Macon County Conservation Foundation

08/29/2026

08/28/2026

🚴 Just a heads up for our cyclists — early bird pricing for the 2026 Prairie Pedal is coming up quick!

⏳ Only 3 days left to save — August 31 is the last day to take advantage of the lower pricing.

The ride is Sunday, September 27 — just 30 days away! You can find the registration link in the comments below. 🚲

08/01/2026

August is the month of National Fishing! 🎣

Did you know you could borrow equipment to fish at the Rock Springs Nature Center? There is no fee to use rods and reels to fish at any of the Rock Springs Conservation Area ponds or the Sangamon River. Ponds are stocked with largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish, red ear sunfish, walleye, and crappie. Trout is stocked by IDNR in the Cattail Pond in the fall.

You do need to be at least 16 with a fishing license to be able to borrow the poles. Special regulations are posted on-site, and State laws apply. Rock Springs does NOT issue fishing licenses, nor do they have live bait.

Bring your own pole or borrow one of ours and get out there and fish!🐟

07/31/2026

Did you get one of the cups with our sticker on it? Snap a picture and tag us!

Thank you, Coffee Connection, for letting us spread the word about this year’s Prairie Pedal on a cup of your delicious brew! 🍵

07/30/2026

With summer camp activities coming to an end, we will have more rental space availability at Rock Springs Nature Center! If you are looking for a place to host your upcoming event, we have the perfect space for you.

Our downstairs classrooms can be rented individually or combined to accommodate large or small groups. The Acorn Kitchen and Hidden Hollow Patio are available for private rental as well. You can add them to a room rental or rent them individually. With the Hidden Hollow Patio, you can also purchase bundles of wood for cozy fires to sit by or rent the grill to enjoy your own grilled food. 🔥🌭

For small business or board meetings, the Squirrels Nest is like a retreat into nature…. with TV and smartboard access. The large window boasts beautiful views of the wooded area outside with native wildlife being frequently spotted. 🐿️🦝 For large company meetings the Greenburg Auditorium on the main floor is 28’ X 50’ with a maximum capacity of 100.

There are many possibilities, let’s chat and find the perfect space! Check out the link https://www.maconccd.org/rentals/rooms/, give us a call (217) 542-7170, email [email protected], or send us a message for more information or to set up a tour. 😊

07/28/2026

The Buck Full Moon will rise in the sky tomorrow morning at 9:35 am in Macon County. The best view will be after sunset in the southeastern sky on July 29th. With clear skies, this should be one of the best lunar displays of this year! 🌕 This year’s Buck Moon is arriving two weeks before a total solar eclipse, which will take place on August 12th.

The most common name of Buck Moon stems from Native American traditions. It is the full moon that happens in July, marking the time that male deer grow their new antlers. A symbol of growth, strength and renewal. Cree people knew this moon as the Feather Molting moon, significant to when birds shed and regrow their feathers in the midsummer. Tlingit people referred to this moon as the Salmon Moon, representing the time when Salmon would make a vital return to local rivers and coastal waters.

If you enjoy gazing at the night sky, sharing knowledge about astronomy and would like to join us for a star party, MCCD is hosting an Astronomy Jamboree on August 8th from 8pm to 11pm at Friends Creek Conservation Area. Friends Creek is one of the best locations in Macon County to view the night sky thanks to the extremely low light pollution. Bring your telescope and enjoy the night stargazing. Registration is free for this event. For information and to register follow this link. 💫 https://www.maconccd.org/events/astronomy-jamboree/

Our parks do close at dusk unless a special event is taking place. Due to this we cannot invite you to stargaze on any night. However, if you would like to watch a beautiful sunset, check out Griswold Conservation Area in Blue Mound or Friends Creek Conservation Area. Both locations are great for viewing breath-taking sunsets in the evening. 🌞

07/28/2026

Have you signed up for the Prairie Pedal yet? 🚴

There’s 17 days left to become a sponsor and receive full benefits of sponsoring. 34 days to sign up as a rider and save on your ticket. 59 days to sign up at the full price. 61 days until the event!

We hope you can join us as we pedal through Macon County’s most scenic routes, all while supporting the preservation and restoration of these same areas. This fundraising bike ride has made many projects possible, and we are proud to be at again for the 18th year. We strive to keep making a positive impact and we couldn’t do it without the community’s support.

If you enjoy pedaling and want to support Macon County’s prairies, wetlands, forests and wildlife come on out! Share this with friends that might be interested, we always have room for more!

Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/812665951498449

Registration & becoming a sponsor: https://www.maconcountyconservationfoundation.org/events/prairie-pedal/

07/16/2026

Today is World Snake Day! 🐍 A Day to appreciate the ecological importance that snakes serve. Snakes play a crucial role in rodent and pest management helping with ecosystem balance, and their presence serves as environmental indicator in central Illinois. Since snakes are incredibly sensitive to changes in their environment, monitoring their population helps monitor environmental changes in our prairies, wetlands and forest areas.

While fear of snakes is common, injuries and fatalities are extremely rare among humans. Venomous snakes are not aggressive and usually only strike humans when stepped on, picked up, or cornered. Among the 40 native species of snakes in Illinois there are only 4 that are venomous, and none of them are found in Macon County. 3 of the 4 are found primarily in southern and western Illinois.

Massasaugas, an endangered pit viper, are primarily found in northern Illinois and are -on rare occasions- spotted in the northern part of central Illinois. These snakes live in wetlands and wet prairies and encountering them is very rare due to their extensive habitat loss, which has caused their population to be highly fragmented. Rest assured you are more likely to encounter a snake who is simply being nature’s pest control in central Illinois and is harmless to you.

Hopefully this may sooth some ophidiophobia!

07/15/2026

The early bird gets the worm! 🪱🐦 Prairie Pedal early bird registration deadline is August 31st. Get your tickets in advance to save!

If you miss the early registration date, full price tickets will be on sale all the way until Friday, September 25th at 11:00am. So, no sweat if good things take time, you'll still have time to save your spot and get your pedal on! 🚴

If you cannot make it and would like to make an impact, consider donating or becoming a sponsor. If you would like to sponsor and receive full benefits, make sure to sign up by July 31st.

Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/812665951498449

Registration & becoming a sponsor: https://www.maconcountyconservationfoundation.org/events/prairie-pedal/

07/14/2026

Celebrate Macon County Conservation Foundation’s 45 years of restoring and preserving natural and cultural resources through the Macon County Conservation District!

To help support us donate here: https://app.dvforms.net/api/dv/jk453d