Friday, October 19, 2012
McHenry County Conservation District's annual historical event is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 20 and 21, at Glacial Park, 6316 Harts Rd., Ringwood.
Folks who have never attended the McHenry County Conservation District's "Trail of History," simply don't know what they are missing. Trail of History, now in its 23rd year, is a living history interpretive event. Volunteers from across the country portray and demonstrate life as it was from 1670 to 1850 in the former Northwest Territory, which encompassed present- day Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and part of eastern Minnesota. The combination of historical impersonators and the beautiful, natural setting of Glacial Park Conservation Area make visitors feel as if they have traveled back in time. For starters, attendees must walk a one-mile trail over hills, through wooded savannahs and along bogs just to reach the Trail…
Friday, August 10, 2012
The McHenry County Conservation District is asking for the public's input on five options they have identified for the Fox Bluff Conservation area.
A sledding hill, a boardwalk and fishing piers along the Fox River and a natural play area where kids can build forts are all a part of the conceptual plans for the Fox Bluff Conservation area. The McHenry County Conservation District revealed five draft options to a master plan for the 279 acres of its Fox Bluff Conservation area, which includes the former site of Camp Algonquin, during an open house last week. The land is located west of Cold Springs Road and stretches from Cary Algonquin Road to the Fox River with a portion of the land in Algonquin and another portion in Cary. The southern portion of that land makes up the Fox Bluff Conservation area, which is currently open to the public with access and parking off of Cold Springs Road…
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
The McHenry County Conservation District is seeking public input on five draft options to a master plan for the Fox Bluff Conservation Area during a meeting Thursday.
The public will soon get to sound off on the future use for the grounds of the former Camp Algonquin, which closed last year after over 100 years in business. On Thursday, the McHenry County Conservation District will reveal five draft options to a master plan for the 279 acres of its Fox Bluff Conservation area, which includes the former site of Camp Algonquin, said Austin Taylor, associate landscape architect for the MCCD. The land is located west of Cold Springs Road and between Cary Algonquin Road and the Fox River in Algonquin. The public will be able to review the MCCD's draft master plan for the Fox Bluff area and provide feedback during an open house Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. at Prairieview Education Center, 2112 Behan Road in …
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
The McHenry County Conservation District will hold an open house Thursday to present its draft master plan for the former Camp Algonquin site and the Fox Bluff area in Algonquin.
The public will soon get to sound off on the future use for the site of a former overnight camp that closed last year after calling Algonquin home for over a century. On Thursday, the McHenry County Conservation District will reveal what it proposes be done with the 279 acres of its Fox Bluff area, which includes the former site of Camp Algonquin, said Austin Taylor, associate landscape architect for the MCCD. The land is located west of Cold Springs Road and between Cary Algonquin Road and the Fox River. The public will be able to review the MCCD's draft master plan for the Fox Bluff area and provide feedback during an open house Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. at Prairieview Education Center, 2112 Behan Road in Crystal Lake. A full story on …
Thursday, June 7, 2012
If you like getting outdoors, exploring and getting your hands muddy, the "Crafty Crayfish" program is for you!
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
-
Thursday, June 7, 2012
If you’re crazy about crayfish and crawdads, grab your boots and slosh on over to Fel-Pro RRR Conservation Area from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 9. McHenry County Conservation District is hosting a “Crafty Crayfish” program where participants will learn all about the four crayfish species common to Northern Illinois. During this afternoon, guests will dig deeper into the lifestyles of crayfish, who are relatives of the lobster. Fel-Pro RRR Conservation Area is located at 1520 Crystal Lake Ave., Cary. The 227-acre preserve has hiking trails, a pond and small lake. Visitors should meet by the pond for this free event, and be certain to dress for the outdoor weather and mud! This program is geared toward children ages six to 13, accompanied by…
Thursday, February 23, 2012
The McHenry County Conservation District hosts the annual Festival of the Sugar Maples each March at Coral Woods Conservation Area.
