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, by emailing us your name and mailing address at [email protected].  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 [email protected] 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  and Twitter.

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🧡Staff inside the Rock Springs Nature Center are wearing our orange ribbons for MRIs Paint the Town Orange campaign, but due to the toasty nature of fire and the melty nature of ribbon, the Operations crew were able to show their orange support in a different way!🔥🟠

Check out our latest reel to watch how quickly the prescribed fire takes care of a section of prairie!

🧡Staff inside the Rock Springs Nature Center are wearing our orange ribbons for MRI's Paint the Town Orange campaign, but due to the toasty nature of fire and the melty nature of ribbon, the Operations crew were able to show their orange support in a different way!🔥🟠

Check out our latest reel to watch how quickly the prescribed fire takes care of a section of prairie!
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The Operations crew are taking advantage of this weather to get some more prescribed fire burns taken care of! Watch how fast the fire burns off that section! ... See MoreSee Less

Another great reason to become a volunteer with us! We had a special 🔥prescribed fire🔥 training/demonstration this weekend for our volunteers. They started inside with a brief presentation on prescribed fire, and then suited up to try it for themselves!

Our volunteers get to do activities like this and more and we would love to have your join our team of amazing volunteers! You can choose your area of interest and a schedule that works for you. Weve got opportunities for all ages and interests! Send us a message if youre interested in becoming a Macon County Conservation District volunteer and wed be happy to get you more information!

Another great reason to become a volunteer with us! We had a special 🔥prescribed fire🔥 training/demonstration this weekend for our volunteers. They started inside with a brief presentation on prescribed fire, and then suited up to try it for themselves!

Our volunteers get to do activities like this and more and we would love to have your join our team of amazing volunteers! You can choose your area of interest and a schedule that works for you. We've got opportunities for all ages and interests! Send us a message if you're interested in becoming a Macon County Conservation District volunteer and we'd be happy to get you more information!
... See MoreSee Less

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Trading Tractors for Tadpoles

February 15, 2024|

During the summer of 2023, we took on the task of constructing three wetlands at two District locations. Fort Daniel Conservation Area, located east of Mt. Zion, is where one of the wetlands was constructed, and the other two at Friends Creek Conservation Area, located in the northern portion of Macon County near Cisco. This is one of the largest earthmoving projects the District has done in-house; every member of the Operations staff had a role in this construction project.

Beyond Brick & Mortar: Building the Future of Education with Open Walls & Open Minds

February 15, 2024|

In 2023, we applied for - and received - a grant from the IDNR to construct an indoor-outdoor classroom in the lower level of the Rock Springs Nature Center. This project will focus on increasing our programming space at the Nature Center by constructing additional indoor and outdoor learning facilities and structures.

Let Them Be Wild

November 20, 2023|

We understand more than most that baby animals are downright adorable, but is it ever a good idea to take an animal from the wild to keep as a pet? The answer to that would be, no. No matter how cute a wild animal is, removing them from their home in the wild to bring in and attempt to keep them as a domestic animal is never advisable for many reasons.

Giving Tuesday

November 2, 2023|

Giving Back This Giving Tuesday Giving a little helps a lot. On Giving Tuesday, people all around the world do their part to give back! This year, we're asking for your support to help us protect and conserve the natural resources of our community. Your donations will help us to: Restore native habitats Purchase native seeds and plants Educate the public on the importance of conservation The Macon County Conservation District is fortunate to have staff who are passionate about what we do here and love getting to educate and inform the public on what it is that we do, [...]

An Unexpected Find

August 18, 2023|

We here at the Macon County Conservation District wouldn’t be able to do what we do without several vital things that all play major roles in our daily operations, including our amazing volunteer base, our stellar and knowledgeable staff, and of course, the public that we serve.