McHenry County Conservation District

Kim Hankins is the leader of The Sustainability Center at McHenry County College and one the current class of Northwest Herald's Women of Distinction honorees.

Shop for native plants in Woodstock and join Crystal Lake’s garden party this weekend in McHenry County.

Carolyn Campbell began as a volunteer for schools and the McHenry County Conservation District. Now she's on the county board and an influential leader.

The rise in trail use at forest preserves and parks throughout the region comes with words of caution from those who oversee the facilities, especially when it comes to electric bicycles, or e-bikes.

A dramatic brush fire burned more than 100 acres in the Island Lake area Sunday and sent dark smoke and flames into the air.

The Government Finance Officers Association has honored the McHenry County Conservation District with its National Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting.

Ride the train with the Easter Bunny in Union and hunt for eggs in Johnsburg this weekend in McHenry County.

Of the 13 bat species found in Illinois, six are endangered. The northern long eared bat is the reason trees along Route 47 and 31 were cut down over the winter, before the bats return for the summer.

Starting on Saturday, April 5 and going until Sunday, April 13, the public is invited to visit at least eight of the 10 participating museums and libraries in McHenry and Lake counties, scavenger hunt style, to receive a prize at the eighth location.

Learn about gardening at MCC and get into spring break mode at D.C. Cobbs in McHenry.

If you’re excited and inspired by the sight of a bald eagle soaring majestically above, then your Super Bowl has arrived.

A selection of some of Northwest Herald photojournalist Gregory Shaver's favorite photos of 2024.

A selection of some of the best feature photos from 2024 in the Northwest Herald.

Christmas is over and the days are getting longer again, but there’s plenty of winter yet in front of us. To that end, the McHenry County Conservation District hosted a Welcome Winter Celebration on Saturday at Glacial Park’s Lost Valley Visitor Center in Ringwood. With a special emphasis on the ways various indigenous peoples have traditionally marked the winter solstice, the celebrations spotlighted music, dancing, storytelling and arts and crafts, with special guests from Trickster Culture Center in Schaumburg.

New Year’s Eve and Groundhog Day celebrations are right around the corner in McHenry County.

A snowy owl that has been drawing thousands of birdwatchers to McHenry was found dead on Bull Valley Road, police confirm. All the attention might have contributed to its death.

The McHenry County Conservation District seeks nominees for “conservation champion" awards.

The McHenry County Conservation District will hold a day of holiday fun Saturday, Dec. 14, at Glacial Park.

Here are the official results for the 2024 November election for the McHenry County Board and referendum questions for McHenry County, the village of Cary, the Marengo Park District and Harvard Fire Protection District.

Spend Black Friday being green with one of six Green Friday Restoration Day events hosted by the McHenry County Conservation District.

By a margin of just 850 votes, voters approved the McHenry County Conservation District’s referendum seeking to increase property taxes as it pays of its current debt, unofficial election results show.

Several thousand mail-in ballots have yet to be counted in McHenry County, and they could determine the outcome of the conservation district property tax referendum.

The polls in McHenry County have closed. Here are five things to watch for as the results come in.

McHenry County voters approved a countywide sales tax increase in the April primary election. Are they willing to accept another countywide tax request, this one for the conservation district?

The McHenry County Conservation District is asking voters to allow a tax cap extension at the 2024 ballot box.

When McHenry County voters head to the polls this fall, they’ll see candidates ranging from president to county board member, but also several ballot requests related to taxes and other government issues.

The McHenry County Conservation District’s historic Powers-Walker House has announced its fall event schedule.

A memorial will be held Sept. 7 for James “Jimmy” Forbes, longtime owner of Port Barrington Marina on the Fox River, described by those who knew him as “genuine” and a “sweetheart” always willing to help.

The McHenry County Conservation District is helping to reconstruct former prairies, providing new homes for a variety of wildlife species, including the federally endangered rusty-patched bumblebee.

The Chain-O-Lakes Eagles R/C Airplane, Helicopter and Drone flying club had to leave its Ringwood location and are now flying out of Hebron, want to find permanent home for organization.

Endangered Blanding's turtles are getting head-start help from the McHenry County Conservation District.

Looking to offset your carbon footprint and invest in the environment? McHenry County Conservation Foundation is selling carbon credits.

The McHenry County Conservation District will ask voters for a tax increase but says overall taxes will go down because of debt retirement.

Shop at the McHenry VFW rummage sale and celebrate pollinator week this weekend in McHenry County.

Staff at the McHenry County Conservation District picked the Fox Bluff Conservation Area for their Cicada Celebration, but the bugs have not emerged at the park yet.

Cicadas can inspire fear, but it's best for parents and other adults to model enthusiasm rather than fright, experts say.

The McHenry County Conservation Foundation is matching up to $10,000 in donations to fund McHenry County’s first Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible boat launch at The Hollows Conservation Area in Cary.

Parks and conservation lands in Northern Illinois, including McHenry County, are preparing for the 13-year periodical cicada invasion, starting in mid-May through early June.

Cycling Without Age McHenry County will provide free public rides with Cary Public Library, Crystal Lake Park District and the McHenry County Conservation District this year.

The McHenry County Conservation District has announced that Cindy Skrukrud is its 2024 Conservation Champion for her leadership in protecting the natural and cultural heritage of McHenry County.

Migratory Bird Days will be celebrated in the McHenry County area with events starting April 27.

McHenry County Conservation Districts will host an Earth Day party in Crystal Lake and Scorched Earth Brewing will have a Houseplant Happy Hour this weekend in McHenry County.

Wetlands clean our drinking water, hold and store rainwater and create nurseries and food sources, the McHenry County Conservation District writes.

Nearly 1,000 acres of current farmland is set to become part of Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge, which straddles Illinois and Wisconsin and aims to protect wildlife corridors.

People learn about maple syrup during the McHenry County Conservation District’s 2024 Festival of the Sugar Maples at Coral Woods Conservation Area in Marengo.

Quiet moments at the McHenry County Conservation District's Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve Varga Archeological Site on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, The wetland area near Richmond along the Wisconsin border is composed of every stage of wetland. The area also a habitat for 29 species of native fish, 200 species of plant life, 55 species of birds, 15-20 butterfly species, and 20 state threatened and endangered species.

Tap into maple tree sap and try out Sri Lankan foods this weekend in McHenry County.

The McHenry County Conservation District has opened the parking lots and trails for facilities usually closed until April 1 for the season.

Grab gal pals for a girls’ night out in Crystal Lake and learn about nature with the McHenry County Conservation District this weekend in McHenry County.

The Crystal Lake park board could decide by February whether to disband its police department. Another option is cutting back on police coverage.