McHenry County Conservation District

Preservation

Education

Recreation

The McHenry County Conservation District manages over 22,600 acres of open space graced with woodlands, prairies, wetlands, and savannas. Trails and other recreational amenities have been added within 27 conservation areas where the public can enjoy hiking, biking, fishing, canoeing, picnicking, nature viewing, camping, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. Discover your District today!

- Seasonal Site Closings -

It's that time of year when a number of sites close for the season or
on a temporary basis due to the hunting program. Check the link below
for complete list of site closings before heading out to your favorite site.

Current & Upcoming Site Closings:
Nov. 1 - Jan. 15: Nippersink Canoe Base, Spring Grove

Jan. 16-18: Beck's Woods, Harvard; Brookdale (trails), Woodstock; Coral Woods, Marengo; Harrison Benwell, Wonder Lake; Marengo Ridge, Marengo; Rush Creek, Harvard

Dec. 24-26 and Dec. 31-Jan. 4: Brookdale Administrative offices will be closed for the holidays.

Dec. 24-26 and Dec. 31-Jan 1: Prairieview Education Center will be closed for the holidays.

Complete list of Winter Site Closings - click here

Cross Country Candlelight Ski - UPDATE

Jan. 2 & 3 — A Candlelight Ski will NOT be held this weekend due to minimal snow conditions and a marginal trail base.
Please check back Jan. 8 after 12 p.m. for the next event update.

Winter Fun Activities

Winter does not mean you have to hibernate. Energize yourself and keep those winter blahs at bay.

Take advantage of special winter activities such as Cross Country Candlelight Ski evenings , winter owl hikes, scavenger hunts, and open house events.

The majority of Conservation District sites are open year round but some winter activities are site specific and dependent on weather conditions. Cross-country ski trails require 3" to 4" of packed snow, ice fishing and skating are possible once the ice is 4" thick, snow shoeing is best when there is 6" of light fluffy snow, and snowmobile trails open after December 10 once there is at least 4" to 6" of snow on unfrozen ground. Click here for specific locations and helpful safety tips.

Download Conservation District Publications:

Landscapes quarterly Newsletter
Winter Issue (Dec.-Jan.-Feb.)

Environmental Education Opportunities
Teacher's Guide Fall 2008-2009

Upcoming Events

Ice Fishing Techniques at Prairieview Education Center
1/6/2009
Join us as we find out more about a favorite winter sport! Presented by "Ice Team" professional Dave Seimer and Peter Gaic of Crystal Lake Anglers, this program promises to share a variety of methods, (more...)

Opossum Profile at Prairieview Education Center
1/7/2009
What is a marsupial? What is a prehensile tail? Do opossums really play dead? Take a closer look at this unique creature and find out the answers to these questions. Dress for the weather, as we’l (more...)

Life Under the Ice at Prairieview Education Center
1/10/2009
What happens to fish, turtles or frogs during the winter? Through hands on activities and an outdoor hike to a pond, you can experience the strategies used by these animals to survive the harsh season (more...)

Winter Open House at Glacial Park, Wiedrich Education Center
1/10/2009
Come out to the Wiedrich Education Center between 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to enjoy the beautiful winter landscape. If there is snow, bring your sleds and cross-country skiis. If not, stop inside th (more...)

Make Your Own Wooden Toys at Glacial Park, Wiedrich Education Center
1/13/2009
Come out and learn to make your own basic wooden toys. You can keep them for yourself or give them as a gift. The wood being used for these projects comes from a non-native, invasive plant called Eu (more...)

Scouts in the House: Frosty Fun at Prairieview Education Center
1/14/2009
Bring your Junior Girl Scouts out to explore nature in winter. We will work on several aspects of the Frosty Fun badge, including how to dress and prepare to be outside for this season, and how natur (more...)

Sustainability 101: A Well Planned Garden at Prairieview Education Center
1/15/2009
Believe it or not, now is the time to begin planning for this year's garden season. Gather with new and seasoned gardeners as we dream of vegetable, herb, and flower gardens. We will talk a little abo (more...)