Upcoming Conservation District Programs

From McHenry County Conservation District: Nature’s Trail Time

Friday, August 10 from 10–11:30 a.m. at Exner Marsh Conservation Area – Lakewood Shelter, 9000 Lakewood Road, Lake in the Hills. Join us on a guided hike along the trails, exploring and finding nature’s treasures. Fee: County Resident Free/NR $5.00. Just for Kids ages 6–13. Registration required.

Meteor Showers and Summer Constellations

Saturday, August 11 from 8–10 p.m. at Marengo Ridge Conservation Area – Shelter #2, 2411 N. IL Rt. 23, Marengo. Have you ever seen a meteor shower? Would you like to learn more about what meteor showers are, when they occur, and how to increase your chance of seeing one? This is a good time of the year for watching one of the most well-known meteor showers, the Perseids. Relax under the summer night sky while we wait and watch for meteors. Listen to the stories of heroes such as Hercules and Perseus whose constellations can be seen along with other characters in their adventures. Although the best time of day for seeing the greatest number of meteors at one time is in the early morning hours, we may still observe the occasional meteor. Come prepared to be outside for the entire evening and bring a lawn chair or blanket. Fee: County Resident Free/NR $5.00. For Adults and Families. Registration required.

Dragonflies and Damselflies
Tuesday, August 14 from 6:30–8 p.m. at Pleasant Valley Conservation Area, Shelter #1, 13315 Pleasant Valley Road, Woodstock. Learn the life cycles of these marvelous winged wonders and set out to find, catch, examine, and release both adult insects and their nymphs. This requires exploration of both the prairie and the pond! Fee: County Resident Free/NR $2.00. For Adults and Families. Registration required.
Creature Feature: Short-eared Owl

Wednesday, August 15 from 9 a.m.–12 p.m. at Prairieview Education Center, 2112 Behan Road, Crystal Lake. A live animal is our featured creature during three hours filled with games, activities, and crafts all based around the creature of the day. A snack is provided. Dress appropriately for the weather and wear good walking shoes, as most of the time is spent outdoors. Fee: County Resident $6.00/NR $8.00. Just for Kids ages 5–7. Registration required.

Discovery Days
Tuesday, August 21 from 10–11:30 a.m. at Boone Creek Conservation Area, 916 Cold Springs Rd., Bull Valley. 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. A short hike is included. Fee: County Resident Free/NR $5.00. Just for Kids ages 2–6, with chaperone. Registration required.

Cooking with the Sun
Saturday, August 25 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/NR $5.00. Adults and Families ages 7 and up.Registration required.

Tagging and Tracking the Monarch’s Great Migration
Sunday, August 26 from 1:30–3 p.m. at Prairieview Education Center, 2112 Behan Road, Crystal Lake. It is almost time for the majestic monarch butterflies to begin their mass migrations south. A brief overview of monarchs, their life-cycle, migration patterns, and programs that track their migrations will be presented. Afterward we will hike the trails through the summer prairie in search of monarchs and their larvae. If available, we will tag a live monarch butterfly and provide instruction on how to do this at home. Monarch tag ordering information will also be available. Fee: County Resident Free/NR $5.00. Adults and Families ages 6 and up. Registration required.

An Evening of Native American Flute
Friday, August 31 from 7–9 p.m. at Prairieview Education Center, 2112 Behan Road, Crystal Lake. Join the Conservation District and members of the Woodland Spirit Flute Circle for an evening of Native American flute music; both live and recorded. Hear Native American legends of the origins of the flute. Learn about their design and what makes them unique from other styles of flute. If you are a flute player, please feel free to bring your own and share your music. Each participant receives two drink tickets at the beginning of the program that can be exchanged for a variety of soft drinks, wine or beer (with valid ID). Fee: County Resident $20.00/NR $25.00. Just for Adults, ages 21 years and older. Registration required.

Visit the District’s website at www.MCCDistrict.org to view all program and event offerings or sign up to receive the seasonal magazine Landscapes. Register 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.

Image via Shutterstock / vovan