Illinois Master Naturalist Program

In spring 2022, The Nature Conservancy-Emiquon planted 27,000 trees on a 62-acre stretch of land. But planting trees was just the first step. Monitoring their survival and growth is crucial to ensuring the project's success. That's when a dedicated squad of five Master Naturalists stepped in. After receiving mapping training, they scoured six sites within the planting area. Of the 60 trees they assessed, most were thriving, and nine had succumbed to the challenges of their new environment. Two volunteers reviewed an additional 10 sites. “It's been a rewarding experience, but not without its challenges,” said Master Naturalist Mike McGraw. “Traversing fields choked with 6-foot weeds to find tiny saplings is no walk in the park. But then you stumble upon a 3-foot oak, leaves swaying in the breeze, and it makes every struggle worthwhile."

The Junior Master Naturalist 4-H SPIN Club in Fulton County, now in its third year, gives youth the chance to play and learn together outdoors with monthly adventures in partnership with the 4-H youth development program. Through meetups with hands-on interactive activities, 13 youth ages 9 to 12 learned about wildlife, native plants, fossils, weather, and camping. The camping program helped the young adventurers learn how to be prepared to safely spend time outdoors. “The kids were very enthusiastic, and they built relationships and friendships while learning about nature and developing good stewardship, " said Jenny Beal, a volunteer who helps lead the club. "We all had a great time exploring science in nature.”

Signs in two parks in Greenville welcome visitors to the pond and hiking trails with information about native aquatic life and wildflowers, thanks to the efforts of Bond County Master Naturalist Pat Kious. Kingsbury Park houses a pond that is used for fishing and other recreational purposes. Kious recognized an opportunity to create two interactive and educational signs sharing photos and information about the native fish, turtles, and snakes in the pond. Together with Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator Christina Lueking and the Bond County Farm Bureau, they secured funds for supplies ordered through local vendors. The local garden club funded another sign for spring ephemeral wildflowers along the walking trail in Patriot’s Park. The signs were installed and dedicated in 2023 and 2024. 

Livingston County Master Naturalists partner with the Fugate Woods Nature Preserve to host hands-on learning opportunities at the preserve, which is home to more than 150 acres of trails, timber, and restored prairie. In 2024, more than 250 people explored topics like bugs, bats, meteors, wellness, and more. Master Naturalists also launched a challenge encouraging community members to get outdoors. The Fugate Challenge shares ideas on how anyone can develop skills, join volunteer activities, and attend programs.

The fall Night Owl Prowl gave more than 100 visitors the opportunity to hike the preserve after dark and to learn about owls. “Families were enthusiastic to be out in the woods, and when dusk came, everyone became still, listening and watching for owls,” said the program coordinator. They were rewarded with two screech owls flying in and perching in the trees above.

In October 2024, Master Naturalists and Master Gardeners in Macon and Piatt counties came together to host a Fall Tree Crawl at the Monticello Forest Preserve Park where the community could learn more about trees. The spot was ideal because the trees had recently been identified and labeled by a team of volunteers. Master Naturalists Mary Kay and Mike Randall saw the need after a walk through the woods and connected with four other Extension volunteers – Jane and David White, Jane Smith, and Kim Dancey – who had recently taken Illinois Extension’s Mastering Urban Tree Health program. Together, they worked to identify the trees in the park and label them with signs that had scannable QR codes to connect people with more information at any time using their smartphones.