/923chicago

This could be the last GRAA board meeting before the planned destruction of Bell Bowl Prairie! We need to have our presence known!

If you have something to say to the board, you can sign up to speak at this link: Public Comments » Chicago Rockford International Airport (flyrfd.com). You can also email Jillian@friendsilnature to RSVP to be a speaker!

The fourth-annual Cycle on 2nd community bicycle ride will be held Sunday September 11, 2022.

Join Sinnissippi Audubon to ride for Bell Bowl Prairie! Wear your Bell Bowl Prairie tees, dress as a bee, decorate your bike, etc.

From 8-10 a.m. the southbound lanes of North 2nd Street from the Auburn interchange to State Street will be closed to traffic and open to people on bikes! At 10 a.m. the streets will re-open to cars.

UPDATE: Bell Bowl Prairie riders will meet at the YMCA parking lot (alongside Madison St.) at 7:30am to assemble for the ride, which begins at 8am. A small Save Bell Bowl Prairie sign will be provided to attach to your handlebars, if you would like one.

There is no cost to participate, and parking is free.

Join advocates for Save Bell Bowl Prairie to learn what's at stake and hear updates about the legal process, advocacy and fundraising efforts and more. This meeting will be in person at the East Branch - Rockford Public Library (Community Room). Address: 6685 E. State St., Rockford, IL 61108 and by ZOOM.

Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83608380672
Meeting ID: 836 0838 0672

Join us as we strategize for the fall and present updates! We will also be hosting a panel discussion featuring youth organizers, which is sure to be educational and inspiring!

An in-person option will be held at 5500 Northrock Dr, Rockford, IL, United States, Illinois.

To join on Zoom, click this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84428832227

Meeting ID: 844 2883 2227

Come see Bell Bowl Advocates at the Aurora Pollinator Festival! Celebrate National Pollinator Week with the City of Aurora and Phillips Park Zoo at the inaugural Aurora Pollinator Festival! The mission of this event is to spread awareness of Illinois’ pollinator species and ignite action for the protection of pollinators, while connecting our community to local pollinator-friendly small businesses, non-profits, and institutions.

For more information, see the Facebook event page: https://fb.me/e/2n04afsoL

Deer Run Forest Preserve 5691 River Rd., Cherry Valley

Get into some Moth and Bat fun as a way to celebrate National Prairie Day and support Bell Bowl Prairie. Learn about "moth sheeting" and "bat monitoring" while you're at it.

$10 fee ~ Register here

Harlem Hills Prairie Nature Preserve 4979 Flora Dr, Loves Park

Celebrate National Prairie Day as you look at wildflowers blooming at Harlem Hills Prairie Nature Preserve and support Bell Bowl Prairie by doing so.

$10 fee ~ Register here

Harlem Hills Prairie Nature Preserve 4979 Flora Dr, Loves Park

Celebrate National Prairie Day by taking a walk through Harlem Hills Prairie Nature Preserve and support Bell Bowl Prairie at the same time.

$10 fee ~ Register here

Harlem Hills Prairie Nature Preserve 4979 Flora Dr, Loves Park

Take an early bird walk through Harlem Hills Prairie Nature Preserve to celebrate National Prairie Day and support Bell Bowl Prairie.

$10 fee ~ Register here

Meetings of the airport are open to the public. Share your concern for this local conservation issue by respectfully listening to the meeting and public comment period.

An agenda should be added to the RFD website 2 days before the meeting.

Note: the public comment period is limited and requires signing up in advance. Please coordinate any plans for public comment with connect@friendsilnature.org and info@naturalland.org

Meetings of the airport are open to the public. Share your concern for this local conservation issue by respectfully listening to the meeting and public comment period.

An agenda should be added to the RFD website 2 days before the meeting.

Note: the public comment period is limited and requires signing up in advance. Please coordinate any plans for public comment with connect@friendsilnature.org and info@naturalland.org