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pls dont ban

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hello

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Hybrid and Electrical Cars are the Way to Go!!

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Hybrid and Electrical Cars are the Way to Go!!

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How To Draw An Earth Day Folding Surprise

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Happy earth

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How to draw a Clover | Clover Easy Draw Tutorial

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Cars

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Cars

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We're educators, scientists and worm farmers with a passion for inspiring and empowering everyone to reduce food waste. We offer practical, user-friendly solutions for households, schools and communities.

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Mindful Waste - Changing Minds, Behavior & Futures

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We're educators, scientists and worm farmers with a passion for inspiring and empowering everyone to reduce food waste. We offer practical, user-friendly solutions for households, schools and communities.

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WELCOME TO THE WORMERY, OUR COMPOSTING EDUCATION CENTER.

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Smart Farm of Barrington grows fresh produce for neighbors in need and educates on sustainable gardening, practices and healthy eating.

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Deep ocean mysteries and wonders - David Gallo

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The Biggest Little Farm: John & Molly Chester | Rich Roll Podcast

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Find the Entire movie online

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The Case for Land Art | The Art Assignment | PBS Digital Studios

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Earth Artist

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These Animal Sculptures are Made from 100% Recycled Plastic Parts

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TRASH TO TREASURE. Best Recycled Art Made from Trash!

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How to Draw a Hydroflask with Cute Stickers

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The Morton Arboretum | To plant and protect trees for a greener, healthier, and more beautiful world

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Our living collections inspire visitors to appreciate, learn more about, plant, and protect our trees.

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It's hard to think of fall without picturing a mosaic of trees with warm-colored hues. Amber browns, golden yellows, and blazing reds cover many natural areas in the Midwest, including the Chicago Botanic Garden. It's all thanks to fall's shorter days and cool nights.

But with our changing climate, what happens to that classic fall color we've come to know and love?

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It's hard to think of fall without picturing a mosaic of trees with warm-colored hues. Amber browns, golden yellows, and blazing reds cover many natural areas in the Midwest, including the Chicago Botanic Garden. It's all thanks to fall's shorter days and cool nights.

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McHenry County Conservation District owns or manages 25,606 acres of open space provides wildlife habitat preservation, educational opportunities and recreational amenities for the citizens of McHenry County to appreciate and enjoy.

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Where to Go

Browse featured preserves and trails, dog parks, facilities and visitor centers, shelters and more!

Latest News

Stay informed about your Lake County Forest Preserves by reading the latest news items below, or by searching our archive.

Plan Ahead Before You Go

Maps

We manage nearly 31,000 acres of land for conservation, recreation and education - more than 10% of all the land in Lake County, and it's packed with opportunities for you to explore.

Find a Trail Map

Alerts

Before heading out, be safe and check the status of preserve improvements, construction projects, controlled burns and weather-related events.

Check Trail Status

Permits

We offer permits for a wide-range of needs in Lake County, including dog parks, horse trail use, model aircraft flying, professional photography, vendors, and more.

Buy a Permit

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Preserves & Facilities, Recreation, Conservation | Lake County Forest Preserves

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As principal guardian of Lake County's open space and natural areas since 1958, we set the standard in nature and historic preservation, and in outdoor recreation and education. The guiding elements of our mission remain focused on preservation, restoration, education and recreation.

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Explore for an hour, a day or even a night. When you're surrounded by 70,000 acres of wild and wonderful, there's no better place to feel free.

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Lake Forest Open Lands Association is an independently funded conservation and educational organization devoted to the acquisition and stewardship of our natural landscapes, and to ensuring all generations have a meaningful, lasting connection to nature and our land.

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The Chicago region has one of the most complicated geo-political landscapes in the nation, covering three states. Northeastern Illinois has more units of local government than any other metropolitan region in the nation. Land use decisions are made daily within these municipal boundaries, often in isolation, and with a limited view of how it will affect the region's health, resilience, and biodiversity.

Rivers, streams, trails, habitat, and other landscape-scale projects do not respect these political boundaries. Since Openlands' founding, we have played a critical role as the only conservation organization looking systematically across the region at the relationship between the natural environment, urban growth, community health, and comprehensive land-use planning.

