Master Naturalist

Events

Dragonfly Identification Walk

June 27, 2026

County

Johnson

Green Connections: Mycelium

July 9, 2026

County

Fulton

Mason

Peoria

Tazewell

GardenWalk 2026

July 11, 2026

County

McHenry

Native Plant ID Hike

July 11, 2026

County

LaSalle

More Events

Blog Posts

Effective invasive species management takes empathy and teamwork

May 28, 2026

In the spring 2026 season of Everyday Environment, we explored invasive species in a new and exciting way. The world of invasives typically focuses...

Stories from the field: Managing invasive species at Emiquon Preserve

May 21, 2026

When water returned to the floodplain at The Nature Conservancy’s Emiquon Preserve in west central Illinois, it marked a major restoration success....

A golden opportunity to learn that mushrooms can be invasive too

May 14, 2026

You’ve heard of invasive plants and animals, but what about mushrooms? Around Illinois, you won’t have to look far to find invasive mushrooms.Golden...

Protecting Illinois from invasive pest threats

April 23, 2026

The Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey program, CAPS, focuses on the early detection and...

More Blogs

News Releases

A woman standing on a picnic table talking to a group of people

June 23, 2026

When natural curiosity takes root, Illinois communities thrive
The word “community” is often used to describe both people and nature, and for good reason. Each are groups of individuals sharing a space as they live and grow. It’s in this same spirit of collective...

June 17, 2026

Spring into action Woodsy Owl style
Johnson County, Ill. — Volunteers gathered at Dutchman Lake on June 5, 2026, for the fourth Trash Blast of the year, wrapping up the spring season of community-driven cleanup efforts focused on protecting and...

man, woman, young man standing in front of plants in containers

June 17, 2026

Illinois Extension brings community together through container gardening workshops in Cairo and Metropolis
CAIRO and METROPOLIS, Ill. — Community members across Alexander, Johnson, Massac, Pulaski, and Union counties recently came together to learn, create, and grow at the Container Gardening Workshops hosted by the University of Illinois Extension at local food donation gardens in...

Local Illinois Extension Master Naturalist interns.

May 26, 2026

2026 Illinois Extension Master Naturalist enthusiasts become interns after training
BENTON, Ill – Illinois Extension is dedicated to strengthening the bond between local communities and the natural world. The Illinois Master Naturalist program helps cultivate a new generation of learners who are connected to the outdoors while offering opportunities for personal growth, service...

More News

Videos

Public Wild Areas Around the Kankakee River Basin

Visit some places you never knew existed, right in our own backyard!

Join University of Illinois Extension and retired Chicago Sun-Times Outdoors Columnist Dale Bowman in this info-packed Wilderness Wednesday webinar sponsored by the Kankakee River...