Environment

Events

Birds, Bees, and Solar: Wildlife Interactions with Solar Energy Development

November 10, 2026

Wild World of Woolly Worms

November 13, 2026

County

Johnson

Planning for Pollinators this Fall

November 19, 2026

County

Johnson

2026 Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy Partnership Conference - Virtual Viewing

December 3, 2026

County

Coles

Cumberland

Douglas

Moultrie

Shelby

More Events

Blog Posts

Nature helps rural communities build resilience

October 15, 2026

Imagine if the river just down the road were not only a place to fish, but a way to connect generations through shared storytelling. Or picture...

Reduce insect conflicts with a naturalistic approach

September 3, 2026

While enjoying the outdoors, we often come into contact with insects, for better or worse. From buzzing mosquitoes to wasps interrupting outdoor...

Bison: Prairie engineers of Illinois

November 6, 2026

What gardeners can learn from one of Illinois' most influential prairie animals.Most people think of bison as animals of the western plains. Yet...

Beyond the bird feeder: Grow an autumn food web with native plants

October 26, 2026

As leaves change color, fall migration brings many birds through central Illinois. Warblers, vireos, thrushes, and other songbirds stop along the way...

More Blogs

News Releases

October 28, 2026

Illinois Extension expands environmental outreach to meet growing need
URBANA, Ill. — A handful of University of Illinois Extension staffing changes mean four more educators in the northern part of the state are sharing their energy, environment, and natural resources expertise...

Kids standing in a circle looking at a map

October 14, 2026

Forest Quest offers youth school's out adventure in nature during Thanksgiving week
GENOA, Ill. — Looking for an engaging way for kids to spend their days off school during Thanksgiving week? University of Illinois Extension and the DeKalb County Forest Preserve District are teaming up to offer Forest Quest, a hands-on nature day camp for youth ages 7 to 11....

A person smashing a pumpkin in an open dumpster used for recycling and composting.

October 14, 2026

Recycle pumpkin season with a smash at Illinois Extension composting events
URBANA, Ill. — Like the changing of the leaves, fall can seem fleeting. Enjoy seasonal vibes — until the porch pumpkins start to decay. When that happens, where do the pumpkins go?“Many do not realize that a thrown-away pumpkin does not break down and disappear on its own without leaving...

Rainscaping class members standing by the newly planted rain garden.

October 7, 2026

Rain Garden Workshop Brings Hands On Learning and Lasting Impact to Macomb
Macomb, IL — Over three days, community members rolled up their sleeves. They explored the science, design, and installation of rain gardens in a hands‑on workshop led by University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator Chris Enroth. The Rainscaping...

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Videos

Community Science in Your Backyard

At Everyday Environment, we enjoy noticing everyday observations of cool things in nature, many of which can be found in backyards and local parks. These everyday observations can be used to help scientists better understand the climate, species phenology, and more. Explore how everyone can...

Ecology at Your Home

Remember back in grade school biology learning about things like the carbon cycle? How about evolution? Or even things like a predator-prey relationship? These are all important aspects of ecology that, when paired with a few design considerations, can teach everyone how to make any landscape an...