Discover What’s Happening This Fall

Master Naturalists help restore habitat at Plum Island Eagle Sanctuary
OTTAWA, Ill. – University of Illinois Extension Master Naturalist volunteers are helping protect and restore an important wildlife habitat along the Illinois River through ongoing stewardship work at Plum Island Eagle Sanctuary near Starved Rock State Park.Owned and managed by the...

LaSalle County Master Naturalist volunteer assists with wildlife conservation research at Nachusa Grasslands
OTTAWA, Ill. – University of Illinois Extension Master Naturalist volunteers contribute thousands of hours each year to conservation, education, and stewardship efforts across Illinois. This spring, Master Naturalist volunteer Dave Brewer participated in a unique wildlife monitoring project at...

Beyond Ready: Lilliana Bernabei’s Summer with Illinois Extension
OTTAWA, Ill. - 4-H alumni Lilliana Bernabei spent her summer as an intern with Illinois Extension serving Bureau, LaSalle, Marshall, and Putnam counties, gaining experience in the same program that helped shape her own youth development journey.Through her internship,...

Master Naturalists dig into Illinois’ ancient past at Mazon Creek fossil site
OTTAWA, Ill. – While many people spend summer days searching for treasures at garage sales or flea markets, a group of local University of Illinois Extension Master Naturalist volunteers went looking for something far older: fossils more than 300 million years old.In June, Illinois...

Master Naturalist volunteers help monitor bat populations in LaSalle County
As bat conservation efforts continue across Illinois, Master Naturalist volunteers in LaSalle County are helping researchers better understand local bat populations through acoustic monitoring surveys and public education programs.Since 2025, the University of Illinois Extension has...