*Master Calendar MG Unit 26

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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.

    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.

Monday, May 26, 2025

    • 8:00 - 10:00 am
    • First Presbyterian Church : 1200 South Carbon Street, Marion, IL 62959

    Visit with Illinois Extension staff or volunteers on select Monday mornings from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Cultivating Care Garden. Learn how to water, weed, and harvest produce, which will be weighed and delivered to the Salvation Army Food Pantry in Marion. Have fun meeting up with other community members and sharing gardening tips.

Wednesday, May 28, 2025

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

    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.

Friday, June 6, 2025

Monday, June 9, 2025

    • 8:00 - 10:00 am
    • First Presbyterian Church : 1200 South Carbon Street, Marion, IL 62959

    Visit with Illinois Extension staff or volunteers on select Monday mornings from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Cultivating Care Garden. Learn how to water, weed, and harvest produce, which will be weighed and delivered to the Salvation Army Food Pantry in Marion. Have fun meeting up with other community members and sharing gardening tips.

Monday, June 23, 2025

    • 8:00 - 10:00 am
    • First Presbyterian Church : 1200 South Carbon Street, Marion, IL 62959

    Visit with Illinois Extension staff or volunteers on select Monday mornings from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Cultivating Care Garden. Learn how to water, weed, and harvest produce, which will be weighed and delivered to the Salvation Army Food Pantry in Marion. Have fun meeting up with other community members and sharing gardening tips.

Wednesday, June 25, 2025

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

    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.

Monday, July 7, 2025

    • 8:00 - 10:00 am
    • First Presbyterian Church : 1200 South Carbon Street, Marion, IL 62959

    Visit with Illinois Extension staff or volunteers on select Monday mornings from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Cultivating Care Garden. Learn how to water, weed, and harvest produce, which will be weighed and delivered to the Salvation Army Food Pantry in Marion. Have fun meeting up with other community members and sharing gardening tips.

Monday, July 21, 2025

    • 8:00 - 10:00 am
    • First Presbyterian Church : 1200 South Carbon Street, Marion, IL 62959

    Visit with Illinois Extension staff or volunteers on select Monday mornings from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Cultivating Care Garden. Learn how to water, weed, and harvest produce, which will be weighed and delivered to the Salvation Army Food Pantry in Marion. Have fun meeting up with other community members and sharing gardening tips.

Wednesday, July 23, 2025

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

    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.

Monday, August 4, 2025

    • 8:00 - 10:00 am
    • First Presbyterian Church : 1200 South Carbon Street, Marion, IL 62959

    Visit with Illinois Extension staff or volunteers on select Monday mornings from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Cultivating Care Garden. Learn how to water, weed, and harvest produce, which will be weighed and delivered to the Salvation Army Food Pantry in Marion. Have fun meeting up with other community members and sharing gardening tips.

Monday, August 18, 2025

    • 8:00 - 10:00 am
    • First Presbyterian Church : 1200 South Carbon Street, Marion, IL 62959

    Visit with Illinois Extension staff or volunteers on select Monday mornings from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Cultivating Care Garden. Learn how to water, weed, and harvest produce, which will be weighed and delivered to the Salvation Army Food Pantry in Marion. Have fun meeting up with other community members and sharing gardening tips.

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.

    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

    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.

Monday, September 1, 2025

    • 8:00 - 10:00 am
    • First Presbyterian Church : 1200 South Carbon Street, Marion, IL 62959

    Visit with Illinois Extension staff or volunteers on select Monday mornings from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Cultivating Care Garden. Learn how to water, weed, and harvest produce, which will be weighed and delivered to the Salvation Army Food Pantry in Marion. Have fun meeting up with other community members and sharing gardening tips.

Thursday, September 11, 2025

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

    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.

Monday, September 15, 2025

    • 8:00 - 10:00 am
    • First Presbyterian Church : 1200 South Carbon Street, Marion, IL 62959

    Visit with Illinois Extension staff or volunteers on select Monday mornings from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Cultivating Care Garden. Learn how to water, weed, and harvest produce, which will be weighed and delivered to the Salvation Army Food Pantry in Marion. Have fun meeting up with other community members and sharing gardening tips.

Tuesday, September 23, 2025

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

    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.

    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.

Monday, September 29, 2025

    • 8:00 - 10:00 am
    • First Presbyterian Church : 1200 South Carbon Street, Marion, IL 62959

    Visit with Illinois Extension staff or volunteers on select Monday mornings from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Cultivating Care Garden. Learn how to water, weed, and harvest produce, which will be weighed and delivered to the Salvation Army Food Pantry in Marion. Have fun meeting up with other community members and sharing gardening tips.

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.

    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.

Monday, October 13, 2025

    • 8:00 - 10:00 am
    • First Presbyterian Church : 1200 South Carbon Street, Marion, IL 62959

    Visit with Illinois Extension staff or volunteers on select Monday mornings from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Cultivating Care Garden. Learn how to water, weed, and harvest produce, which will be weighed and delivered to the Salvation Army Food Pantry in Marion. Have fun meeting up with other community members and sharing gardening tips.

Sunday, October 19, 2025

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

    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

    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.

    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.

    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.