An Evening with Scott Weidensaul: MOTUS Towers and Bird-Friendly Coffee
2025-01-08 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Chicago)
On Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at 7:00pm, the Grand Prairie Bird Alliance and the Peoria Audubon Society will co-host a Zoom presentation about MOTUS towers and bird-friendly coffee led by Scott Weidensaul, ornithologist and renowned author of several books on birding and nature guides. To receive the Zoom link, join the Grand Prairie Bird Alliance (Illinois) Facebook Group or visit https://www.grandprairiebirdalliance.org/programs.

Believe it or not, there is a connection between MOTUS towers and bird-friendly coffee, two seemingly unrelated topics! MOTUS (Latin for “movement or motion”) is an international research network that uses cooperative automated radio telemetry to track small, flying organisms such as songbirds and bats. The system enables a community of researchers, educators, organizations, and citizens to undertake impactful, cost-effective, research and education on the ecology and conservation of migratory animals. In order for this to work, MOTUS towers have to be installed in locations across key migratory flyways so that the birds wearing the tracking device can be detected. Currently, the closest MOTUS towers are southwest of Pekin and southeast of Clinton. Scott can explain why we should consider finding more locations across our region.

And why bird-friendly coffee? Because many of the birds that migrate through central Illinois spend their winters in parts of Central and South America where their habitat is now occupied by coffee plantations. Fortunately, there is a way to support both our feathered friends and our caffeine habit … with bird-friendly coffee grown in a way that supports high-quality habitat.

Beginning Beekeeping 101
2025-01-25 08:30 - 17:00 | Bloomington High School, 1202 E Locust St, Bloomington, 61701, United States
Are you curious about the fascinating world of Honeybees and what it takes to raise them? The Central Illinois Beekeepers Association (CIBA) has a class designed for you! CIBA will be offering a beginning beekeeping class, Beekeeping 101, on January 25th, 2025 from 8:30-5 pm at Bloomington High School 1202 E. Locust, Bloomington, IL.
You will learn about…

Various equipment
How to get and install bees into a hive
How to do an inspection
The life of the bees
Spotting the queen and her eggs
The calendar and seasonal care of bees
How to spot pests and diseases and what to do about it
The laws you need to follow
How to start your new smoker
What products are produced from honey and wax
Figuring the costs
Managing your hives

The course is $100 for members or $120 for non-members. With your class registration you will receive a smoker, hive tool, First Year in Beekeeping book, and calendar year membership to CIBA and ISBA (Ill. St. Beekeeping Assoc.). Find more information and register at cibabees.org. Questions? Message PK/Patti Koranda at 309-826-0089.

The Magic of Swallowtails
2025-02-10 19:00 - 20:30 | A Zoom link will be provided, IL
On February 10 at 7pm learn from butterfly expert and photographer Betsy Betros, about the high-flying, colorful world of swallowtail butterflies in the Kansas City region (and also found in Illinois). Betsy will take us on a tour of what makes each swallowtail unique from each other and what groups them together.
Note: This program will be presented on Zoom. Advance registration is required by visiting https://illinoisprairie.wildones.org/chapter-events/. A recording of this program will be available on our chapter YouTube channel soon after the presentation date.

2025 Home, Lawn and Garden Day
2025-03-01 08:00 - 13:00 | Central Catholic High School, 1201 Airport Road, Bloomington, IL, United States
Make your garden thrive with educational workshops, inspiring speakers, and horticulture treasures from exceptional businesses and organizations at the 23rd Annual Home, Lawn, and Garden Day, sponsored by University of Illinois Extension McLean County Master Gardeners. This exciting event will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Central Catholic High School in Bloomington. Registration opens January 8!
The day includes an opening session, two informative breakout workshops, and a keynote presentation by Marshall Dirks, Director of Marketing for Proven Winners. Dirks will offer valuable insights into how plants are selected for the program’s new introductions and will highlight some of the most fascinating varieties for 2025.
The $40 registration fee includes all sessions, access to vendors and exhibitors, light refreshments, and eligibility for door prizes. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, grow, and connect with fellow gardening enthusiasts. Workshops fill quickly, so be sure to register early.
For more information and to sign up, visit go.illinois.edu/HLGD.
For questions, please contact the Illinois Extension McLean County Office at 309-663-8306.

Hope is a Thing with Feathers: The Science and Value of Bird Banding
2025-03-03 19:00 - 20:00 | Illinois Wesleyan University – Center for Natural Sciences C101, 201 E. Beecher St., Bloomington, IL, 61701-7222, United States
On March 3 at 7pm Dr. Tony Rothering, a Professor of Biology at Lincoln Land Community College, will discuss his work at the Midwest Migration Network Bird Banding Station he operates west of Springfield, IL during the spring and fall migration seasons. He will also talk about his investigation of breeding bird productivity at the station during the summer months, as well as his research to determine the sex of species in which males and females look alike. Sponsored by the Grand Prairie Bird Alliance and the Illinois Wesleyan University Biology Department and Environmental Studies Programs. The event will be held at Illinois Wesleyan University at the Center for Natural Sciences room C101.

