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Events and Highlights

Let's Walk | Belvidere | April 28 through June 20

Join us for a refreshing stroll at Prairie Fields Sports Park in Belvidere. Meet at the playground. Discover the countless benefits of walking for adults of all ages. Whether aiming to boost cardiovascular fitness, strengthen muscles and bones, or manage your weight, walking offers a simple yet effective solution. This free walking program is for beginners of all abilities and fitness levels. Mondays and Fridays at 5 PM, April 28 through June 20 (except May 26, Memorial Day). Register here.

Mother's Day Flower Walk | Genoa | May 10

Enjoy the sights and smells of the forest preserve on Saturday. Everyone is welcome to walk to see what is blooming in Russell Woods Forest Preserve. Two local botany enthusiasts, Karen Matz and Brian Hale, will talk about and identify a variety of beautiful wildflowers.Be sure to dress for the weather. Walks leave the Natural Resource Education Center (NREC) every hour starting at 10 am, and the last walk will leave at 1 pm.

Honey and Health: Nature's Sweet Treat | Lessons at the Library | Oregon

Learn more about honey and its benefits at the Oregon Public Library, 300 Jefferson St in Oregon, on May 15 starting at 10 am. Honey is nature's perfect gift, produced from the nectar of flowers. There are 320 varieties of honey, which vary in color, odor, and flavor depending on local flowers. We will discuss the basics of honey and its nutritional and therapeutic uses and share delicious recipes to try at home. No registration required.

Collect. Submit. Get results. Contribute to research!

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URGENT: Be part of the solution

Help collect ticks from humans, pets, and livestock in your area. We are studying the movement of ticks, tick-borne diseases, and their impact. Your contribution provides vital data to enhance our understanding of ticks and disease prevention, helping to protect humans, pets, and livestock. Ticks are on the move, increasing the risk of diseases such as Lyme disease and Alpha-gal syndrome in humans, as well as Anaplasmosis in livestock.

For more information, contact Teresa Steckler at (618) 695-4917 or email tsteckle@illinois.edu

Report ticks and more

THANK YOU | Ogle County 4-H Food Drive

The Ogle County 4-H Food Drive for National 4-H Day of Service was a huge success. The Mini Food Center by Conover Square in Oregon is filled to the brim with food for anyone in need. This Mini Food Center is open to the public 24/7. Thank you to the Ogle County Health Department for coordinating the Mini Food Centers in our surrounding area. And thank you to all of YOU who donated during this event!

Homegrown Healthy | 10-week program | Rochelle

Learn how to grow a garden, get an introduction to hydroponics, which is growing plants without soil, using a nutrient-rich water solution, and try foods made with garden produce. This program series is free, and you must commit to all sessions. We invite families and individuals to this free series. Register here now! The CDC ACTion Grant provides funding for this program. Registration deadline: May 24.

We are hiring!

Seeking a 4-H Youth Development Educator for Boone, DeKalb and Ogle Counties. Master's Degree required; livestock experience helpful. This is a full-time position and is benefit-eligible, including health, vision, and dental insurance. Call the Ogle County Extension office at 815-732-2191 with questions and to get a link to the application. Deadline: May 28 at 6 PM. EEO Employer

Camp Russell | Genoa

Summer Nature Day Camp

Camps fill quickly and space is limited, so register your child today! Choose from four weeklong programs, each with a different theme. The camp will run from 9 am to 3 pm each day at the Natural Resource Education Center inside Russell Woods Forest Preserve. Children will have fun learning about nature through hands‐on activities, games, and nature awareness. For more information on registering your child, call 815-758-8194. For information about the camp, call 815-784-2000.

Events

Let's Walk | Belvidere

May 12, 2025

County

Boone

Wee Nats

May 12, 2025

County

Winnebago

Gardening with Wildlife

May 13, 2025

County

JoDaviess

Tree Health Assessment | Cherry Valley

May 14, 2025

County

Winnebago

More Events

News Releases

Three youth standing with food and Ogle County 4-H banner

May 7, 2025

Ogle County 4-H food drive was a success
OREGON, Ill.— On April 26, 2025, youth across the country marked National 4-H Day of Service by giving back to their communities, and the Ogle County 4-H Ambassadors were no exception. Partnering with the Ogle County...

April 30, 2025

Mother's Day Flower Walk in Genoa
GENOA, Ill. — On Saturday, May 10, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the day before Mother’s Day, University of Illinois Extension offers guided wildflower walks at the Natural Resource Education Center (NREC) in Russell Woods Forest Preserve. Russell Woods is located one mile west of Genoa on State Route...

April 30, 2025

Ogle County youth rank high at state 4-H horse contests
OREGON, Ill. — Ogle County was represented by six local youth who competed in the Northwest Regional Competition for Illinois 4-H Horse Speaking, Horse Bowl, and Hippology earlier this month and were rewarded for their efforts. This was their first time competing in the State 4-H Horse Speaking...

April 30, 2025

Illinois Extension offers free dial-gauge pressure canning testing for home canners
OREGON, Ill. — With summer gardens gearing up, it’s time to take canning equipment out of storage. Illinois Extension in Boone, DeKalb, and Ogle counties offers free dial-gauge pressure canner testing to ensure the equipment works accurately. Testing should be done annually since the needle on a...