ICNC’s Friends group, acknowledged with AFP award, beginning preparations for annual holiday fundraiser following Thanksgiving holiday
Indian Creek Nature Center’s signature holiday fundraiser, Nature’s Noel, is returning in-person this year on Saturday, Dec. 4 after being online only last year. The event will take place from 9 AM to 1 PM and will feature fresh green arrangements, frozen foods, and artisan gifts as in years past. There will also be a selection of gently used decorations available for sale in Noel’s Attic. Unlike prior years, there will not be family activities or crafts, however all are invited to shop and stay as long as they’d like. Shoppers are encouraged to come early for the best selection. Masks are required indoors, as well as outdoors if a safe distance cannot be maintained.
Nature’s Noel is presented annually by the Friends of the Nature Center, who have hosted fundraisers for the Nature Center for 46 years. Many in the group have been actively volunteering for decades, spending countless hours and using their talents, skills, resources, creativity, energy and enthusiasm to plan and execute more than 100 successful fundraisers to benefit environmental education at Indian Creek Nature Center. In total, they’ve raised $1,531,154 for the Nature Center, and have supported more than one million children in experiencing the benefits of nature. This year they are being recognized by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP Eastern Iowa) with the Benjamin Franklin Award for their incredible generosity.
The Friends have already begun preparations for this year’s Nature’s Noel, but the bulk of the creation of fresh green arrangements takes place following the Thanksgiving holiday. Beginning Saturday, Nov. 27, you can find the Friends working diligently in the Nature Center’s Penningroth Barn creating hundreds of handmade arrangements including centerpieces, hanging baskets, tree toppers, wreaths and swags for our festive holiday marketplace on Saturday, Dec. 4.
Interested in joining the Friends group or volunteering at the event? Sign up to volunteer here!