Our projects are at the scale of the region

Priority Landscapes

When was the last time you wandered through an ancient grove of oak trees and stumbled upon a hidden pond tucked away quietly in the woods? At Oak Openings Nature Preserve, you can do just that, while exploring a conservation community in the heart of Lake County, Illinois.

Oak Openings Nature Preserve is 73 acres of protected open space in Grayslake providing year-round recreation opportunities, local trail connections, chances to explore a variety of native landscapes, and a central location to start a day enjoying the Liberty Prairie Reserve - the larger conservation community and network of protected lands surrounding Oak Openings.

Liberty Prairie Reserve encompasses nearly 6,000 acres in Lake County, over half of which have been permanently protected as conserved open space through a network of natural landscapes and farmland. It is community of advocates and stewards, passionate about conserving land and wildlife, that has come together to live with a sensitivity towards nature, create a sense of place with the land, and enhance habitat for wildlife on the scale needed to thrive.

There are several ways to discover and enjoy the mosaic of sites comprising the Liberty Prairie Reserve, and we encourage you to explore the entire area for yourself during your trip to Oak Openings.

If you're a photographer or just an avid Instagrammer, bring your camera or phone and share what you find at Oak Openings! Tag your Instagram posts with #DiscoverYourPlace to be featured on our stream and please share with us the highlights from your adventure.

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The Chicago region has one of the most complicated geo-political landscapes in the nation, covering three states. Northeastern Illinois has more units of local government than any other metropolitan region in the nation. Land use decisions are made daily within these municipal boundaries, often in isolation, and with a limited view of how it will affect the region's health, resilience, and biodiversity.

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The Environmental Defenders of McHenry County

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Environmental Defenders of McHenry County | Preserve. Protect. Educate.

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In order to protect all living things, the Environmental Defenders is dedicated to the preservation and improvement of the natural environment in McHenry County. As a grass roots organization, we are committed to building sound ecological relationships between people and the natural world that supp…

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To celebrate the 51st anniversary of Earth Day, we've put together a virtual collection of 51 engaging activities that students, educators, and families can do to make a meaningful difference for our planet.

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https://resourcevt.org/earth-day-walk/

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From EarthDay.org

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Every year, people all around the world come together to celebrate Earth Day. This annual event is marked by lots of different activities, from parades to festivals to film festivals to running races. Earth Day events typically have one theme in common: the desire to show support for environmental issues and teach future generations about the need to protect our planet.

The First Earth Day

The very first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970. The event, which some consider to be the birth of the environmental movement, was founded by United States Senator Gaylord Nelson.

Nelson chose the April date to coincide with spring while avoiding most spring break and final exams. He hoped to appeal to college and university students for what he planned as a day of environmental learning and activism.

The Wisconsin Senator decided to create an "Earth Day" after witnessing the damage caused in 1969 by a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. Inspired by the student anti-war movement, Nelson hoped that he could tap into the energy on school campuses to get kids to take notice of issues such as air and water pollution, and put environmental issues onto the national political agenda.

Interestingly, Nelson had tried to put the environment on the agenda within Congress from the moment he was elected to office in 1963. But he as repeatedly told that Americans were not concerned about environmental issues. So Nelson went straight to the American people, focusing his attention on college students.

Participants from 2,000 colleges and universities, roughly 10,000 primary and secondary schools and hundreds of communities across the United States got together in their local communities to mark the occasion of the very first Earth Day. The event was billed as a teach-in, and event organizers focused on peaceful demonstrations that supported the environmental movement.

Almost 20 million Americans filled the streets of their local communities on that first Earth Day, demonstrating in support of environmental issues in rallies large and small all across the country. Events focused on pollution, the dangers of pesticides, oil spill damage, the loss of wilderness, and the extinction of wildlife.

Impacts of Earth Day

The first Earth Day led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species acts. "It was a gamble," Gaylord later recalled, "but it worked."

Earth Day is now observed in 192 countries, and celebrated by billions of people around the world. Official Earth Day activities are coordinated by the nonprofit, Earth Day Network, which is chaired by the first Earth Day 1970 organizer, Denis Hayes.

