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@MaconCountyConservation.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.
April is Citizen Science Month
by Beth Lane April is Citizen Science Month, and is celebrated by renewing the effort to involve the public in scientific research projects. But why should we care? Citizen Science is a collaboration between public and scientific professionals to collect and analyze data for research projects. It has pseudonyms such as: community science, crowd science, crowd-sourced science, civic science, participatory monitoring, or volunteer monitoring. Citizen scientists are not always professional scientists! In fact they can be any age, from any walk of life, with any amount of experience. All that is really needed to be a citizen scientist is curiosity...
A Natural Partnership
By Ethan Snively For over a decade, Dr. David Horn’s biology classes at Millikin University have assisted the Macon County Conservation District with various natural resources projects, totaling well over 1,000 volunteer hours. This partnership with Millikin has been important for both the students and MCCD. While the Conservation District gets hands-on help for projects that would otherwise not get completed, the students get realworld experience, which Horn says better prepares them for their professional careers. “At Millikin University, we emphasize both theory and practice,” Horn said. “Ecological principles can be taught in the classroom and those concepts can...
🍷Sip, Savor, & Support the Macon County Conservation Foundation.
Join us on June 28 for an unforgettable evening at Wine in the Wild, featuring delicious drinks, food, games, an exciting auction, and a sneak peek at the future plans for Woodbine Farm and Fort Daniel Conservation Area. Whether you’re clinking glasses with us in person or cheering from afar, your support makes a real difference.
Even if you can’t attend, you can still help us preserve and restore these incredible natural and historical spaces for generations to come. You can donate on our auction and donation GiveButter page to get on the leader-board and help us reach our goal! If you can't make it to the event the night of, you'll still be able to follow along with our fundraising progress throughout the evening with the Live Display option!
givebutter.com/c/WineInTheWild
Sponsor. Donate. Be part of something wild.
🎟️For tickets and event sponsorship information, head to our event page here: www.maconcountyconservationfoundation.org/events/wine-in-the-wild/
🌾 We're Hiring an Operations Supervisor!
Love the outdoors and leading a team? We’re looking for a natural resources pro to help manage and restore the wild and wonderful spaces of Macon County.
You’ll lead efforts to protect habitats, improve air and water quality, and preserve the natural and cultural gems that make our area so special—for today and tomorrow.
📍 Join our management team and make a lasting impact.
🔗 www.maconccd.org/get-involved/job-opportunities/
#ConservationCareers #MaconConservation #HiringNow
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We’ve been keeping a little secret… 👀
Behind the scenes, we’ve been hard at work with Blue Heron Web Design crafting something shiny and new—and it’s finally LIVE! 🖥️✨
Our brand-new website is here, and it’s easier than ever to explore everything you love about the Conservation District:
🌿 Programs & events
📢 News & announcements
👩🏫 Education info
📅 Facility rentals
💼 Job opportunities (yep—we're hiring!)
So go ahead—click around, get inspired, and maybe even find your next adventure (or your next job).
👉 www.MaconCCD.org/
Let us know what you think, and happy exploring!
#NewWebsiteWhoDis #GoWildOnline #MaconCountyConservation
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Looking for some camp activities to fill some time this summer? Our X-Treme and History camps still have some space left!
Check out the complete line up for bother camps here 👉🏼 www.maconcountyconservation.org/nature-camps-for-kids/
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👀 Sneak peek from above! The new Indoor-Outdoor Classroom is coming to life—and it’s looking tree-mendous! 🌳✨
Check out these beautiful new benches, made from trees harvested, milled, and crafted right here on our own conservation sites. From forest to function, this space is a true celebration of our mission: to connect people with nature and give our natural resources a second life.
This is more than just a classroom—it’s where curiosity meets conservation, and where students of all ages will get inspired by the great outdoors, and where our community can gather to enjoy the outdoors. We can’t wait to welcome you in soon! 🐛📚🌿
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