Volunteers Blogs

On November 12, 2025, University of Illinois Extension welcomed 15 new Master Naturalist Interns into the volunteer program after they completed 13 weeks of hybrid training. Components of training include reading, watching educational videos, hands-on learning with field trips, and online...

Ever wonder what it means to be a “Master Gardener?” These individuals are community members with a love for gardening and a heart for service. Through countless hours of volunteer work each year, they share their passion, expertise, and encouragement with individuals throughout the community.A...

Plants are all around us. We are connected to plants through nearly every aspect of our lives. From the fresh vegetables we eat to the trees that shade our homes and give us cleaner air, the gifts of plants – whether bundled, potted, or growing in the ground – provide us with the qualities of a...

Volunteers selflessly give their free time for the betterment of the community. From answering client questions about gardening challenges, providing environmental education programs to adults and youth, removing invasive species in natural lands, or growing healthy food for those in need,...

This past weekend, I was standing in the shade of Hedgeapple Woods at Ewing Park II looking at a patch of native wildflowers where only a year before there were patches of garlic mustard and bush honeysuckle – serious invasive species for our area. In just one year, there was a dramatic increase in...