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.
A quick heads up if you'll be out at Rock Springs Conservation Area today. Our crews will be conducting prescribed burns at various points on the property.
Prescribed fire is one of the most efficient tools to manage our natural areas. They are carefully planned and carried out by trained staff. The areas that are being burned will be closed during the burn, but will be reopened once our crews are finished.
If you see a freshly burned area, make sure to come back to see how quickly the native plants start to come up! The photo used is a great example of that, the ground is still freshly black from the burn but the new green shoots can already be seen.🌱
📢Today is the last day for our walk-in interviews for the seasonal summer positions at Rock Springs. Staff will be available for the interviews from 3-5pm. You can fill out an application and bring it with you, or we will have some available for you to fill out here. Prepare to have a 20-30 minute interview.
If you have any questions, contact Alysia Callison at ACallison@MaconCCD.org. We can't wait to meet you! ☀️☀️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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Looking to give back to your community and be a part of something that will be around for generations? We're planting 1,000 trees at our Fort Daniel Conservation Area for our fundraising Rooted in Community: 1,000 Tree Planting Event. Trees are only $20 each, and we invite community members from Macon County and beyond to join us on April 18 to plant the trees! Holes will be pre-dug by District staff. This is also a perfect opportunity for some of our youth needing volunteer hours for their school! 🌳
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👀The newest addition to our Children's Awareness Room has officially moved in. Introducing our new light table! Children can look at x-ray film slides of various animals and plants, use a magnifying glass or one of the hand-held microscopes to look at slides and specimens, or create fun patterns and scenes with the colorful shape pieces.
And check out the adorable new quiet nook, a comfy little pod that you can curl up in with a stuffie or book. Come out and check out the updates to the room for yourself! Don't forget, every Sunday we have Sunday Storytime at 2pm in this room at the Rock Springs Nature Center. 🔍🪰
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📢Don't forget that today and Wednesday are the open interviews for our summer positions! Staff will be on-hand from 3-5pm to conduct walk-in interviews. You can fill out an application and bring it with you, or you can fill one out here, and prepare to have a 20-30 minute interview.
For more information, contact Alysia Callison at ACallison@MaconCCD.org. We can't wait to meet you!🌱☀️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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