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 view from the Squirrel's Nest Conference Room and Window on Wildlife was a bit chilly this morning. Just when we had finally started to pack away our winter coats 😭🐿️
🌿 Take a walk on the wild side — every Saturday!
Join us each Saturday at 10am for a guided stroll along the trails with one of our naturalists at Rock Springs Nature Center. Whether it's a familiar path or a first visit, nature always has something new in store. A curious bird, a blooming wildflower, a hidden critter — you never know what you'll discover!
Come once or make it your new Saturday tradition. Either way, we'd love to have you along!
🗓️ Every Saturday | 10am
📍 Rock Springs Nature Center
✅ Free | No registration required
👟 Dress for the weather and we'll handle the rest!
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📚 Stories, songs, and so much fun — Sundays are for little nature lovers!
Bring the kiddos and stop by the Children's Room at Rock Springs Nature Center every Sunday at 2pm for Sunday Storytime! We'll dive into nature stories, get our wiggles out, and spark some big curiosity about the amazing world around us. It's the perfect way to wrap up the weekend!
🗓️ Every Sunday | 2pm
📍 Rock Springs Nature Center — Children's Room
✅ Free | No registration required
👨👩👧 Perfect for families with little ones!
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Interested in all things Lincoln? Come out tomorrow, March 14 at 2pm to sit in on the Mr. Shoaff: Lincoln's Relative and Decatur's Most Colorful Newspaper Man program presented by historian and author Dr. Robert Sampson. This program co-sponsored by the Friends of Lincoln Trail Homestead State Park will explore how and why James Shoaff and his newspapers always brought readers back for more. Free and no registration required!Abraham Lincoln's relative, James Shoaff, was one the best-known newspaper editors in Civil-War-era Illinois.
He was related by marriage to Lincoln, and this colorful and controversial character both made the news and reported it in the Decatur, Illinois area.
Historian Dr Robert Sampson will present about how Shoaff's work always brought readers back for more on March 14, 2026 at 2 pm at the Rock Spring Nature Center in Decatur, Illinois. The event is free, and no registration is required.
This event is cosponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Trail Homestead State Park and Memorial, and the Macon County Conservation District.
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☀️Are you interested in working for the Conservation District this summer? Stop by Rock Springs Nature Center -3939 Nearing Lane, Decatur, IL- for a walk-in interview on Monday, March 23 or Wednesday, March 25 from 3-5pm!
Seasonal education positions with MCCD are a great opportunity for people to build their resumes and gain skills in education, interpretation, childcare, conservation, and more. We have several openings, including:
• Lead Summer Camp Counselor
• Summer Camp Counselor
• Extreme Camp Counselor
• Audubon Intern
• Intern Interpreter
• Historic Sites Intern
Full job descriptions can be found at the link below.
Bring your resume, fill out a job application (we will have some available on-site if you don't fill one out in advance), and prepare to have a 20-30 minute interview with District staff. For more information, contact Alysia Callison at ACallison@MaconCCD.org. We can't wait to meet you!🌱
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