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 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...
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...
Word is spreading about our #homeschool programs, and spots are disappearing quickly!
Join us each month for engaging nature and history activities—crafts, games, discussions, and outdoor exploration included.
Next program: December 10
Registration closes: December 8 at noon
Don’t wait—register today!
Check out these programs and all the other educational programming we have to offer at www.maconccd.org/events/
Got a passion for plants? Swooning over salamanders? Feel personally offended when someone misidentifies a sycamore?
Sounds like you might be destined to become a Master Naturalist. 🌳
If you’re ready to dig deeper, learn more, and give back to nature and local organizations (like us!), check out the post below from University of Illinois Extension DeWitt, Macon and Piatt Counties to learn about their upcoming Master Naturalist trainings and see how to get involved!If you have thought about becoming a Master Naturalist, it's time to register for the upcoming training. Share your passion for the natural world with the community!
Sessions will be on Tuesday evenings:
• 6 to 9 p.m.
• Jan. 13 through March 31
•Macon County Extension Office
•$150 fee, but waivers available
Find more information and register at go.illinois.edu/NaturalistTraining by Jan. 4.
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
❄️Cross-country ski season has come early this year! We officially have enough snow to rent out our cross-country skis, which can be done at the Rock Springs Nature Center during our operating hours. At this moment, we are able to process credit card payments or exact cash payment.
If you have been wanting to give cross-country skiing or snowshoeing a try, now is the perfect time! 🎿
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
Check out our programs and events for this week! You can find the full list with details and registration at www.maconccd.org/
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
Rock Springs Nature Center will be closing at noon today, November 29, due to the weather. The trails at all District sites remain open. Enjoy the snow!
3 CommentsComment on Facebook
0 CommentsComment on Facebook
View more comments