Habitat Restoration Days
Get involved!
If you’re wild about nature and enjoy working with people who are enthusiastic about the environment, you’re a “natural” to help District site stewards at habitat restoration days. Volunteers assist with seasonal restoration tasks, such as cutting and stacking invasive brush, removing non-native vegetation, and sowing native plant seed.
Join us: Choose the Conservation Area where you wish to help out, and then contact the site steward for site-specific details. Additional questions? Contact the Volunteer Coordinator at 815. 338.6223 or Volunteers@MCCDistrict.org In some cases, you can Signup Online and the steward will contact you!
Who: Adults, teens, families (children should be at least 6 years old; anyone under 13 must be accompanied by an adult), groups, students needing to complete community service requirements. Groups should call one week in advance. All large groups or corporate restoration day requests should be sent to the Volunteer Coordinator at jbero@MCCDistrict.org.
Where: Conservation Areas (listed below) throughout McHenry County
When: Saturdays, Sundays and some weekdays throughout the year. Sessions last about three hours.
Experience: No experience required. Note: Activities such as chainsawing and herbicide application require additional training/certification.
What to bring: Wear sturdy footwear and clothing appropriate for outdoor work and weather conditions. Safety equipment and tools are provided. Bring work gloves if you own them, plus drinking water, insect repellent and sunscreen, as needed.
Southeast (Cary, Island Lake, Lake in the Hills, Woodstock)
Site: Boone Creek Conservation Area (Parking: 916 Cold Springs Rd, Woodstock)
Steward: Brandie Dunn and Caitlin Benkoski
(815) 347-2247 or nativebeelady@gmail.com OR Register Online
Dates: 4/27, 5/25, 6/29, 7/27, 8/31
Time: 9 a.m. - Noon
Steward: Mike Bouska; Britt Salvador
(815) 759-0731 or bsal9789@gmail.com
Dates & Times: Variable – contact stewards
Steward: Jeff Schumacher and Mike Evans
mevansoutside@gmail.com or (815) 575-8080 OR Register Online
Dates: 4/13, 5/11, 6/8, 7/13, 8/10
Time: 9 a.m. - Noon
Stewards: Len Bannon & Tim Anderson
(847) 669-1381 or lennsandy@gmail.com OR Register Online
Dates: 4/20, 5/18, 6/15, 7/20, 8/17
Time: 9 a.m. - Noon
Site: Fel-Pro RRR Disc Golf Course (Parking Varies - Contact steward)
Steward: Michael Castiglione, mcastigl521@hotmail.com or (773) 820-2767 OR Register Online
Dates & Times: Variable - contact steward
Fox Bluff, 1300 Cold Springs Rd, Algonquin
Stewards: Matt Tegelman & Trevor O’Brien,
mtegelman@yahoo.com OR (224) 629-6422 OR Register Online
Dates: 6/1, 6/29, 7/13, 7/27, 8/10, 8/24
Time: 9 a.m. - Noon
Site: Lake in the Hills Fen
Steward: OPEN
Site: Oakwood Hills Fen (Parking: Lakewood Dr. & E Park Ln.)
Stewards: Patrick Boros & Jim Anderson
jim5502@comcast.net OR(847) 639-6547 OR Register Online
Dates: 4/16, 5/21, 6/18, 7/16, 8/20
Time: 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Steward: Margie Szymanskyj
savannagal@gmail.com
Dates & Times: Variable – contact steward
(Spring, Summer and Fall only)
Northeast (Bull Valley, Johnsburg, McHenry)
Site: Boger Bog (Contact for parking location)
Conservation District Ecologist Elyse Leannais
ELeannais@mccdistrict.org OR 815-763-2577 OR Register Online
Dates: 4/27, 5/25, 6/22, 7/27, 8/24
Time: 9 a.m. - Noon
Steward: Jim Andrews
Text (847) 361-9498 OR Register Online
Dates: 4/27, 5/25, 6/29, 7/27, 8/31
Time: 9 a.m. - Noon
Located at Lost Valley Visitor Center in Glacial Park, Route 32 & Harts Rd, Ringwood
Steward: District Landscape Architect Jen Oliver
JOliver@MCCDistrict.org
Dates: 5/22, 6/26, 7/24
Time: 10 a.m. - Noon
Site: 4700 N. Waltshire Ln., McHenry
StewardS: Pat Sullivan-Schroyer; Carla Hanrahan
psullivanschroyer@gmail.com OR 815-675-9004 OR cjmhan34@gmail.com OR Register Online
Dates: 4/13, 5/11, 6/8, 7/13
Time: 9:30 a.m. - Noon
Steward: Pete Jackson
(224) 612-1803 OR beepjackson14@gmail.com OR Register Online
Dates: 5/4, 6/2, 7/13
Times: 9 a.m. - Noon
Site: Weingart Sedge Meadow, McHenry (parking varies - contact site steward)
Steward: Sarah Hagen
shagen@premmag.com OR or (815) 687-2689
Dates & Times: Variable - contact steward
Stewards: Rommy Lopat & Michelle Wilson
weedpatch@gmail.com or (847) 922-0437
Dates & Times: Variable - contact stewards
Southwest (Marengo, South of Woodstock)
Site: Coral Woods ( Parking: 7400 Somerset Dr., Marengo)
Stewards: Bonnie Leahy and Dan Roth
(815) 923-2208 or bh.leahy@att.net OR dwroth1@outlook.com OR (847) 682-0475
Dates & Times: Variable - contact stewards
Site: Pleasant Valley
Steward: Vacant
Dates: None at this time.
Time:
