News & Media
There’s always something happening at the Macon County Conservation District! Staff and volunteers work all year round to provide you with educational programs, restore natural areas, and preserve historic sites. To know what’s going on:
Prairie Islander
Subscribe to the Prairie Islander, our free, quarterly newsletter. You may also read the current issue online or subscribe to our mailing list to have the Prairie Islander emailed to you each quarter. Scroll to the bottom of any page on our website to sign up!
Media Inquiries
For media inquiries about stories or photo requests, call 217-423-7708. If you wish to receive our news releases and photo opportunities via email, send a message to mccd@maconccd.org or call 217-423-7708.
Social Media
Receive trail condition updates, see the work we’re doing, and share pictures of your visits to the conservation areas by following us on Facebook.
60 Years of Conservation, Community, and Connection
All good stories start with an idea, and the story of the Macon County Conservation District is no different. The story of MCCD is one of commitment, drive, and belief. So, where did the idea come from? To find that answer, we must go all the way back to 1935 – 31 years before the District was formed.
Creature Feature – Northern Bobwhite
The Northern Bobwhite Taylor Buley As of July 2024, there are a total of 459 species of birds living in Illinois. One of these species is the Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus), also known as the Virginia quail or bobwhite quail. They share the order Galliformes with three other bird species in Illinois: wild turkey, greater prairie-chicken, and the ring-checked pheasant. Galliformes is the order containing grouse, quail, and turkey families. The Northern Bobwhite is unique because they are the only quail species native to the Eastern United States. They are in the family Odontophoridae or New World Quail, in comparison...
Explore the Universe with the Macon County Conservation District’s New StarLab Planetarium Experience
We here at the Macon County Conservation District are thrilled to announce the new presentation structure for our brand-new StarLab Planetarium – a fully digital, portable dome that brings the wonders of space and astronomy up close directly to your school or organization. It’s thanks to the generous support from the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation and additional funding from the Macon County Conservation Foundation that we are able to deliver immersive, unforgettable learning experiences to our community and beyond. A Portable Planetarium That Brings The Wonders of Space to YOU The StarLab Planetarium accommodates 30-40 participants and can...
Weathering the Cold, Part One: Brumation
Illinois is home to over 54,000 different species of wildlife, and the majority are species of insects. Often, the time of year dictates when we can see some of our more familiar species. As fall and winter begin to make their way into Illinois, the animals we see moving around begin to change.
Living on the Edge: Part 3
Part 3—Learn about the importance of the boundary zones where two distinct habitats meet in this three part article series.
Exploring Nature with Your Senses
Sometimes the best way to connect with nature isn’t through facts and field guides—it’s by slowing down and tuning in. Whether you’re walking a wooded trail, sitting beside a prairie, or pausing near a wetland, nature has a way of speaking to all five senses.
📚 Stories, songs, and so much fun — Sundays are for little nature lovers!
Bring the kiddos and stop by the Children's Room at Rock Springs Nature Center every Sunday at 2pm for Sunday Storytime! We'll dive into nature stories, get our wiggles out, and spark some big curiosity about the amazing world around us. It's the perfect way to wrap up the weekend!
🗓️ Every Sunday | 2pm
📍 Rock Springs Nature Center — Children's Room
✅ Free | No registration required
👨👩👧 Perfect for families with little ones!
Interested in all things Lincoln? Come out tomorrow, March 14 at 2pm to sit in on the Mr. Shoaff: Lincoln's Relative and Decatur's Most Colorful Newspaper Man program presented by historian and author Dr. Robert Sampson. This program co-sponsored by the Friends of Lincoln Trail Homestead State Park will explore how and why James Shoaff and his newspapers always brought readers back for more. Free and no registration required!Abraham Lincoln's relative, James Shoaff, was one the best-known newspaper editors in Civil-War-era Illinois.
He was related by marriage to Lincoln, and this colorful and controversial character both made the news and reported it in the Decatur, Illinois area.
Historian Dr Robert Sampson will present about how Shoaff's work always brought readers back for more on March 14, 2026 at 2 pm at the Rock Spring Nature Center in Decatur, Illinois. The event is free, and no registration is required.
This event is cosponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Trail Homestead State Park and Memorial, and the Macon County Conservation District.
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☀️Are you interested in working for the Conservation District this summer? Stop by Rock Springs Nature Center -3939 Nearing Lane, Decatur, IL- for a walk-in interview on Monday, March 23 or Wednesday, March 25 from 3-5pm!
Seasonal education positions with MCCD are a great opportunity for people to build their resumes and gain skills in education, interpretation, childcare, conservation, and more. We have several openings, including:
• Lead Summer Camp Counselor
• Summer Camp Counselor
• Extreme Camp Counselor
• Audubon Intern
• Intern Interpreter
• Historic Sites Intern
Full job descriptions can be found at the link below.
Bring your resume, fill out a job application (we will have some available on-site if you don't fill one out in advance), and prepare to have a 20-30 minute interview with District staff. For more information, contact Alysia Callison at ACallison@MaconCCD.org. We can't wait to meet you!🌱
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🌧️All the rain we've gotten here recently filled up our creek bed off of the Hidden Hollow patio again! Who remembers what it looked like back in June when it filled up like this? www.facebook.com/share/p/1S1jkWKmC6/
It's still a bit chilly to be playing in the water just yet, but we're hoping for some more rainy days ahead as it continues to get warmer! 😎🌦️
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Check out what's going up at our 🌌space🌌 at at Kids Fest today 👀
We'll be here at the DISC until 2pm! 🛰
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