Master Naturalist

Nature’s Current Event: Frost Flowers

January 2, 2021

Late fall and early winter provide an opportunity for a rare glimpse at a fascinating phenomenon, if you are willing to get up early! Frost flowers, also called ice flowers, are thin, often undulating ribbons of ice that form at the base of certain plants. This happens when the air...

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Missing the Middle: The Importance and Fragility of the Shrublands Habitat

December 17, 2020

When I chose the shrublands habitat to cover for this blog post, I thought a great way to start would be to interview my Master Naturalists who are extremely active and well-versed in local restoration work. They know the natural areas of Will County like the back of their hand. So, I was surprised...

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Master Naturalist, Rhonda Brady on school bus full of kids

Master Naturalist Profile: “The Butterfly Lady”

December 4, 2020

A big white school bus decorated with colorful flowers and butterflies pulls into the parking lot. Ms. Mariposa has arrived! The doors of the mobile classroom opens and out comes the...

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Species Profile – Crawfish Frog

November 18, 2020

Everyday Environment Blog

Imagine you are five years old and playing in the tall grass, feeling the spongy wet soil beneath your feet, when suddenly the quiet is interrupted by shockingly loud, deep guttural calls all around you. You are startled beyond your wits and leap out of the grass in a rush back to the...

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Nature's Current Events: Sandhill Crane Migration

November 6, 2020

Everyday Environment Blog

Growing up in central Illinois, I was familiar with swaths of Canada Geese migrating across the sky and their characteristic HONK!, but after moving to Northeastern Illinois, I have discovered the joy of a slightly more charismatic bird that captures the hearts of naturalists and nature...

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Event: Annual Day of Learning

November 2, 2020

September blue is not a paint color option at the home improvement store, though it should be. September blue is the distinct color of the sky in that imperceptible month between the last heated days of August and the ever so popular start of fall in October. In land management and conservation...

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Species Profile: White Oak

October 23, 2020

The mighty white oak tree, Quercus alba, has long been the subject of folklore and legend. Sometimes called the “King of Trees,” the oak is often associated with titans in the pagan pantheon, Zeus and Thor to name just two. In Illinois, we recognize its importance and have named...

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Ecological Profile: Hill Prairies of Illinois

October 16, 2020

Everyday Environment Blog

Illinois is the prairie state, but don’t think all prairies are the same. While deep-soil, tallgrass prairie dominated much of the landscape, other prairie types found niches too. Along some of the big river systems in Illinois, hill prairies found a home perched at the top of steep, rocky...

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Kids walking on log over shallow creek in local park

Project Profile: Kids and Nature

October 8, 2020

Will County Master Naturalist Amy Gibson points to deep, heart-shaped tracks in the soft mud of a leaf-covered ravine in Pilcher Park. She asks the fourth graders clustered around her, "what do we have here?" Two boys zig-zag through...

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Local OPAL- Guiding People to Nature

October 2, 2020

Everyday Environment Blog

Illinois Master Naturalists want to experience as much of the natural world as possible and share that passion with their fellow citizens. Peoria County Master Naturalist, Julie Robinson, took this mission to heart when observing students spending less and less time outdoors and more time in front...

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