Connect. Learn. Grow.

National Volunteer Week is April 18-24

Extension volunteers make Illinois a better place. From working with youth on 4-H projects, and from mentoring families on personal finances to identifying pests, our volunteers are essential. How you can help support your community?

Hello, spring? We're ready for you!

How do keep weeds out of my lawn? What kind of bug is this? Where can I get my pesticide applicator certification? When do hard-boiled eggs expire? Help, I found a baby bunny! What can I do to cut down on my grocery bill? Our spring guide has you covered!

Local Government Education

Local officials and community leaders can gain perspective from experts on policies and legislation at federal and state levels which may impact funding, programs, infrastructure, and economic progress of Illinois communities.

Webinars and Digital Training

Information you trust is just a click away. Illinois Extension’s high-quality programs are available for free online as live webinars. Miss a program? Check out the recordings.

Master Gardener Training

Gain practical experience and horticulture knowledge straight from Extension educators so you can positively impact your community.

Budget-Friendly Nutrition Tips

Make healthier choices for your family on any budget. Find your healthy lifestyle with Eat. Move. Save.

Advocate for the Environment

Love nature? The Master Naturalist program works with adult volunteers to support natural spaces and wildlife around Illinois as environmental stewards.

black eyed susans and ornamental grasses
Put down the bottle: Handling weeds and insects at home doesn't start with pesticides
Improper use can harm adults, children, and pets, kill beneficial insects, and leach chemicals into the ecosystem and drinking water supplies.
farm couple walks down gravel lane with brown Labrador retriever
During planting, stress management is more important than ever
As spring planting approaches, so do the pressures and expectations placed upon farmers.
hemp plants in Illinois field
Hemp research a win-win for new Midwestern crop
Industrial hemp is one of the fasting growing crops across Midwestern fields and researchers are recruiting producers in the race to learn more. 
notepads for office support
New resource hub connects unit staff across state

Molly Foster, Elaine Kaple, and Amy Spence have a decade of combined knowledge and experience.

A boy and girl use post hole diggers in a forest
4-H service project brushes off invasives
In 1830, a young Abraham Lincoln traveled from Indiana with his family to settle in Illinois. Almost two centuries later, new young leaders are following in his footsteps by preserving the state’s natural legacy at his namesake park.
Toy turkey in small shopping cart on red background
Smaller turkeys, lower prices on Thanksgiving menu
With more intimate gatherings being the new norm for Thanksgiving and Christmas, small whole turkeys at lower prices are on the menu in 2020.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Response resources for COVID-19

The spread and mitigation of coronavirus (COVID-19) is an evolving concern for Illinois. This library of resources can help families, businesses, community leaders, and ag producers cope.

Find Local Food Resources

Find all food assistance sites closest to your Illinois zip code, including food pantries, school meal sites, and grocery stores and farmers markets that accept WIC/SNAP.

Economic and Functional Value

A new report finds that Extension provides more than $600 million annual benefit to Illinois, ten times its budget. Read the report.

En Espanol

La Extensión de la Universidad de Illinois es el principal alcance emblemático de la Universidad de Illinois en Urbana-Champaign, que ofrece programas educativos a los residentes de los 102 condados de Illinois, y mucho más.