*Master Calendar MN Unit 26

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Saturday, April 26, 2025

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Thursday, May 8, 2025

    • 1:00 - 2:00 pm

    Actions to Reduce Water Pollution

    What’s in your water? How can your actions help reduce and prevent water pollution? Discover what the most common water pollutants are and how you can prevent water pollution by paying attention to what you put down the drain at home and how you manage your yard. Explore how the water treatment process cleans water before it returns to lakes, rivers, and streams.

Monday, May 12, 2025

    • 2:30 - 3:00 pm
    • Benton Public Library

    Why Cork Matters by Master Gardener Pam Appleton

    Learn about the sustainable cork harvest of cork oak trees (Quercus suber) with Master Gardener Pamela Appleton at the Benton Public Library located at 502 S Main St. Benton, IL 62812.

Thursday, May 15, 2025

    • 8:30 - 10:00 am
    • Green Earth Brush Hill: 1085-1087 E Park St, Carbondale, IL 62901.

    Birding with Lily: Green Earth Brush Hill

    Join Master Naturalist, Lily Glaeser, for a leisurely walk in nature to look at birds! Learn to identify our feathered friends in some of our local sites. All ages and experiences are welcome. Registration is required in case the event needs to be cancelled due to inclement weather. Binoculars are available for use, please reserve a pair.

    • 2:30 - 3:00 pm
    • Benton Public Library

    Why Cork Matters by Master Gardener Pam Appleton

    Learn about the sustainable cork harvest of cork oak trees (Quercus suber) with Master Gardener Pamela Appleton at the Benton Public Library located at 502 S Main St. Benton, IL 62812.

Sunday, May 18, 2025

    • 8:30 - 10:00 am
    • Giant City State Park Post Oak Trail: 460 Giant City Lodge Rd, Makanda, IL 62958. This event will be a sit. Please bring your own lawn or camp chair to be comfortable.

    Birding with Lily: Giant City State Park Post Oak Trail

    Join Master Naturalist, Lily Glaeser, for a leisurely walk in nature to look at birds! Learn to identify our feathered friends in some of our local sites. All ages and experiences are welcome. Registration is required in case the event needs to be cancelled due to inclement weather. Binoculars are available for use, please reserve a pair.

Tuesday, May 20, 2025

    • 3:30 - 6:00 pm
    • Benton Public Library

    Why Cork Matters by Master Gardener Pam Appleton

    Learn about the sustainable cork harvest of cork oak trees (Quercus suber) with Master Gardener Pamela Appleton at the Benton Public Library located at 502 S Main St. Benton, IL 62812.

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

    • 6:00 - 7:00 pm

    Master Naturalist Continuing Education Webinar (May)

    Rainbows are just one of many amazing things you can see in the sky. Duane Friend will talk about spectacles such as why the Blue Ridge is blue, why twilight is different at the equator and poles, and many other atmospheric sights.

Sunday, May 25, 2025

    • 8:30 - 10:00 am
    • Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge Homestead Trail. Meet at the new Visitor Center: 8588 IL-148, Marion, IL 62959. We will walk to the Homestead Trailhead together. Crab Orchard NWR has a day use fee of $1.50 if you do not have a pass or vehicle sticker. You can go in the visitor center or purchase your pass online. The Visitor Center opens at 8am.

    Canceled: Birding with Lily: Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge Homestead Trail : Canceled

    Join Master Naturalist, Lily Glaeser, for a leisurely walk in nature to look at birds! Learn to identify our feathered friends in some of our local sites. All ages and experiences are welcome. Registration is required in case the event needs to be cancelled due to inclement weather. Binoculars are available for use, please reserve a pair.

Wednesday, May 28, 2025

    • 8:30 - 11:00 am
    • Rend Lake Project Office and Visitor Center : 11981 Rend City Road, Benton, IL 62812

    Rend Lake Garden Stewardship

    Volunteer sessions begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. and will run until 11:00 a.m. Sessions include 2 hours of garden stewardship tasks and a 30 minute educational program.

Wednesday, June 25, 2025

    • 8:30 - 11:00 am
    • Rend Lake Project Office and Visitor Center : 11981 Rend City Road, Benton, IL 62812

    Rend Lake Garden Stewardship

    Volunteer sessions begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. and will run until 11:00 a.m. Sessions include 2 hours of garden stewardship tasks and a 30 minute educational program.

Wednesday, July 23, 2025

    • 8:30 - 11:00 am
    • Rend Lake Project Office and Visitor Center : 11981 Rend City Road, Benton, IL 62812

    Rend Lake Garden Stewardship

    Volunteer sessions begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. and will run until 11:00 a.m. Sessions include 2 hours of garden stewardship tasks and a 30 minute educational program.

Sunday, August 24, 2025

    • 8:30 - 10:00 am
    • Green Earth Chautauqua Bottoms Nature Preserve: Main Parking Lot - 2100 W Chautauqua Rd, Carbondale, IL 62901. If the parking lot is full, there is also a parking access on Freeman Street.

