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.
Check out what's going up at our 🌌space🌌 at at Kids Fest today 👀
We'll be here at the DISC until 2pm! 🛰
🌞 Summer Jobs Alert! 🌿
Our Program Services team is already planning for a busy (and adventure-filled) summer! If you love nature, history, or working with kids, we have seasonal job openings that will get you outside, exploring, and inspiring others.
🌱 Positions Available:
🌿Summer Intern Interpreter
🌿Historic Sites Intern
🌿Audubon Intern
🌿Summer Camp Counselor (3 openings)
🌿Lead Summer Camp Counselor (1 opening)
🌿Extreme Camp Counselor
If you’re looking for a fun, meaningful, and outdoorsy summer job, check out the link below!
🔗 www.maconccd.org/get-involved/job-opportunities/
Know someone who would be perfect for one of these roles? Tag them! ⬇️
#NowHiring #SummerJobs #GetOutside #NatureLovers #WorkWithUs #ConservationJobs #OutdoorEducation
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☀️The weather prediction for our Women's Hike this Sunday, March 8 is looking perfect! We'll be celebrating International Women's Day with a hike along our Big Oak Trail at the Rock Springs Conservation Area. Bring a water bottle and join other nature-minded women for a stroll through the woods. The program is free, but we do ask that you register online for an accurate count. Registration is open until noon March 6, we hope to see you there!🌳🥾
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🌳We're thrilled to see the excitement about our Rooted in Community: 1,000 Tree Planting Event from our community! People are purchasing trees and signing up to volunteer their time left and right, and we want YOU to join us too! We would love to see community groups and organizations, businesses, church groups, school clubs and sports teams, families, and so many more out with us on Saturday, April 18 to celebrate our anniversary milestones for the Macon County Conservation District and the Macon County Conservation Foundation as well as Earth Day and Arbor Day.
You can read all the details on how you can get involved by heading to our event page here: givebutter.com/1000TreesEvent
Events like this are what community-rooted conservation looks like, and we can't wait to see our community of Macon County and beyond out in full force for the day of the planting! 🌱
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See what's happening!
Prairie Islander Newsletter Spring 2026 - mailchi.mp/92a0420cb217/prairie-islander-newsletter-spring
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