PLANT MONITORS & SEED COLLECTION VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers with an interest in native plants have two opportunities to perform field work with significant native plant populations at Conservation District sites. Monitoring provides a profile of past and current native species populations to help researchers understand which species are expanding, which are remaining stable and which are declining. This gives land managers a basis for making intelligent choices about habitat preservation and management of natural resources.

For more information, contact the Volunteer Coordinator at (815) 338-6223 ext. 229 or email Volunteers@MCCDistrict.org

Seed Collection Volunteers Why collect seed? Plants that are adapted to our region’s climate and soils have a greater chance of survival in local restoration projects. This is a wonderful opportunity to go on field trips to various District sites, many of which are closed to the public. Under the guidance of the District’s Plant Ecologist during late summer through fall, volunteers collect native prairie plant seed for use in restoration efforts. After signing up, a weekly list of forays is sent by email to volunteers, who can choose when and where to collect seed with District staff.

Minimum age: 14
Qualifications: Must be a registered District volunteer.
Experience required:  A training workshop is required for new volunteers. Volunteers must be physically capable of carrying out their duties. Ability to walk over uneven ground off trail is necessary for field work.
Schedule: Late summer through fall. Volunteers are emailed a weekly list of staff-led forays and can participate when convenient. There is no minimum time commitment, and forays are only held when weather conditions are dry.
To learn more: Contact the District’s Plant Ecologist, Laurie Ryan at 815-678-4532 or LRyan@MCCDistrict.org

 

Plants of Concern Rare Plant Monitoring
Plants of Concern is a monitoring program coordinated by the Chicago Botanic Garden that engages citizen scientists to monitor the Chicago Wilderness region's rarest plants, assess trends in their populations, and provide important data used to conserve our rapidly declining floral heritage. The program is a collaboration of trained volunteer monitors working together with land managers and scientists. The data collected provides land managers with information that helps them to set management goals for species within a community context and to evaluate management practices. This long term project is part of the Chicago Wilderness Biodiversity Recovery Plan goal to assess, research, protect and recover the region’s rare plants.

Coordinating Agency: Chicago Botanic Garden www.plantsofconcern.org
Minimum age: 18
Qualifications: Must be a registered District volunteer to monitor at District sites
Experience required:  A training workshop in the spring is required for new volunteers. Volunteers must be physically capable of carrying out their duties. Ability to walk over uneven ground off trail is necessary for field work.
To become a monitor: Visit www.plantsofconcern.org  or contact Susanne Masi, smasi@chicagobotanic.org

 

 

WILDLIFE MONITORS
Volunteers engage in citizen scientist monitoring projects with outside agencies to track the health and sustainability of butterflies, dragonflies, bluebirds, birds and frogs at Conservation District sites. Monitoring provides a profile of past and current native species populations that helps researchers understand which species are expanding, which are remaining stable and which are declining. This gives land managers a basis for making intelligent choices about habitat preservation and management of natural resources. Please see below for specific monitoring opportunities.
 
For more information, contact the Volunteer Coordinator at (815) 338-6223 ext. 229 or email Volunteers@MCCDistrict.org

• WILDLIFE MONITOR QUALIFICATIONS: Minimum age 18. In some programs, children ages 14 and up may monitor under the supervision of an adult guardian.Volunteer application, criminal background check and orientation are required to monitor at District sites.Volunteers must be physically capable of carrying out their duties. Ability to walk over uneven ground off trail is necessary for field work.
• EXPERIENCE: See specific monitoring agency for requirements. Training is provided through the agency
• SCHEDULE AND TIME COMMITMENT: Varies – flexible/seasonal
• LOCATION: McHenry County Conservation District Sites

Butterfly Monitoring
Trained volunteers monitor the health of butterfly populations at an assigned District site by collecting and submitting data each summer. These results assist land managers in more effective conservation of the state's butterflies. The monitoring commitment includes: conducting at least 6 site visits between June 1 and August 7; continuing for multiple seasons; spending 1 to 2 hours walking the route per visit; learning to identify 25 butterfly species the first year; submitting data at the end of the season.

Coordinating Agency: Illinois Butterfly Monitoring Network www.bfly.org 
Chicago Wilderness Habitat Project www.habitatproject.org
Experience required: None. Training for volunteers is held twice a year and ongoing support is provided from network leaders.
To become a monitor: visit www.bfly.org

Calling Frog Survey
Volunteers collect and submit data on the abundance and distribution of frogs and toads at District sites. By monitoring amphibian populations, population changes and the effects of land management practices on amphibians can be detected. After attending a training workshop, volunteers commit to 3 site visits per season for multiple seasons.

Coordinating Agency: Chicago Wilderness Habitat Project www.habitatproject.org/frogsurvey
Experience required: None. Training is provided at a late winter workshop.  
To become a monitor: visit www.habitatproject.org/frogsurvey

 

 

Dragonfly Monitoring
Volunteers monitor dragonfly and damselfly populations at District sites and the data is shared with the Dragonfly Monitoring Network. The time commitment includes: attendance at one spring workshop per year; learn to identify key dragonfly and damselfly species; conduct at least 6 site visits between late May and late September; spend 1 to 2 hours walking the route per visit; submit data sheets at the end of the season for addition to the DMN database.

Coordinating Agency: Dragonfly Monitoring Network www.anisoptera.com
Chicago Wilderness Habitat Project www.habitatproject.org
Experience required: None. A training workshop is offered each spring.
To become a monitor: contact Craig Stettner (847)925-6214 or cstettne@harpercollege.edu.

 

Bird Conservation Network
The BCN has been promoting bird conservation and preserving and restoring bird habitat in the Chicago Region for more than a decade. BCN is a coalition of bird clubs, Audubon chapters, ornithological societies and conservation organizations sharing an interest in the conservation of birds.

Coordinating Agency: Bird Conservation Network www.bcnbirds.org, Audubon Chicago Region, Chicago Wilderness Habitat Project www.habitatproject.org 
Experience: Volunteer bird monitors should have at least 3 years experience and be able to recognize Illinois birds by sight and sound. For additional information, please
To become a monitor: visit www.bcnbirds.org or contact Lee Ramsey at leeramsey@comcast.net

Bluebird Monitoring
Volunteers actively monitor bluebird nest houses at District sites to collect data on population trends.
Coordinating Agency: McHenry County Conservation District Wildlife Resource Center
Experience required: Interest in and basic knowledge of bluebirds
To become a monitor: contact Sara Denham (815)728-8307

 

Plants of Concern is a regional, long-term monitoring program for state-listed and other rare plant species in NE Illinois. It is a program designed to gather standardized, regional monitoring data over time to learn population trends in relation to management practices.

The program is a collaboration of trained volunteer monitors working together with land managers and scientists. The data collected provides land managers with information that helps them to set management goals for species within a community context and to evaluate management practices. This long term project is part of the Chicago Wilderness Biodiversity Recovery Plan goal to assess, research, protect and recover the region’s rare plants.

Volunteers of all skill levels are needed to help with monitoring rare species in the Chicago area. For more information visit their website at www.plantsofconcern.org.

 

Water Monitoring Dedicated people or groups volunteer their time at least once a year to venture into the Fox River or one of its tributaries, like Nippersink Creek, to collect water quality data for Friends of the Fox River. Volunteers collect physical, biological and chemical data that can be used to make valuable decisions about water quality in different communities. Membership in the Fox River Monitoring Network is free. Members receive newsletters and announcements of environmental learning opportunities, and offer you ways to network with other like-minded citizens.