Over the years, Earth Day has grown from localized grassroots efforts to a sophisticated network of environmental activism. Events can be found everywhere from tree planting activities at your local park to online Twitter parties that share information about environmental issues. In 2011, 28 million trees were planted in Afghanistan by the Earth Day Network as part of their "Plant Trees Not Bombs" campaign. In 2012, more than 100,000 people rode bikes in Beijing to raise awareness about climate change and help people learn what they could do to protect the planet.

How can you get involved? The possibilities are endless. Pick up trash in your neighborhood. Go to an Earth Day festival. Make a commitment to reduce your food waste or electricity use. Organize an event in your community. Plant a tree. Plant a garden. Help to organize a community garden. Visit a national park. Talk to your friends and family about environmental issues such as climate change, pesticide use, and pollution.

The best part? You don't need to wait until April 22 to celebrate Earth Day. Make every day Earth Day and help to make this planet a healthy place for all of us to enjoy.

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How the Environmental Movement Of Earth Day Has Evolved

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Every year, people all around the world come together to celebrate Earth Day. This annual event is marked by lots of different activities, from parades to festivals to film festivals to running races. Earth Day events typically have one theme in common: the desire to show support for environmental issues and teach future generations about the need to protect our planet.

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Do just 1 thing.*

Be a climate communicator. Studies show that the most effective messengers on most topics are people's friends, family, coworkers, and acquaintances. People are vastly more likely to care about an issue if they hear people from their own community talking about it and far more likely to act if they are invited to do so by people from their own community.

*About the Do Just 1 Thing campaign: As an environmental non-profit, we are asked over and over "What can I do to make a positive impact?" But people are overwhelmed not only by the environmental challenges we face but also by long lists of possible sustainability solutions. So we break it down and say "do just one thing" right now to make a positive impact in a matter of minutes. Then each season we will provide you another thing. But we won't overwhelm you with so many things at once that you don't know where to start. So start with one thing. And help us build a more sustainable future one thing at at time.

Be a climate communicator by calling for climate action. Post on social media so that your friends, family, and acquaintances know this is an issue you care about. Tag public officials, local businesses and corporations whose products or services you use, and community leaders. We've provided some sample language and a graphic below that emphasize that most people want to see action on climate change (studies show this message is the most likely to influence people's beliefs and action!), but make it your own by either using your own photos or writing something of your own.

SAMPLE SOCIAL POST:

About 7 out of 10 people want real action on climate change. It's not just a matter of climate, we have to act for [FILL IN THE BLANK*]. Now is the time. #ClimateAction #DoJust1Thing

*Fill in the blank with the issue you care most about such as justice, security, health, equality, survival, economics, etc.

SAMPLE SOCIAL GRAPHIC:

Click on the graphic here to post on social along with the caption above.

TAGS:

Tag your community leaders, public officials, schools, local businesses, big corporations, and anyone else you want to hear your climate message! And tag us @earthdayinitiative so we can amplify your message.

Follow along.

Just as only a few hundred parts of CO2 out of a million in our atmosphere can have a big impact, individual actions eventually do reach a tipping point to bring about systemic change.

This past year we've launched the PARTS PER MILLION podcast, which looks at the factors surrounding mass movements, what we can expect going forward on climate action, and how individuals can take simple actions to create positive change. Each season will empower people to do just one thing to make a positive impact. The first season is dedicated to being a climate communicator, talking to experts and activists about how you can maximize your impact. Listen on all major podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Join in Earth Day 2022 by taking real and impactful action in your own community and office. Gather your colleagues, friends, or family and run through a checklist of things you can do. Free to download!

Special thanks to the Do Just 1 Thing campaign's supporters, Oak Hill, Tracy Stein & Marco Masotti, and the Durst Organization.

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Earth Day 2022 is coming! What can you do this spring?

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About the Do Just 1 Thing campaign: As an environmental non-profit, we are asked over and over "What can I do to make a positive impact?" But people are overwhelmed not only by the environmental challenges we face but also by long lists of possible sustainability solutions.

