*Master Calendar MG Unit 26

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Thursday, May 8, 2025

    • 1:00 - 2:00 pm

    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

    • 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.

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

    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.

    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

    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.

    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

    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

    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.

    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.