    Birding with Lily: Green Earth Chautauqua Bottoms Nature Preserve

    Join Master Naturalist, Lily Glaeser, for a leisurely walk in nature to look at birds! Learn to identify our feathered friends in some of our local sites. All ages and experiences are welcome. Registration is required in case the event needs to be cancelled due to inclement weather. Binoculars are available for use, please reserve a pair.

Wednesday, August 27, 2025

    • 8:30 - 11:00 am
    • Rend Lake Project Office and Visitor Center : 11981 Rend City Road, Benton, IL 62812

    Rend Lake Garden Stewardship

    Volunteer sessions begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. and will run until 11:00 a.m. Sessions include 2 hours of garden stewardship tasks and a 30 minute educational program.

Thursday, September 11, 2025

    • 8:30 - 10:00 am
    • Green Earth Oakland Nature Preserve: 1319-1321 N Oakland Ave, Carbondale, IL 62901.

    Birding with Lily: Green Earth Oakland Nature Preserve

    Join Master Naturalist, Lily Glaeser, for a leisurely walk in nature to look at birds! Learn to identify our feathered friends in some of our local sites. All ages and experiences are welcome. Registration is required in case the event needs to be cancelled due to inclement weather. Binoculars are available for use, please reserve a pair.

Tuesday, September 23, 2025

    • 8:30 - 11:00 am
    • Rend Lake Project Office and Visitor Center : 11981 Rend City Road, Benton, IL 62812

    Rend Lake Garden Stewardship

    Volunteer sessions begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. and will run until 11:00 a.m. Sessions include 2 hours of garden stewardship tasks and a 30 minute educational program.

Sunday, September 28, 2025

    • 8:30 - 10:00 am
    • Giant City State Park Post Oak Trail: 460 Giant City Lodge Rd, Makanda, IL 62958. This event will be a sit. Please bring your own lawn or camp chair to be comfortable.

    Birding with Lily: Giant City State Park Post Oak Trail

    Join Master Naturalist, Lily Glaeser, for a leisurely walk in nature to look at birds! Learn to identify our feathered friends in some of our local sites. All ages and experiences are welcome. Registration is required in case the event needs to be cancelled due to inclement weather. Binoculars are available for use, please reserve a pair.

Thursday, October 9, 2025

    • 8:30 - 10:00 am
    • Green Earth Stan Harris Prairie Nature Preserve: 37°45'16.2"N 89°14'46.7"W. There is limited parking. Please meet at a nearby parking lot, Saluki Gymnastics: 2421 W Main St, Carbondale, IL 62901 by 8:15am so we can carpool to the site.

    Birding with Lily: Green Earth Stan Harris Prairie Nature Preserve

    Join Master Naturalist, Lily Glaeser, for a leisurely walk in nature to look at birds! Learn to identify our feathered friends in some of our local sites. All ages and experiences are welcome. Registration is required in case the event needs to be cancelled due to inclement weather. Binoculars are available for use, please reserve a pair.

Sunday, October 19, 2025

    • 8:30 - 10:00 am
    • Giant City State Park Indian Creek Trail: Unnamed Road,, Cobden, IL 62920.

    Birding with Lily: Giant City State Park Indian Creek Trail

    Join Master Naturalist, Lily Glaeser, for a leisurely walk in nature to look at birds! Learn to identify our feathered friends in some of our local sites. All ages and experiences are welcome. Registration is required in case the event needs to be cancelled due to inclement weather. Binoculars are available for use, please reserve a pair.

Wednesday, October 22, 2025

    • 8:30 - 11:00 am
    • Rend Lake Project Office and Visitor Center : 11981 Rend City Road, Benton, IL 62812

    Rend Lake Garden Stewardship

    Volunteer sessions begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. and will run until 11:00 a.m. Sessions include 2 hours of garden stewardship tasks and a 30 minute educational program.

Thursday, December 11, 2025

    • 8:30 - 10:00 am
    • Nature Preserve: Main Parking Lot - 2100 W Chautauqua Rd, Carbondale, IL 62901. If the parking lot is full, there is also a parking access on Freeman Street.

    Birding with Lily: Nature Preserve: Main Parking Lot

    Join Master Naturalist, Lily Glaeser, for a leisurely walk in nature to look at birds! Learn to identify our feathered friends in some of our local sites. All ages and experiences are welcome. Registration is required in case the event needs to be cancelled due to inclement weather. Binoculars are available for use, please reserve a pair.

Sunday, December 14, 2025

    • 8:30 - 10:00 am
    • Southern Illinois University Carbondale Campus Lake: 1450 Douglas Dr, Carbondale, IL 62901. There are no visitor pass or parking restrictions on Sunday.

    Birding with Lily: Southern Illinois University Carbondale Campus Lake

    Join Master Naturalist, Lily Glaeser, for a leisurely walk in nature to look at birds! Learn to identify our feathered friends in some of our local sites. All ages and experiences are welcome. Registration is required in case the event needs to be cancelled due to inclement weather. Binoculars are available for use, please reserve a pair.