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Our planet is an amazing place, but it needs our help to thrive! That's why each year on April 22, more than a billion people celebrate Earth Day to protect the planet from things like pollution and deforestation. By taking part in activities like picking up litter and planting trees, we're making our world a happier, healthier place to live.

The first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970, when a United States senator from Wisconsin organized a national demonstration to raise awareness about environmental issues. Rallies took place across the country and, by the end of the year, the U.S. government had created the Environmental Protection Agency. By 1990, Earth Day was an event celebrated by more than 140 countries around the globe.

You can celebrate and protect the planet at the same time. Check out these Earth Day ideas to help save the planet any time of year.

BECOME A WASTE WARRIOR

The number of garbage trucks Americans fill each year would stretch halfway to the moon. Toilet paper tubes, made from cardboard, take two months to decompose in a landfill. A plastic bottle sticks around for way longer-it can take over 450 years to break down! But instead of turning to the trash bin, you could turn these items into an awesome telescope or a flower planter. Before you throw something away, think about whether it can be recycled or repurposed. You can also limit waste by reducing the amount of things you buy. For example, check the library for that book you have to read before visiting the store.

PLANT A TREE

Researchers estimate roughly 15 billion trees in the world are cut down each year, so help offset that loss by planting a tree of your own. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen for people to breathe. They also provide shelter and food for animals such as squirrels and owls. Depending on where trees are planted, their shade can even reduce the need for air-conditioning in hotter months. How many more reasons do you need to go green?

TURN OFF THE LIGHTS

Does that lamp really need to be on while the sun is out? Electricity doesn't just happen-it has to be produced from things around us. A lot of times it comes from fossil fuels (such as coal, oil, or natural gas) that contribute to climate change. But electricity can also be made from renewable sources like wind, water, the sun, and even elephant dung! No matter where it's coming from, try conserving electrical energy by using only what you need.

LIMIT YOUR WATER USAGE

It might seem like it's everywhere, but clean, drinkable water is a limited resource. In fact less than one percent of the water on Earth can be used by humans. (The rest is either too salty or too difficult to access.) Turning off the faucet when you brush your teeth can conserve up to eight gallons of water a day. To help save even more water, challenge yourself to take a shorter shower (but still get clean!).

OFFER YOUR TIME

With a parent's permission, volunteer to pick up trash at a nearby park, start a collection drive for recyclable items, or organize a screening of an environmentally themed movie. By getting involved and working with others, you're not just helping the Earth-you're making new friends too!

SPREAD THE MESSAGE

Talk to your friends and family members about what you're doing and ask them to help. Need to get the conversation started? Get everyone together and reconnect with nature by taking one of our Get Outside challenges, or check out some other green tips you can share. The more people do, the better off our planet will be!

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Our planet is an amazing place, but it needs our help to thrive! That's why each year on April 22, more than a billion people celebrate Earth Day to protect the planet from things like pollution and deforestation. By taking part in activities like picking up litter and planting trees, we're making our world a happier, healthier place to live.

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I AM EARTH READ ALOUD by Rebecca and James McDonald

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A Planet Full of Plastic 🥤read aloud by Storytime Magic with Kylie

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EARTH! MY FIRST 4.54 BILLION YEARS Storytime | Read by Stacy McAnulty

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Here We Are - Read Aloud Picture Book | Brightly Storytime

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We Planted a Tree-Kids Book Read Aloud Storytime

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Save the Bees by Bethany Stahl | Children's Animated Audiobook | A Story About Pollination

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Save the Scraps by Bethany Stahl | Children's Animated Audiobook | A Story About Composting

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Earth Day, Birthday! 🌎 Earth Day for Kids🌳Read Aloud

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STORY TIME: The Earth Gives More 🌍❤ | Read Aloud

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Kate, Who Tamed the Wind - Read Aloud Picture Book | Brightly Storytime

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How to make a T-shirt into a Bag Without Sewing for Beginners

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The Lorax - Read Aloud Picture Book | Brightly Storytime

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We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom READ ALOUD ~RING AROUND RONINA~

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Vegetables and Herbs you can Grow from your Kitchen | Don't buy seeds

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Bean Time-Lapse - 25 days | Soil cross section

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Food Shed: McHenry County Food Cooperative

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Food Shed: McHenry County Food Cooperative

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About Us

We are a group of regular folks working hard to open a community-owned grocery store in McHenry County, IL and we hope you will join us!

