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.
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.
Living on the Edge: Part 2
Part 2—Learn about the importance of the boundary zones where two distinct habitats meet in this three part article series.
9th Annual Summer Concert Series
This outdoor concert series sponsored by Stifel Investment Services is held every other Sunday in the summer, and features a variety of bands and performers that play Americana, bluegrass, folk, old-time, and more. Bring a lawn chair or a picnic blanket and sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.
Miss Marbles is out and ready to greet her adoring fans at the 8th annual Mudpuppy Festival hosted by the The Land Conservation Foundation ! This fun, family-friendly event is at the Monarch Center in Monticello, IL from 1-4pm. Come on out and see us!
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Ever wonder how sap turns into that golden, pour-it-on-everything goodness we call maple syrup? 🍁🥞
It all starts with tapping maple trees in late winter, collecting the sap, and boiling it down until the sugars concentrate into syrup. Simple idea, delicious science.
Want to see it in action? Join us during our 60th Anniversary Pancake Breakfast for a free, in-person maple syrup program with a tree tapping demonstration and syrup tasting. Come for breakfast and stay to learn—or if pancakes aren’t your jam, just swing by for the program! No cost to attend the educational program, just a chance to learn something new.
Breakfast is served from 8–11 a.m., with maple syrup programs at 8:30, 9:30, and 10:30 a.m. Sweet knowledge guaranteed. 🍯🌳 For tickets to breakfast, you can get yours here: www.maconccd.org/events/60th-anniversary-pancake-breakfast/
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Whether you’ve been coming to Rock Springs for years or you’ve never stepped foot out here before—this one’s for you. 🥞💛
We’re kicking off our 60th anniversary celebration the best way we know how: by bringing people together around the table. Our 60th Anniversary Pancake Breakfast is the first of several special events planned throughout the year, and it’s all about celebrating the community that has supported conservation here for six decades.
If you remember pancake breakfasts from years past, this one’s a little taste of nostalgia. If you’re brand new, consider this your official welcome to Rock Springs. Either way, we’d love to have you join us for good food, good company, and a sweet start to a big anniversary year. It’s the first of many opportunities this year to celebrate 60 years of conservation together.
This photo was taken from our 2009 pancake breakfast of one of our amazing volunteers! You can get your tickets for this event by heading to: www.maconccd.org/events/60th-anniversary-pancake-breakfast/
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For any educators, the Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant applications from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources are due soon! Head to the website in their original post for all the details and instructions! 🧑🏼🏫🌲Applications for the Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant are due Jan. 31!
Grants are only available to teachers of grades prekindergarten through 12 in Illinois schools and home-schooling teachers in Illinois. The grants are awarded for the purpose of studying some aspect of Illinois’ biodiversity. “Biodiversity” refers to the variety of life in an area.
The field trip should support Illinois natural resources topics currently being taught in the applicant’s curriculum. At least 75% of the field trip must occur outdoors to be eligible for these grant funds.
Learn more: dnr.illinois.gov/education/grants/grantsibftg.html
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