Events

Are you anxious to dig into Spring? If so, you might be interested in helping to pot up plants for the Illinois Native Plant Society annual plant sale. Activities will include bumping small trees and shrubs into larger pots, digging and dividing a few native forbs, and placing tags in trays.  Email Alana at Starhill Forest Arboretum for more information.

Menard County residents will have the opportunity to get rid of electronic devices that are no longer working or outdated. Acceptable items include answer­ing machines, battery backups and UPS, camcorders, cameras, cellular and mobile phones, Christmas tree lights, computer peripherals such as keyboards and mice, desktop computers, DVD and CD players, fax machines, ink cartridges, laptop computers, mailroom equipment, networking equipment and cables, pagers. point of sale equipment, power and accessory cables, power tools including batteries, printers, projectors, radios, receivers, satel­lite and cable equipment, speakers, smart phones, surge suppressors and power rips, tablets, telephones, toner, VCRs, video game consoles and walkie-talkies. Fees of $20 will be charged for CRT and flat screen televisions, $40 for projection and console tele­visions, and $10 for CRT and flat screen monitors. Please contact BLH Computers at 217-585-1580 for large office print­ers or to inquire about items that are not on the list. Unacceptable items include mi­crowaves, kitchen items, dehumid­ifiers and humidifiers, vacuums, appliances, broken glass or rubbish.

Town & Country Women's Club is calling on families to join in a litter pick-up at Hurie Park! This is a chance for families to take care of their community. Gloves and trash bags will be provided. Please bring your own drinking water; wear sturdy closed-toed shoes. 

Event for K thru 6 -- learn about the Earth through crafts and games! Event will take place at the Three Pines Petersburg barn -- rain or shine! Contact Anna for more information.  

Mini BioBlitz at New Salem! Join us for the first in an ongoing collaborative search to find and identify as many species as possible in the area around Cardinal Ridge Trail at New Salem. No experience necessary! Participants will use an app downloaded to their mobile devices called iNaturalist. 

Celebrate the Earth at Studio on the Square for a Paint Day!  Painters will be painting a watercolor and ink landscape inspired by Jen Aranyi, a watercolor artist whose work predominately features landscapes and nature scenery. Painting is $15 per painter and open to all ages (painters under 8 must be accompanied by an adult). Registration coming this week!

PORTA senior, Isabelle Branson, will be leading the Junior High Student Council in a garlic mustard pull around the New Salem Historic Village. If you have a couple hours to spare on Monday afternoon, April 14th from 3:45 to 5:30 will you pitch in and give them a hand!  Gloves, long-sleeved shirts and hats recommended. Bring drinking water. All participants must sign a waiver (provided). Those under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Note: please direct questions to Menard County Trails & Greenways.

Menard County Family Collaborative will have free Earth Day learning boxes available for pickup! These are designed for ages 2-10, and have fun learning activities, coloring pages, and more! Pick up at Studio on the Square, Petersburg Public Library and Athens Municipal Library. 1 box per family. Designed for kids aged 2-10.

Celebrate Earth Day at the library. Join us for a flower-themed story hour with books, songs, and a craft.

Join us and local environmental groups for a very special Earth Day Celebration! We’re excited to welcome Chad Pregracke—founder of Living Lands and Waters and the 2013 CNN Hero of the Year. Chad’s captivating presentation will take you on a journey of challenges, adventures, and triumphs, proving that one person can make a powerful difference. Don't miss this inspiring event! 5:30-7:00 PM social hour w/appetizers, cash bar, art exhibit by Sangamon Watercolor Society 7:00-8:30 PM presentation and book signing Free -- first come first served!

So sorry, we've had to cancel the pull today, but the pulls on Thursday and Saturday are still on! Menard County Trails & Greenways will be pulling garlic mustard on Cardinal Ridge and Shick Shack Ridge three days this week. Time, volunteers and weather permitting, we may also work in The Village. Wear long pants and close-toed shoes. Gloves, long-sleeved shirts and hats recommended. Bring drinking water. Snacks will be available. All participants must sign a waiver. Those under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Meet at the parking lot by the old restaurant on top of the hill on the east side of Rt. 97. (39.971013 -89.837752)  In case of rain, event will be canceled. 

Grab the kids after school and join the fun this Earth Day! We're adding a pollinator garden to our newly refurbished park!  Bring garden tools if you have them, or just yourself if you don't! Gloves provided. Everyone welcome! Drinking water, sturdy footwear and hat recommended.

Pitch in for Rotary's Annual Spring Cleaning at Rotary Park!   Bring work  gloves and a rake.  Rain date, if necessary, TBD

Menard County Trails & Greenways will be pulling garlic mustard on Cardinal Ridge and Shick Shack Ridge three days this week. Time, volunteers and weather permitting, we may also work in The Village. Wear long pants and close-toed shoes. Gloves, long-sleeved shirts and hats recommended. Bring drinking water. Snacks will be available. All participants must sign a waiver. Those under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Meet at the parking lot by the old restaurant on top of the hill on the east side of Rt. 97. (39.971013 -89.837752) In case of rain, event will be canceled. 

Celebrate Earth Day at the library. Join us for a tree-themed story hour with books, songs, and a craft.

Menard County Trails & Greenways will be pulling garlic mustard on Cardinal Ridge and Shick Shack Ridge three days this week. Time, volunteers and weather permitting, we may also work in The Village. Wear long pants and close-toed shoes. Gloves, long-sleeved shirts and hats recommended. Bring drinking water. Snacks will be available. All participants must sign a waiver. Those under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Meet at the parking lot by the old restaurant on top of the hill on the east side of Rt. 97. (39.971013 -89.837752) In case of rain, event will be canceled. 

Celebrate Arbor Day! Tree planting will take place Saturday 26th at 10:00 am at Riverside Park south of Petersburg. Mayor Synder will read an Arbor Day proclamation and the tree committee will share some fun facts about Arbor Day. The Petersburg Tree Committee meetings are held the Fourth Wednesday of each month at 7:00PM at the senior building next door to City Hall.  

The Friends of Sangamon Valley (FOSV) board members invite you to spend a spring afternoon helping with invasive species removal while enjoying the spring wildflowers and abundance of songbirds at the Wolf Preserve. No experience is necessary. Wear your favorite work clothes and close-toed shoes. Bring along gloves if you like. All tools are provided along with detailed instructions related to the planned tasks. Independent and group projects are available. And two hours is not mandatory. If you can only help for a portion of the time, we welcome your assistance. If you have questions, please contact Angela Funk, Executive Director, at 217-494-3115 or fosvexecutivedirector@gmail.com The Wolf Preserve is located on Boy Scout Trail. Enter 39.960344 - 89.814431 into your navigation app or call/email for more information. There will also be directional signs from Route 97 and Gudgel Road.