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.
🎄 Christmas for the Critters 🎄
All of the ambassador animals at the Rock Springs Nature Center have officially landed on Santa’s Nice List this year! 🐾✨ They’ve been working hard greeting visitors, teaching curious kids, and helping program-goers of all ages learn what makes each of them so unique during programs, field trips, and summer camps.
If you’re looking for a perfect way to spread some holiday cheer, consider helping make our critters’ Christmas extra special. You can support their care by checking out our Amazon wishlist or by making a donation to the Animal Care Fund through the Macon County Conservation Foundation .
Because even our scaly and furry friends deserve a little something in their stockings! 🎁🦎🐍
🎅🏼You can find out Amazon Wishlist here: www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1PQ4RU3FSHXUO/ref=hz_ls_biz_ex
🎅🏼And our Foundation's donation page here: apps.maconcountyconservationfoundation.org/donate-now
👀 Something wild is coming in January…
We’re excited to unveil The Wild Side, our brand-new monthly e-newsletter designed to help you stay in the loop and never miss an event again. Each month, you’ll get reminders about upcoming programs, special events, and seasonal happenings across our Conservation Areas.
Best part? It’s free—and when you sign up, you’ll also continue to receive our quarterly Prairie Islander newsletter with a full season’s worth of programming.
👉 Sign up now and get ready to step onto The Wild Side! Head to our website and look for the "Subscribe to Our Newsletter" blue box at the bottom of each page! www.maconccd.org/
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As 2025 comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to look back at what you helped make possible. This year, we opened Hidden Hollow, our new indoor-outdoor classroom that has already expanded educational opportunities, community programs, and gathering spaces. We began restoration on a pothole prairie at Fort Daniel Conservation Area near the historic Woodbine Farm - which hosted the first-ever Wine in the Wild fundraiser through the Macon County Conservation Foundation- and brought the wonders of space closer to home with a new portable StarLab planetarium, made possible in large part by a generous grant from the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation.
While these projects may look different on the surface, they are all connected by the Macon County Conservation Foundation’s commitment to supporting conservation and education in our community. Through fundraising efforts, advocacy, and a shared excitement for what’s ahead, the Foundation plays a vital role in helping big ideas grow. By investing locally, the Foundation helps ensure these projects directly benefit the people, places, and programs right here in Macon County.
As the giving season comes to an end, you can be part of that impact. A year-end donation to the Macon County Conservation Foundation supports conservation, education, and access to nature close to home — benefiting our community today and for generations to come.
🌿 Make your tax-deductible year-end gift today and help grow the next adventure:
👉 apps.maconcountyconservationfoundation.org/donate-now
Thank you for supporting a local nonprofit that keeps nature, learning, and community thriving in Macon County.As we wrap up 2025, we’re feeling incredibly grateful. 💚
Because of supporters like you, the Macon County Conservation Foundation continues to restore natural habitats, protect local history, and create meaningful outdoor learning experiences right here in our community.
Your generosity fuels everything from prairie restoration to hands-on education—and makes every new adventure possible.
If you’re looking to give back before the year ends, we invite you to make a tax-deductible gift today:
👉 apps.maconcountyconservationfoundation.org/donate-now
Thank you for helping conservation thrive in Macon County.🌳
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Oh deer!🦌
Check out this handsome fellow that stopped by the Window on Wildlife to snack on some seed this week.
We’re always grateful for moments like these that remind us just how special it is to share space with the wildlife that call our conservation areas home.🌳
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Today is the FINAL day you can register for the Nature's Holiday Day Camp! The cutoff time is at noon and we only have a limited number of spots left. You can find the full program details and registration here 👉🏼https://www.maconccd.org/events/natures-holiday-day-camp/
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