The Land Conservancy’s 35th Annual Celebration Fundraiser is Sunday, April 12

The Land Conservancy of McHenry County (TLC) will host its 2026 Annual Celebration on Sunday, April 12 from 2-5:00 p.m. at The Reserve at Black Oak, 19517 Lembcke Rd. in Harvard.

Guest speaker Paula Whyman is the author of Bad Naturalist and a finalist for the Philip D. Reed Environmental Writing Award. Whyman will speak about her experience of finding an empty-nester home in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and how her plans for a tidy backyard ecology project quickly morphed into a massive endeavor, discovering how little she knows about hands-on conservation work. In Bad Naturalist, Whyman struggles with conflicting advice from experts, an influx of invasive species, delayed plans, and the occasional rattlesnake—but none of it dampens her passion for protecting the land surrounding her home.

The event begins at 2:00 p.m. with socializing and a silent auction. A “high tea,” including sandwiches, pastries and desserts will be served at 2:30 p.m. The silent auction will include a variety of exciting items up for bid including artwork, artisan items, local experiences, gift baskets and much more.

At the event, TLC will present Bill Howenstine and George Johnson as Conservation Legends posthumously. Both men passed away at age 100 earlier this year.

Bill Howenstine was one of TLC’s first board members, and served as Board President in the early 2000’s. Bill and his wife Alice also helped establish the Environmental Defenders and McHenry County Conservation District (MCCD) in the 1970s. More recently, Bill helped MCCD establish Pioneer Fen Conservation Area in Johnsburg.

George Johnson, long-time resident of Alden Township, started Seed Sharing Day in 1993 to help his neighbors collect and share seed from native plants on their properties – an event that TLC continues on the third Saturday of October. George’s foresight also led to the preservation of High Point Conservation Area by MCCD in 2008, and several TLC-held conservation easements on private land in the High Point Area. His curiosity elevated the profile of the High Point Area’s many vernal pools as critical habitat for amphibians.

Early bird-tickets are available at ConserveMC.org/Annual-Celebration until Feb. 28 at $65 for TLC members and $75 for nonmembers. On March 1 tickets will increase to $75 for TLC members and $85 for nonmembers. The Annual Celebration is a great opportunity for people with an interest in conservation in McHenry County to gather and learn more about the work TLC and its many volunteers have accomplished over the past year.

The Land Conservancy of McHenry County is a member-based private nonprofit dedicated to preserving natural, scenic and agricultural land.