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.
We hinted a bit after the Hidden Hollow patio and indoor classroom were completed that we weren’t done just yet… and here’s another piece of the lower-level remodel puzzle!
Some of you may remember the “tree room” in our basement—a large multipurpose space with a mural and the lower portion of the Window on Wildlife (a.k.a. the Bird Window). During the remodel, that big room was thoughtfully divided into four smaller spaces, and one of them is the brand-new Squirrel’s Nest Conference Room.
Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the Rock Springs Nature Center, this cozy, quiet room offers a private setting with a view that’s perfect for meetings and small gatherings. Looking for your next off-site meeting space? You’ve officially found it—the Squirrel’s Nest is now available to rent!
🐿️ Learn more about pricing and find the rental request and agreement form here:
👉 www.maconccd.org/rentals/rooms/
Check out the programs and events this week at the Macon County Conservation District! You can find our full list of events with registration details at www.maconccd.org/events/
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We had another amazing year at the Mudpuppy Festival! We'll be back again in 2027!
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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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