CLICK HERE to view

Our Timeline

Our timeline has been updated! Click on the image below for a full size timeline.

our store in Woodstock, Illinois.
We doubled our ownership in 2021 and successfully raised the money to build our store. Our next steps are to continue GROWING OUR OWNERSHIP and BUILDING

History

The idea was first hatched between a few friends in a conversation about improving the resilience of our community. Many conversations and phone calls later, in March 2013, a group of a few dozen people gathered on a cold winter evening and made the collective decision to do whatever it takes to open a community-owned grocery store in McHenry County. They organized a steering team, surveyed the community and pulled together a mailing list of people who like the idea of opening a food co-op. Since that first meeting, there have been many, many more.

In January of 2014, the McHenry County Food Cooperative (d/b/a Food Shed Co-op) was incorporated under Illinois Cooperative Law. Soon after incorporation, we celebrated our birthday on Earth Day and started to sell ownership shares in the co-op. The first board of directors was elected by our owners in October of 2014. We are continually reading, networking, hosting guest speakers, taking field trips to visit food co-ops and attending workshops, webinars and conferences to learn more about cooperatives. We are hard a work, spreading that knowledge to our community through events, movie screenings, webinars and workshops. Here's a list of our success to date.

Participating in more than 250 events.

Completion of a market study in which consultants, specialists in cooperatives and the natural foods grocery industry, determined that we have what it takes to be successful.

We reached 500 owners by mid-2016 and the Food Shed Co-op began searching for a store location. Our growth to 500 owner-members (in near record time) helped us win the Food Coop Initiative Seed Grant as one of the top food coop startups in the country!

In December, 2020, the Food Shed Co-op announced it had purchased land for our grocery store at the intersection of US HWY 14 and Lake Shore Drive between Woodstock and Crystal Lake, Illinois. This news accelerated our growth!. The board set a goal to reach 1200 owner-members by July 2021 at which time a capital campaign would be begin.

Just shy of 1200 owner-members by July of 2021 allowed the board to make a decision to launch a capital campaign to raise the money to build our community-owned grocery store. The capital campaign was called the . As of October 15Community Investment Campaign (CIC). The campaign goal was to raise $1.75M in the community thus reducing our dependence on commercial (expensive) lending sources. The CIC was launched on August 15, 2021 and scheduled to end October 15, 2021 th our start up food co-op had raised just over $1M dollars! The CIC was extended for another month until the end of November, 2021 to try to complete its goal. The campaign ended on November 30, 2021 only $48,000 short of the $1.75M CIC goal. The board consequently voted to move forward to start building the store in 2022.

Our owners and volunteers continue working every day to spread the word about the many benefits of a community-owned grocery store. Our ownership numbers continue to GROW daily! If you are NOT YET an owner, sign up now to become a Founding Owner!

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We are a group of regular folks working hard to open a community-owned grocery store in McHenry County, IL and we hope you will join us! CLICK HERE to view Our timeline has been updated! Click on the image below for a full size timeline.

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Mississippi Market

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Food Co-Op vs. Grocery Store: What's the Difference?

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This Zero-Waste Grocery Store Should Be Everywhere

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4 Plant-Based Meals for Kid's LUNCHBOXES! | Bunches of Lunches

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What if everyone went Vegetarian? + more videos | #aumsum #kids #science #education #children

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What’s cooking in Esther’s Kitchen: the Earth Day episode.

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How to Draw Butterfly Easy | Monarch butterfly drawing and coloring | Art Tutorial

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How To Draw An Earth Day Folding Surprise

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Narrated by David Attenborough

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Our Planet | One Planet | FULL EPISODE | Netflix

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Nature Is Speaking – Julia Roberts is Mother Nature | Conservation International (CI)

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By Mercer Mayer

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IT'S EARTH DAY Story For Kids | Earth Day Books for Kids | Children's Books Read Aloud

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Earth Day Song For Kids | A Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Video Rap