Freeport, IL - Illinois 4-H has partnered with Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts to help turn the tide by planting 775 oak trees in 31 counties across Illinois this spring!  Stephenson County is one of them!

Stephenson County 4-H & Extension has partnered with the local Soil and Water Conservation District & the Jane Addamsland Park Foundation (JAPF) to build a 25-tree savanna that will help rebuild our native ecosystems, .75 acre at a time! The location of the tree planting will take place at the Espenscheid Forest near Rock City, IL. If weather permits the 4-H Forestry members & local 4-H clubs, along with our Master Gardeners & Master Naturalists will be planting the trees on the afternoon of April 9, 2022. 

Illinois 4-H offers Forestry as part of their natural resources project area.  The 4-H Forestry program drives youth in a positive direction that creates a positive environmental impact.  Through this program and partnership youth will gain a sense of leadership and civic engagement as they work together with adults in their community to help make a difference in rebuilding the numbers of trees across Illinois!

If you would like to make a difference as well, you can go to:  https://go.illinois.edu/4hgreencommunity and for $15 dollars help buy a native oak tree for a 4-Her to plant! For more information contact University of Illinois Extension- Stephenson County, ask for Brenda at (815)235-4125.

About 4-H: Illinois 4-H strives to help youth learn skills for living. 4-H programs are offered in every Illinois county by University of Illinois Extension. Illinois 4-H aims to impact the lives of 250,000 youth each year through sustained learning clubs and groups and short-term programming. 4-H is a community of seven million young people around the world learning leadership, citizenship, & life skills. For more information, contact University of Illinois Extension-Stephenson County at 815-235-4125.