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.
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...
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...
🥞 The 60th Anniversary Pancake Breakfast is officially wrapped up! We had close to 200 people come out this morning!! A huge THANK YOU to our community for this amazing support.
This wasn't our only anniversary celebration, you can subscribe to our new monthly e-newsletter to keep up-to-date on all the upcoming anniversary programs and events. And while you're checking those out, see what other public programs and events we have going on and become one of our new regulars! We can't wait to see you there.🌱
🥞WOW! Our community really turned out for our anniversary kickoff event! Thank you so much to all who came out to support us. We'll still be here until 11 if you want to come out for a quick brunch!
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It's pancake time! Our staff and volunteers are ready to go! The Indoor-Outdoor classroom has never smelled sweeter. We'll be here serving $10 all-you-can-eat pancakes and sausage from 8-11am. Come out and enjoy some breakfast with us to celebrate our 60 year anniversary! 🥞
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Only three more days until our 60th Anniversary Pancake Breakfast to kick off our year of celebrating 60 years of conservation in Macon County!
Enjoy an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast with us in the new indoor-outdoor classroom, then head upstairs for one of our educational maple syrup programs. You can find all the info in the event description, including ticket pricing and program times.
We can't wait to see you there! 🥞
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Only one more week until we start stacking up the pancakes to kick off 60 years of conservation, community, and connection at our 60th Anniversary Pancake Breakfast ! Here's another throwback photo from the pancake breakfasts of the past of staff and volunteers making sure there is plenty to go around.
We've started getting the supplies ready and can't wait to welcome our community to one of our first of many anniversary celebrations.🥞
Tickets for the all-you-can-eat breakfast are available day-of, but advance purchase is strongly encouraged to ensure availability. The link to pre-purchase your tickets will be dropped in the comments below!
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