MCCD to Host Craft Brew Crawl, Kid-Friendly Programs in Coming Weeks

Submission by the McHenry County Conservation District

The McHenry County Conservation District will be hosting several fun events in coming weeks. Pre-registration is required for all programs.

Craft Brew Crawl

• Wednesday, June 1 from 7–9 p.m. at Lost Valley Visitor Center in Glacial Park, Route 31 and Harts Rd., Ringwood. Enjoy tasting micro-brews from local breweries as we hike through the scenic woods and wide open spaces of Glacial Park on an early summer evening. We will share educational snippets to keep your brain and taste buds invigorated at each of our sampling stops along the trail. Tasters must present a valid ID at check-in. Fee: County resident $15/Non-resident $20. Just for Adults, ages 21 years and older. Registration deadline:May 28.

Drop-in Nature Hike for Kids

• Thursday, June 2 from 1:30–3 p.m. at Kettle Parking Lot in Glacial Park Conservation Area, Route 31 and Harts Rd., Ringwood; AND/OR Tuesday, June 14 from 1:30–3 p.m. at Marengo Ridge Conservation Area, 2411 N. IL Rt. 23, Marengo. Children can get out and get active while enjoying the great outdoors on these guided hikes one to two miles in length. Stroll through the park as a group, taking in all the sights, sounds and smells that nature has to offer. Great for logging Happy Hiker mileage! Visit MCCDistrict.org to view the four additional summer dates, locations and details on how to earn Happy Hiker miles. Just for Kids ages 6–13.

Birding By Bicycle

• Saturday, June 4 from 8–10:30 a.m. at North Branch Conservation Area, 11500 North Keystone Rd., Richmond. Resident bird expert Dave Miller will guide us on a short hike and bike ride around the Nippersink North Branch trails to see grassland birds. Then we’ll take a short ride down the Hebron Trail to Goose Lake to spot wetland birds. We may be lucky enough to see dickcissels, grasshopper sparrows, yellow-headed blackbirds and common moorhens. Light morning refreshments are provided. Note: The bike trails are not paved. Please bring an appropriate bike. Fee: County resident $5 /Non-resident $7. Just for Adults, ages 14 years and older. Registration deadline: May 31.

Discovery Days

• Friday, June 10 from 10–11:30 a.m. at Rush Creek Conservation Area, 20501 McGuire Road, Harvard. Enjoy an hour and a half of fun including a game, craft, snack and other educational activities all based around the special theme of the day. Fee: County resident Free /Non-resident $5. Just for Kids ages 2–6, with chaperone. Registration deadline: June 2.

Cooking with the Sun

• Saturday, June 11 from 1:30–3:30 p.m.at Lost Valley Visitor Center in Glacial Park, Route 31 and Harts Rd., Ringwood. Discover how to harness the sun’s energy to cook food. Participants make their own pizza box solar cooker and taste treats that have been cooked using the sun’s energy! Fee: County resident Free /Non-resident $5 Adults and Families ages 7 and up. Registration deadline: June 7.

Visit the District’s website at www.MCCDistrict.org to view the programs in greater detail or sign up to receive the seasonal magazine, Landscapes. Registration is accepted online, by phone (free programs only) at (815) 479-5779, by mail-in and drop-off at Prairieview Education Center, 2112 Behan Road in Crystal Lake, or drop-off only at Lost Valley Visitor Center, Route 31 and Harts Rd. in Ringwood.