Our woodlands are in trouble. In areas too small to farm or too rugged to clear, forests are becoming overwhelmed by invasive plants from around the world. These stressed ecosystems can no longer fully support the wildlife that flies, crawls, swims, or walks on four legs. At the same time, many of us have lost our personal connection to these places — and the land is feeling the impact.
Join Cindy at Owsley Wild Lands, where she and her husband Craig have spent years removing invasive species across their 38‑acre habitat project. During this tour, Cindy will share her journey to “help forests dance again,” highlighting a 20‑year‑old Conservation Reserve tree planting that is now developing a healthy native understory. You’ll see a maturing woodland where native honeysuckle vine, ramps, deer tongue grass, and spring ephemerals are returning on their own.
This half‑mile hike will explore a variety of woodland management techniques and invite participants to consider what Nature suggests as the next steps forward. You may leave inspired to help create healthier, happier forests in your own community.
After the tour, you’re welcome to bring a beverage and enjoy s’mores around the campfire with fellow land stewards.
Locations and directions will be provided when you register.
Don't miss our other Conservation Tours:
Cindy Owsley – Forest Tour: Helping Forests Dance
May 3 • 2:00–4:00 PM Explore a 38‑acre restoration project where invasive species have been removed, and native woodland plants are returning. This half‑mile hike highlights woodland management techniques, a 20‑year‑old Conservation Reserve planting, and the journey to restore healthy forests. S’mores around the campfire follow the tour. Cap: 35
Patrick & Mercedes Heles – Home Garden Tour
May 30 • 3:00–4:30 PM A whimsical, storybook‑inspired home garden filled with native and locally suited plants. This low‑impact, pollinator‑friendly landscape blends years of thoughtful planting with rare specimens inherited from the home’s former horticulturist owners. Cap: 20
Barrie McVey – Tree Farm Tour & Picnic
June 6 • 10:00 AM–1:30 PM Visit a long‑established certified Tree Farm featuring forest management practices, invasive species control, pollinator plots, a Chinese chestnut orchard, and a pumpkin patch. Bring a sack lunch for the midday break. Cap: 35
Carey Boehm‑Corrie – Native Lawnscaping Tour
June 13 • 10:00 AM–12:00 PM Tour a home landscape built on former strip‑mine ground and transformed over 23 years with native trees, shrubs, prairie plants, aquatics, and perennials. A great example of resilient, habitat‑focused landscaping. Cap: 30
Giving Gardens – Project Insight Garden Tour
June 20 • 8:00–9:30 AM Learn how Giving Gardens supports community food access through public‑harvest gardens. Explore the Project Insight Giving Garden and discover how these spaces strengthen neighborhoods and increase local food abundance. Cap: None
Brent Fowler – Curtis Farm Wagon Tour
July 4 • 9:00–11:00 AM Ride through prairie and pollinator plantings established to support bobwhite quail and other wildlife. See how 135 acres of habitat and 30 miles of field edges are managed for conservation success. Restrooms available. Cap: 40
Trevor Toland – Cattle Farm Wagon Tour: Conservation of Working Lands with Regenerative Grazing
July 18 • 8:30–11:00 AM Tour River Oak Ranch and see one of Illinois’ leading regenerative grazing operations. Learn how conservation practices and intensive grazing management support soil health, livestock, and long‑term land resilience. Cap: 50
Angella Moorehouse – Short Fork Seep Tour
August 7 • 5:00–6:30 PM Explore a high‑quality 42‑acre Illinois Nature Preserve featuring Grade B seep and sedge meadow wetlands. Learn about recent restoration efforts to revive sunlight, hydrology, and the historic oak‑hickory community. Trail rated difficult. Cap: 25
Brent Fowler – Sapp Farm Wagon Tour
August 22 • 9:00–11:00 AM Another chance to tour Brent Fowler’s prairie and pollinator habitat work, with a focus on wildlife restoration—especially bobwhite quail. Enjoy the scenery and learn practical habitat‑building strategies. Restrooms available. Cap: 40
Prairie Land Conservancy – Mindfulness Walk at Stony Hills Nature Preserve
September 5 • 10:00 AM–12:00 PM A guided mindfulness walk through a 200‑acre preserve near the Mississippi River. Slow down, observe nature, and experience the health benefits of time outdoors. Trails are mowed grass with easy to moderate terrain. Cap: 35
Related Events
McDonough County Conservation Tours