Macon County Conservation District

Homeschool Program: Scattered Seeds
2026-05-13 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | Rock Springs Nature Center, 3939 Nearing Lane, Decatur, IL, 62521, United States
Event details
Homeschool children ages 5-15 can join a naturalist and explore nature and history topics through discussion, hands-on activities, crafts, and games. Homeschool students will spend time indoors and outdoors, investigating concepts and engaging with nature.
In Scattered Seeds, learn why plants create seeds, what’s inside of them, and where to find them.
Event requirements
Register online by May 11.
$15/child.
Register Online for Scattered Seeds

Sunday Storytime
2026-05-17 14:00, 2026-05-24 14:00, 2026-05-31 14:00, 2026-06-07 14:00, 2026-06-14 14:00, 2026-06-21 14:00, 2026-06-28 14:00, 2026-07-05 14:00 and 13 more dates | Rock Springs Nature Center, 3939 Nearing Lane, Decatur, IL, 62521, United States
Event details
Stop by the Children’s Room at Rock Springs Nature Center for stories, songs, and fun! We will read some nature stories, move our bodies, and spark some curiosity about the world around us.
Event requirements
Free. No registration required.

Reptiles of Macon County
2026-06-07 15:00 - 16:00 | Rock Springs Conservation Area, 3939 Nearing Lane, Decatur, IL, 62521, United States
Event details
Learn about some of the unique, scaly critters that call Macon County home. We will meet some live reptiles up-close, then go outside to search for wild ones.
Event requirements
$3/person. Register online by June 5.
Register Online for Reptiles of Macon County

Van Trip to Brookfield Zoo
2026-06-16 09:30 - 21:00 | IL
Event details
Explore Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo, the largest zoo in the Chicago metropolitan area. From gorillas to pangolins to snow leopards, this zoo has an impressive variety of animals to visit.
Event requirements
$45/person. Meet at Rock Springs Nature Center. Admission and lunch are on your own. Register online by noon June 15.
Register Online for Van Trip to Brookfield Zoo

Independence Day 1860
2026-06-27 18:00 - 20:00 | Rock Springs Nature Center, 3939 Nearing Lane, Decatur, IL, 62521, United States
Enjoy an Independence Day celebration 1860s style! Tour Homestead Prairie Farm, see the heirloom vegetable and herb gardens, play with vintage toys and games, and at 6:30pm, enjoy a performance from the Rock Springs Dulcimer Club. Visitors are invited to bring lawn chairs, blankets, and snacks. In case of rain, the concert will be moved inside Rock Springs Nature Center. Free. No registration required.

Van Trip to the Shedd Aquarium
2026-07-15 09:00 - 20:00 | IL
Van Trip to Shedd Aquarium: Event details
Venture north to Chicago to explore the Shedd Aquarium. Touch a sturgeon, see a shark, watch a beluga play, and more. Meet at Rock Springs Nature Center.
Event requirements
$45/person. Admission and lunch are on your own and may be purchased on-site at the aquarium. Register online by noon July 13.
Register Online for Van Trip to Shedd Aquarium

Crazy About Canids
2026-07-18 14:00 - 15:00 | Rock Springs Nature Center, 3939 Nearing Lane, Decatur, IL, 62521, United States
Crazy About Canids: Event details
Learn about the local critters from the family Canidae, including coyotes and foxes. We will explore some of the species found in Macon County and compare them to the gray wolf, a species that was extirpated from Illinois in the 1800s.
Event requirements
Register online by August 21.
Register Online for Crazy About Canids
This is an inclusive program, welcoming individuals of all abilities. Rock Springs Nature Center is an accessible facility.

End of Summer Bash
2026-08-02 13:00 - 15:00 | Rock Springs Conservation Area, 3939 Nearing Lane, Decatur, IL, 62521, United States
End of Summer Bash: Event details
Help us say farewell to summer and hello to the new school year with an End of Summer Bash at Rock Springs Conservation Area! We will have lawn games, hot dogs over the fire, crafts, and some of our educational animals ready to greet you.
Event requirements
$5/person. Register online by August 7.
Register Online for End of Summer Bash

Creek Walk
2026-08-22 10:00 | Fort Daniel Conservation Area, Fort Daniel Conservation Area, Decatur, IL, United States
Creek Walk: Event details
Slip on your water shoes and dress to get dirty as we explore the creek at Fort Daniel! Whether the water is low or high, there’s always something new to discover.
Event requirements
$5/person. Close-toed shoes are required. Register online by August 21.
Register Online for Creek Walk

Beginner’s Foraging Workshop: Wildflowers
2026-08-23 14:00 - 16:00 | Fort Daniel Conservation Area, Fort Daniel Conservation Area, Decatur, IL, United States
Beginner’s Foraging Workshop: Event details
From dandelions to wood sorrel, Macon County abounds with edible wildflowers. Join a naturalist on a guided walk through the woods to search for and learn how to identify edible wildflowers, then stop by our kitchen to sample some fresh wildflower syrup. Registrants will receive three recipe cards to take home. This program is part one of a three-part series; watch for parts two and three in September!
Event requirements
$10/person. Close-toed shoes are required. Register online by August 21.
Register Online for Beginner’s Foraging Workshop: Wildflowers
Program will begin inside the Rock Springs Nature Center with discussion and activities, and end with an outdoor portion for a hike. Nature center has wheelchair accessible ramps and restrooms, and water fountains. Please dress for the weather. Outdoor portion will include a hike over both paved surfaces on the sidewalk and bike trail, and uneven, natural terrain on the trails.
