E-Learning

Education opportunities have greatly shifted to digital environments putting learning at your fingertips.  The Conservation District has put together additional online learning resources that include a variety of ways for students, volunteers, individuals, and families to get enlightened and inspired by the natural world. Use the E-learning opportunities to enhance your on-site experiences. Explore the creative resources and check back frequently, as we will continue to add more.

E-Learning Resources


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IDENTIFICATION
Periodical vs Annual Cicadas
Periodical cicadas (Magicicada spp.) are black with red eyes, legs, and wing veins, and are smaller than annual cicadas.
Annual cicadas (Neotibicen spp.) are dark green to black with green wing veins, and are larger than periodical cicadas

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LEARN MORE:
Landscapes Seasonal Sighting Article

EXTERNAL RESOURCES:
Celebrating Cicadas - Lake County Forest Preserve District
Cicadas - Illinois Extension
INaturalist - Report Sightings
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Virtual Field Study Videos
We wanted to give students the opportunity to still experience our sites while at home, but while originally created for teachers and students, Virtual Field Studies is great for all ages who want to discover more!
Virtual Field Study: Festival of the Sugar Maples
Virtual Field Study: Restoring Glacial Park
Virtual Field Study: At Home in the Woods
Virtual Field Study: Early Spring Wildflower Walk
Virtual Field Study: Wandering Wetlands
Virtual Field Study: Prairie Plant Walk

Printable Field Study Resources
Predator / Prey
Animal Adaptations

More
Looking for something you don't see here? We have ten additional Virtual Field Studies available by request. These cover the following subjects: Pioneer Life; Exploring Ecosystems; Ice Age; Geology and Glaciers; Animal Adaptations; Have to Have a Habitat; Bugs, Bugs Bugs; Plant Life Cycles; Powers-Walker House Tour; Nocturnal Animal Sing-Along. If you would like any of these for your home or classroom use, please email Education@MCCDistrict.org.

Explore the outdoors each season with themed activity sheets and videos.

WINTER
DECEMBER - Evergreens (Activity Sheet)
JANUARY - Owls (Activity Sheet) (Supplemental Videos)
FEBRUARY - Scat (Activity Sheet) (Supplemental Videos)

SPRING
MARCH - Creek Life (Activity Sheet) (Supplemental Video)
APRIL - Recycling (Activity Sheet) (Craft Video)
MAY- Rock Talk (Activity Sheet)
MAY - Frogs (Activity Sheet)  (Craft Video)

SUMMER
JUNE - Turtles (Activity Sheet) (Trail Tip Video)
JULY - Backyard Birding (Activity Sheet)
AUGUST - Insects (Activity Sheet)

FALL
SEPTEMBER - Fun Flowers (Activity Sheet)
OCTOBER - Fall Colors (Activity Sheet)
NOVEMBER - Winter is Coming (Activity Sheet)

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Discover Nature
Check out these digital and printable resources created by our staff to help guide your Nature Discoveries.
Just for Fun - Word Search
Spring Scavenger Hunt
Bird Matchmaker 
Bird Sound Scavenger Hunt
Baby Animal Name Game

Migration Madness 
Eyes to the skies! Learn more about are feathered friends and their spring and fall migration patterns. Print out the Bird Id sheets and grab your binoculars. 
Spring Birding - Early Arrivals
Spring Birding - Mid Arrivals
Spring Birding - Late Arrivals
Spring Birding - Waterfowl 
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Wonders of the Wild 
Have You Ever Wondered...Why snakes stick out their tongues? How an owl's flight can be so silent? What a sandhill crane eats? Where monarch butterflies go in the winter? How a beaver can withstand the cold water in winter? Education Program Coordinator Kim Compton explores these questions and more in our environmental education series, perfect for all ages.

Owls
White Tailed Deer
Turtles
Bald Eagles
Herons and Egrets
Wintering Birds
Sandhill Cranes

MORE EPISODES 
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Tom Talks
Dr. Tom Simpson, Research Field Station Ecologist, hosts a series of webinars for volunteers. Recordings of these webinars are posted directly to the Tom Talks playlist on McHenry County Conservation District's Youtube page. Want to be notified to register for free Zoom webinar?  Contact JBero@MCCDistrict.org.

Tom Talks: Virtual Field Trips
Dr. Tom Simpson (Research Field Station Ecologist) and Jackie Bero (Volunteer Coordinator) are at it again, this time taking participants along with them, virtually, on-site at some of the District's restored conservation areas. 
Marengo Ridge
Nippersink Creek (Part 1) (Part 2)

Behind the Scenic Views
Looking for something for older children in middle school or high school? In our Behind the Scenic Views series, experts at the Conservation District discuss recent projects including things like wetland restoration and mussel surveys. 

Trail Tips
Spring is a great time to learn about baby wildlife and what we should do if we come across them. Our Trail Tips series with Wildlife Resource Specialist Beth teaches viewers about the stages of local wildlife young, and the way their parents care for and protect them. 

Scat Chat
Join Ranger Dave and Education Program Coordinator Val as they discover and explain different animal scatological specimen found at our conservation areas.

All About Owls
Learn about these mysterious creatures from our Wildlife Resource Center!