Conservation@Home Compost Bin and Rain Barrel Sale

Pre-order your compost bin and rain barrel for Conservation@Home! Pick-Up information can be found below. Order Here ORDER DEADLINE IS MAY 8th   Pick-up in DuPage County Saturday, May 15 Mayslake Peabody Estate  1717 W. 31st Street  Oak Brook, IL   Pick-up in Kane Coun......More

Pre-order your compost bin and rain barrel for Conservation@Home! Pick-Up information can be found below. Order Here ORDER DEADLINE IS MAY 8th   Pick-up in DuPage County Saturday, May 15 Mayslake Peabody Estate  1717 W. 31st Street  Oak Brook, IL   Pick-up in Kane County Tuesday, May 18, from 3:00 – 5:00 pm Kane County Creek Bend Nature Center  LeRoy Oaks Forest Preserve  37W700 Dean Street, St. Charles, IL  

Made In the Shade

Have shady spots in your yard that make it difficult to grow anything? Join host Jamie Viebach to learn how “thinking like woods” can help you turn a trouble spot into a beautiful native area. Sponsored by

DuPage River Sweep 2021

Join us for the 30th Anniversary of this record-setting tradition!Saturday, May 15th, 20219:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Help us celebrate THIRTY YEARS of keeping our waterways clean by helping us remove trash and debris from our rivers and streams. The annual DuPage County Riv......More

Join us for the 30th Anniversary of this record-setting tradition!Saturday, May 15th, 20219:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Help us celebrate THIRTY YEARS of keeping our waterways clean by helping us remove trash and debris from our rivers and streams. The annual DuPage County River Sweep is a county-wide self-coordinated stream cleanup held each spring. The purpose of the one-day river sweep is to encourage volunteer groups to help “sweep our rivers clean” by picking up debris in and along the local waterways.  Over the past 30 years that this event has taken place, more than 9,000 volunteers have removed nearly 300 tons of garbage from DuPage County streams.  The first River Sweep was held in 1991!  Let’s make 2021 our biggest cleanup effort yet. Bring your family, friends and neighbors and make this community tradition a group bonding experience!  We will be practicing social distancing and following all recommended CDC guidelines to keep everyone safe and healthy.  Join the fun, and make a difference right here and right now. How It WorksCommunity Liaisons and groups select a section of stream and through their own coordination go out and remove litter from the area. Streambank restoration activities, such as removing invasive species and planting native species are available in some areas for those who prefer to keep their feet dry (see below).  Supplies and technical support are provided by organizations sponsoring the Sweep to help you coordinate your efforts. To RegisterTo learn more about being a Community Liaison or Group Coordinator, read our Group Coordinator’s Manual.  Help us expand the Sweep to more locations by volunteering to be a Community Liaison or Group Coordinator in an area not listed below. Contact Jan Roehll for how to get started – It’s simple! Individual volunteers may request being assigned to a group or may work independently in an area of their choosing.  Community Liaisons are available to assist individual volunteers the day of the Sweep as well. To learn more read our Group Coordinator’s manual highlighted above. To get started, view this year’s Sweep Flyer. Pre-registration is required.   The following towns have Liaison Contacts for you: AddisonRon Remusrremus@addison-il.org630-620-2020BloomingdaleJoe Pottsjoe@bloomingdaleparks.org630-339-3570BolingbrookDaniel Flinndflinn@bolingbrookparks.org630-783-6570Carol StreamGreg Ulreichgulreich@carolstream.org630-871-6220Downers GroveKerry Behrkbehr@downers.us630-434-5489Glen EllynRenae Frigorfrigo@gepark.org630-858-6037, Ext. 6006Hanover ParkT.J. Mooretmoore@hpil.org630-823-7500ItascaMike Subersmsubers@itasca.com630-773-2455LisleMolly Garrowengineeringconsultant@villageoflisle.org630-271-4107LombardDave Gormangormand@villageoflombard.org630-620-5765NapervilleJan Roehlljroehll@theconservationfoundation.org630-428-4500 Ext. 121Oak BrookBonnie Gibellinabgibellina@obparks.org630-645-9544Oakbrook TerraceCraig Wardcward@oakbrookterrace.net630-941-1651PlainfieldJonathan Proulxjproulx@goplainfield.com815-609-6139Villa ParkRobert Wagnervillagegreens1@aol.com630-279-3499WarrenvilleRay Ziemerrgziemer@comcast.net630-836-0086West Chicago Park DistrictMike Gasparinimgasparini@we-goparks.org630-231-9474WestmontJon Yeaterjyeater@westmont.il.gov630-981-6285WheatonRob Sperlrsperl@wheatonparks.org630-510-4970WinfieldGary Bernardgarybernard101@gmail.com630-462-6074Wood DaleSteve Krychkrychsteve@gmail.com630-400-0926All other areasJan Roehlljroehll@theconservationfoundation.org630-428-4500 Ext. 121Restoration Sites If picking up trash isn’t your bag, help communities by restoring natural areas near waterways. Please indicate this preference on your registration.  Adult supervision is requested for volunteers under Age 18. Participating restoration locations include:Hitchcock Woods Forest Preserve – Lisle Hidden Oaks Conservation Area – Bolingbrook (park at Hidden Lakes Trout Farm) Village of Westmont – Various Locations Promote the Sweep In Your CommunityShare this flyer widely to help spread the word in your community!DuPage River Sweep 2021 Flyer               Share this webpage URL: www.theconservationfoundation.org/sweep Watercraft Training & RentalHaving fun on the water is a priority and learning to do so safely is paramount. Here are some suggested resources for canoe/kayak training from some of our seasoned volunteers: Prairie State Canoeists Geneva Kayak Center Looking for a way to sweep the river while maneuvering a canoe? Here are two sources for rentals:REI – Oakbrook TerraceGeneva Kayak Center. Sponsors & PartnersRiver Sweep supplies and technical support are generously provided by these sponsoring organizations and partners:                            The following municipalities issued proclamations supporting the annual DuPage River Sweep:Village of BloomingdaleVillage of ItascaVillage of LisleVillage of LombardVillage of RoselleCity of WarrenvilleCity of WheatonVillage of WillowbrookYork Township  

