Education
Settlement on the Prairie
Lincoln Trail Homestead State Park and Memorial 39.805351, -89.104150, Decatur, IllinoisJoin us a Dr. Judy Parrish tells stories of some of the hardships early settlers had to face in Central Illinois as they worked to harness the rich prairie soils to start a new life.
Saving Land, Saving Species: Lessons for Central Illinois from Central America
Hilton Garden Inn 1501 S. Neil St., Champaign, IllinoisJoin LCF for an evening with Mark Wainwright. This wildlife biologist, author, and educator is president of the Monteverde Conservation League of Costa Rica, which manages the Children's Eternal Rainforest, the largest private preserve in Central America. Tickets are $50 each. REGISTRATION DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 15 Visit Conservation Foundation website for details and to register online.
Owl Prowl
Lincoln Trail Homestead State Park and Memorial 39.805351, -89.104150, Decatur, IllinoisAs we consider the beliefs held by pioneers about owls, we will listen for their eerie calls, learn what they east, understand their silent flight, and learn about their talons. Live owls from the Illinois Raptor Center will be there. Bring your flashlights.
Menard County Trails & Greenways’ Sangamon River Fall Float
New Salem Picnic Area Lewisburg, IllinoisExplore Sangamon River geology, history and nature on a Fall Float from Gudgel Bridge to New Salem on October 12, 2019.
3rd Annual Mudpuppy Festival
Monarch Brewing Company 212 S. Independence Street, Monticello, IllinoisCome celebrate the Sangamon River's coolest creature! 3rd Annual Mudpuppy Festival scheduled on Saturday, February 1, 1-4 pm at the Monarch Brewing Company in Monticello. Mudpuppies are a threatened species of salamander that sound like a puppy barking when on land. And, we have them right here in Monticello in the Sangamon River! Check out this YouTube video to see one in action. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pcuKcGZ8ns Download the festival flyer for all the details and list of sponsors.
Community Environmental Council Quarterly Forum
Decatur Public Library - Madden Auditorium 130 N Franklin Street, Decatur, IL, United StatesFeatured guest will be Steve John the co-founder and executive director of the Agricultural Watershed Institute, a Decatur-based nonprofit organization, and who serves on the Steering Committee of Green Lands Blue Waters. Keynote: The Perennial Biomass Initiative: Collaboration For the Next Landscape Transformation Steve John will discuss a multi-state initiative for a 21st Century landscape transformation featuring perennial crops to enhance agriculture’s economic, environmental, and social performance. The Decatur area and the Upper Sangamon River Watershed can be a test bed to significantly increase acreage planted in perennial crops managed for both agricultural goods and environmental services. Download a flyer here.
Native plantings at Lincoln Trail Homestead SP — Help is Needed!!
Lincoln Trail Homestead State Park and Memorial 39.805351, -89.104150, Decatur, IllinoisLincoln Trail Homestead State Park and Memorial will be closing its gate on November 1st. Our greatest wish is that you have enjoyed the park this season and have many happy memories spent there. The park offered a very nice alternative for handling Covid-19. Many improvements were made to improve the park however we have one more project that must be completed before the park closes for the winter. Money from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation's Stewardship Challenge Grant allowed us to purchase 100 native plants to be planted throughout the park. Unfortunately the nursery just delivered the plants at this late date. Due to the lateness of the delivered plants as well as inclement weather, we must work very quickly, before November 1st, to get them planted. This Saturday, October 31st at 9:00 AM, we are meeting at the park to plant these 100 native plants. We really need as many volunteers that can to come to the park and help. If we have plenty of help this project can be quickly accomplished. Please, if you have time, any amount will be appreciated, please consider helping us out. Please contact Melody Arnold at melody2@hotmail.com letting her you can help. Gratefully, Friends of Lincoln Trail Homestead State Park and Memorial
Things with Wings Mini-BioBlitz
Lincoln Trail Homestead State Park and Memorial 39.805351, -89.104150, Decatur, IllinoisThe first mini-BioBlitz of the season will be held Saturday, May 8, 2021, at 1:00 PM in Lincoln Trail Homestead State Park and Memorial. ‘Bio’ means ‘life’ and ‘Blitz’ means ‘to do something quickly and intensively’. Together they make ‘BioBlitz’, a collaborative search to discover as many species as possible, within a set location. The park offers an outdoor learning space that is perfect for this fun activity and families and all ages can become scientists as they study the biodiversity at the site of Abraham Lincoln's first home in Illinois. We hope you can join us as we survey all "Things with Wings" and take part in the Illinois State Bird Count within the park. An expert/speaker will speak on the importance of birds and flying insects and will be available to help you identify species found. The iNaturalist program will be explained so that everyone can download the app and use it on their mobile device if they would like. The number of participants is limited to 50 due to COVID19 regulations and masks are required. Send your reservations to Melody2a@hotmail.com. For more information: Melody Arnold- melody2a@hotmail.com