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.
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.
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.
Living on the Edge: Part 1
In the world of ecology, the "edge" refers to the boundary zone where two distinct habitats meet. These transition areas, known as ecotones, are crucial to the health and functionality of ecosystems.
A Spring Awakening
By Alysia Callison As the days get longer and the air warms, the natural world begins to buzz with signs of spring. One seasonal staple is the appearance of baby animals – new to the world, they often cause concern for well-meaning folks who find them in their yards, along roadsides, or in green spaces. So, what should you do if you find a baby animal? Leave it alone! Unless the animal is clearly injured or showing signs of distress, don’t touch it. Oftentimes, the parents know where the baby is and will return to check on it. Relocating the...
Shake Off Winter with a Dose of Nature
By Ashton Dukeman Celebrate the end of cabin fever because spring is here! Color and sunshine will finally be coming back into our lives as plants start to bud and bloom and the sun banishes those winter-gray skies. What better way to shake off the winter blues than by getting outdoors in less than four layers of thermal gear. During the winter months, when many of us are confined to our homes, screens become a go-to source of entertainment to pass the time. This habit can be hard to break once the weather starts to warm, often leading to less...
Staff are getting things prepared for our traveling summer library programs, so today was costume try-on day for our reptilian employees! 🐢
We travel to many towns during the summer, so check with your local library to see if we're on the schedule so you can meet these two costumed cuties in person!
Just a heads up that the Naturalist led Saturday Stroll for tomorrow, May 30 will be cancelled. We still encourage you to come out and explore the trails and see what you can discover! Thank you for your understanding!🥾
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🎶Don't forget that this Sunday kicks off our 2026 Summer Concert Series! We're excited for this year's lineup and can't wait for another musical summer in the great outdoors.
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What a relief! We thought we were the only ones who could see him! 👀
Jokes aside, we love when our young visitors add their observations to our Bird Sightings board! What's your best guess on what the "big bird" they saw might have been? 🦃🦅
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Only 17 days left until the 2026 Wine in the Wild! There are only 70 tickets left, so don't miss the chance to get yours before the last-minute rush! We'll have more fun games, good food, tasty drinks, and of course the chance to celebrate 45 years of the Macon County Conservation Foundation out at the historic Woodbine Farm. 🍷
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