Conservation of Illinois Dragonflies (Sponsored in Partnership with DuPage County Stormwater Management)

The aquatic insect order Odonata includes the dragonflies and damselflies – remarkable insects strongly tied to the wetlands and waterways in which they breed and develop. Their aquatic niches and habitat requirements in northern Illinois are under constant threat from ......More

The aquatic insect order Odonata includes the dragonflies and damselflies – remarkable insects strongly tied to the wetlands and waterways in which they breed and develop. Their aquatic niches and habitat requirements in northern Illinois are under constant threat from human development which alters the hydrology of the systems upon which they rely. This webinar will provide an overview of their complex life cycle and natural history, consider the specific needs of, and stressors on, local species, evaluate critical areas for conservation within Chicagoland, and offer suggestions for how citizen scientists, private landowners and public agencies can become involved in the monitoring and conservation of these essential creatures. Marla Garrison is an instructor of biology at McHenry County College. She is the author of Damselflies of Chicagoland published online by the Chicago Field Museum of natural history (https://fieldguides.fieldmuseum.org/guides/guide/388). She sat on the Executive Council of the Dragonfly Society of the Americas for many years. She has worked with the US Fish & Wildlife Service on the federally endangered Hine’s Emerald Dragonfly project and conducts dragonfly research and surveys throughout the state of Illinois and around the country. She is currently completing her second field guide entitled Dragonfly Nymphs of Northern Illinois.   This webinar is sponsored in partnership with DuPage County Stormwater Management

Eco-Friendly Land Management

Reduce air, water, and soil pollution with sustainable land management practices. Learn more about Green Guerrilla’s eco-friendly services and how you can apply these methods and techniques to property you manage.

Green Exercise - What Is It and Why Does It Matter?

Physical activity is critical for wellness – it reduces the health impacts of sedentary behavior, improves mental health, and prevents non-communicable diseases. Green exercise, which adds nature exposure to physical activity, provides additional benefits, including inc......More

Physical activity is critical for wellness – it reduces the health impacts of sedentary behavior, improves mental health, and prevents non-communicable diseases. Green exercise, which adds nature exposure to physical activity, provides additional benefits, including increased motivation for exercise and a sense of well-being. During this ConservationOnline session, Dr. Allison Mitch, PT (DPT) will discuss the research supporting green exercise as well as ideas for personal and professional implementation. This webinar is sponsored by