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
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District Project Updates
By Jerry Culp With the busy summer and fall seasons behind us, we’re turning our focus to several exciting new projects that will benefit both our community and local ecosystems. Here’s a look into three of our biggest projects. Indoor-Outdoor Classroom A new Indoor-Outdoor Classroom is being constructed in the lower level of the Rock Springs Nature Center thanks to funding from the Park and Recreational Facility Construction Act, or PARC Grant, through the State of Illinois. It will feature: Adaptive Classroom Space: With a glass wall that will open to the outside and cohesive flooring that translates...
Takeaways from the 2024 ANCA Annual Summit
By Taylor Buley Working at a Nature Center and for a Conservation District allows for myriad opportunities. There are many conferences and summits out there for staff to explore and to help expand their professional network. One organization that we connect with here at Macon County Conservation District is the Association of Nature Center Administrators, or ANCA. ANCA is a non-profit professional organization that is dedicated to leaders in the nature and environmental learning profession. Their mission is to promote and support the best leadership and management practices, and ANCA serves more than 700 members across North America. They are...
Built by Nature, Crafted by Us. Here’s the Story Behind the New Timber Frame Pavilion at Friends Creek Conservation Area
For the past several months, there has been a project that we have kept quiet about while our staff worked hard to complete it. We sat down with Friends Creek Site Superintendent, Andy Murphy, to learn all the details about this newest structure at the Friends Creek Conservation Area group camp site. What is this structure we are standing by called? This is a King Post Pavilion. The top of the main bents are shaped to look like the king chess piece. You mentioned the term “bents”, care to talk a little bit more about those? Yeah, those are...
Decatur Area Audubon Society Bus Grants for 2024-25 School Year
Decatur Area Audubon Society is once again providing funding towards bus transportation for the 2024-25 school year to Rock Springs Nature Center or any of the five Macon County Conservation Areas, or towards in-classroom programs with Conservation District staff. This grant applies to any school in Macon County, or those serving students living in Macon County, as well as other area schools. Funds will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis and can be used toward: • Bus transportation to Rock Springs Nature Center or any of the five Macon County Conservation Areas, • In-classroom programs presented by a District...
Lichen and Fungi… Oh My!
By Hope Moore The kingdom Fungi have been very misunderstood for many years, only being classified as a kingdom since 1969. They had been considered plants prior to this year, meaning scientists have only had a small portion of time to truly study and understand them as their own kingdom. Not all fungi are created equal considering the many different ways they can appear. Some can be microscopic, others can form visible fruiting bodies (e.g. a mushroom), and they can come in many colors and sizes. With this, it can be really difficult to classify what each fungus is...
The Prairie Islander is Going Digital!
By Ashton Dukeman Since its launch in 1976, the Prairie Islander has been a valuable source of District information and updates, documenting the evolution of the District with each printed edition. As we embark on a new chapter, transitioning from ink and paper to a digital platform, we reflect on the history that has shaped this long - running newsletter. Join us as we explore its journey through the decades, celebrating its legacy while embracing the future of sustainable communication. When the newsletter began, it didn’t go by the familiar name of Prairie Islander that we now know. It...
🌱 Volunteer Opportunity: Native Seed Collectors Needed! 🌱
Join us for a hands-on conservation experience at Friends Creek Conservation Area on Saturday, October 4, from 9–11 am. Volunteers will help harvest native wildflower seeds from our prairie—seeds that will be replanted to restore and diversify natural areas throughout the conservation district.
This is a fun and educational opportunity to explore prairie habitats while giving back to the environment. No experience is necessary. Gloves, buckets, and training will be provided.
📍 Meeting Location: Group Camp Parking Lot, 13734 Friends Creek Park Road, Cisco, IL
👩👩👧 All ages welcome!
To RSVP, contact Mitch Lovgren at 217-519-9926 or MLovgren@MaconCCD.org by October 1.
Just a heads up for our visitors to Rock Springs Conservation Area. Our crews are out doing some forestry mowing today and plan to be done by this afternoon. You might encounter short delays in your walk or ride while they are out working.
Thank you for your patience!
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We want to give a huge THANK YOU to everyone who came out to the grand opening of our new indoor-outdoor classroom, Hidden Hollow! 🌿 It was such a wonderful evening, and we were thrilled to celebrate this milestone with you. Staff loved chatting with visitors, hearing your thoughts, and later reading through all the notes left on our comment wall. The outpouring of support—both in person and online—has been truly inspiring.
“It was great to see so many members of our community come out and support us. It has been a long project and it’s great to see it as something real and tangible and no longer just on paper. We have already been getting a lot of calls, emails, and people stopping in to talk to staff about renting it out for their next event. We can’t wait to see all the ways our community members and agencies will use this new space.” Jerry Culp, Macon County Conservation District Executive Director.
Whether you joined us at the grand opening, stopped by another day, or have been following along with the progress online, we’d love to hear your feedback in the comments below!
We can’t wait to see the many ways this new space will serve our community—from reaching more students and families through our education programs, to hosting reunions, graduation parties, wedding receptions, and beyond. The possibilities are endless! ✨
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We're hiring a Natural Resources Technician!
The Macon County Conservation District has a full time Natural Resources Technician position open. The selected candidate will be self-motivated with a well-rounded knowledge of applied and theoretical ecological restoration practices.
See the full job description and apply here: www.maconccd.org/get-involved/job-opportunities/
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