The flowing of sap at Coral Woods maple forest is an annual sign of spring in McHenry County. This year, due to the warmer winter temperatures, the sap already is moving, said Wendy Kummerer, communications manager for the McHenry County Conservation District. Longer days – bringing additional sun light – and temperatures reaching the 40-degree mark typical get the sap flowing, she said. “Anytime it goes above 40 degrees in the day, and below freezing at night is good for the sap,” Kummerer said. MCCD workers tapped 50 maple trees on Feb. 17, in preparation of the district’s annual Festival of the Sugar Maples, which is free and open to all ages. The festival is held the first two weekends in March: from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and …
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Weather should be warm for autumn activities, but La Nina could result in cold, snowy winter.
There are many factors that determine when leaves change their colors and how vivid the result. The best fall color occurs when days are bright, nights are cool, and soil moisture is good, said Mary McClelland, a horticulturist and co-owner of McHenry County Nursery, Inc. in Harvard. “It almost seems like the colors are changing overnight,” she said “Fall color depends on many things. In this Midwest area, we have had a variety of moisture levels in late summer and early fall and that affects color. There could be good fall color in one area and then 30 miles north or south, not so good,” McClelland said. With the warmer temperatures and brighter days we certainly are setting up for good fall colors,’ McClelland said. Ed Hedborn, known as …
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Nature photography exhibit is ongoing and documentary on toxic chemicals planned.
Illinois Nature Preserves Photography Exhibit McHenry County Conservation District Nature is currently exhibiting Nature Preserve and Land & Water Reserves: An enduring Vision — Illinois Nature Preserves Photography Exhibit It will be on display through Oct. 30 at Lost Valley Visitor Center, Glacial Park, Rt. 31 and Harts Rd., Ringwood. This exhibit is free and open to the public daily, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Illinois Nature Preserves Commission's traveling photo exhibit Illinois Nature Preserves and Land and Water Reserves commemorates 500 protected sites. Twenty-two exceptional photographs are on display and were selected from a slate of 225 photos submitted for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ 2009 Outdoor Illinois …
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Read more about the McHenry County Conservation District's efforts to cut down invasive species during the winter months.
Naturalists say winter is the best time to work on habitat restoration. “You can actually see what you are doing without the leaves. You’re not dealing with the heat or the mosquitoes,” said Denice Beck, volunteer coordinator for the McHenry County Conservation District. “It gets people outside to really appreciate the winter weather. Some people get outside and realize it’s fun to be outside in winter.” Conservation district staff and volunteers braved temperatures in the mid-teens on a recent Saturday morning at Harrison Benwell Conservation Area in Wonder Lake. They came to cut down invasive species, mostly buckthorn and honeysuckle, giving the oak trees and other native species room to grow. Site steward Pat Heald often greets …
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Restoration work continues at McHenry County Conservation District sites throughout the winter.
Naturalists say winter is the best time to work on habitat restoration. “You can actually see what you are doing without the leaves. You’re not dealing with the heat or the mosquitoes,” said Denice Beck, volunteer coordinator for the McHenry County Conservation District. “It gets people outside to really appreciate the winter weather. Some people get outside and realize it’s fun to be outside in winter.” Conservation district staff and volunteers braved temperatures in the mid-teens on a recent Saturday morning at Harrison Benwell Conservation Area in Wonder Lake. They came to cut down invasive species, mostly buckthorn and honeysuckle, giving the oak trees and other native species room to grow. Site steward Pat Heald often greets …
Jerry Erickson
11:52 am on Friday, August 10, 2012
There is building called the 'REC HALL" that was scheduled for demolition in the 1980's. Then it was seen as something of interest to preservationists. Architect Stanley Tigerman was retained to make plans to retain the building and, I believe, to add to it to meet needs of the camp at that time. The Rec Hall would be a terrific place for the historic museum. more ›