Dirty Laundry: Film Screening & Panel Discussion
2025-03-04 19:00 - 21:00 | Normal Theater, 209 W North Street, Normal, IL, 61761, United States
Join the McLean County Museum of History for a FREE viewing of the documentary Dirty Laundry at the Normal Theater on Tuesday, March 4 at 7:00 p.m., hosted by the McLean County Museum of History in partnership with the Illinois State University Office of Sustainability, Environmental Health and Safety, and Department of Health Sciences.
A panel discussion focusing on the impact chemicals and hazardous substances, such as asbestos, have on people and our environment will begin immediately following the film.
Dirty Laundry follows two cousins across the United States as they search for answers about how their 90-year-old grandmother and housewife died from a rare form of cancer whose only cause is asbestos exposure. The answer: asbestos dust on the clothes of her husband, who worked at Shell Oil’s Wood Reiver Refinery in Roxana, Illinois. Through interviews and research, they uncover a trail of corporate disinterest and broken families, bound together by a common thread—asbestos exposure and the death sentence of mesothelioma.
This film reveals the stark reality of corporate dissembling and the apparent disregard for both the lives lost and the lives still being placed at risk from the continued manufacture and use of asbestos, the creation of open asbestos waste sites, and the reckless excavation of contaminated ground.
Following the film, the panel discussion will focus on several topics, including air quality and the impact it has on people’s health, how asbestos and other hazardous building materials are handled in older facilities, and the impact asbestos exposure had on the family of one worker at the UNARCO manufacturing plant located on Bloomington’s west side.
This program is a part of the Museum’s ongoing programming related to the temporary exhibit, A Deadly Deception: The Asbestos Tragedy in McLean County, sponsored by LiUNA! Midwest Region Laborers’ International Union of North America. Mike Matejka, co-curator of the exhibit and local labor historian, will moderate the panel.
The panelists are:

Dr. Guang Jin, Professor in Health Sciences at ISU
Adam McCrary, Director of Environmental Health and Safety at ISU
Terry Redman, whose father worked at UNARCO and ultimately died due to asbestos-related disease in 1977

Questions? Please contact the Museum’s Education Department by clicking here.

Save Our Native Bumblebees!: Why You Should Care and What You Can Do
2025-03-10 19:00 - 20:30 | 805 S Cottage Ave Normal IL, 805 S Cottage Ave, Normal
The non-native (and arguably, invasive) European Honeybee (Apis mellifera) gets a lot of attention because the species is reared here in North America for the purpose of pollinating crops and for the production of honey. Although native bumblebees are an integral component of our local ecosystems and are, also, important pollinators for a number of agriculturally important crops, they rarely get the appreciation they deserve. This is particularly concerning because research indicates that North American bumblebees face a multitude of threats and more than a quarter of native bumblebee species are facing some level of extinction risk, as a result. Join Dr. Sheri Glowinski, on March 10 at 7pm at 805 South Cottage Ave in Normal, for an exploration of bumblebee diversity, ecological importance, and conservation concerns – and, importantly, learn what YOU can do to promote the precious presence of our local native bumbles in your gardens.

Tree Prep Workday - Friday, March 14 2025 (multiple shifts)
2025-03-14 | EAC Shed, Bloomington
Help the Ecology Action Center prepare small (1-3′ tall) bareroot seedling trees for planting. These trees will help to improve air quality, sequester carbon, increase wildlife habitat, and more! Volunteers must be 18 years old or older or alternately 14 years or older and accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Tools and heavy equipment might be in use and all volunteers must be able to safely use hand tools, stay on their feet for 3 hours at a time and lift a moderate weight (~15 pounds). Please dress appropriately for weather conditions and working outside. Closed-toed shoes or boots are required – no sandals or flip-flops. More information as well as a confirmation email will be communicated to volunteers prior to the workday and NOT at sign up.
Select one (or both!) of the shifts below:
Morning 9:30am-12pm shift
Afternoon 1-3:30pm shift

Bloomington-Normal Community Land Trust Annual Membership Meeting
2025-03-18 19:00 - 20:30 | Bloomington Public Library Community Room, 205 E Olive Street, Bloomington, IL, 61701, United States
Free and open to the public, Bloomington-Normal Community Land Trust (BNCLT) will host its first annual membership meeting at the Bloomington Public Library on March 18, 2025 from 7 to 8:30 PM. BNCLT will nominate and elect its first formal board of directors, provide a brief presentation to the community on how to get involved and help with promoting affordable housing through our emphasis on rehabilitation of current housing!
Reach out to bncommunitylandtrust@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Tree Prep Workday, Friday March 21 2025 (multiple shifts)
2025-03-21 | EAC Shed, Bloomington

Tree Planting Workday - Saturday March 22 2025 (multiple shifts) IDOT Market st
2025-03-22
Help the Ecology Action Center plant small (1-3′ tall) bareroot seedling trees to improve air quality, sequester carbon, increase wildlife habitat, and more!
We will be planting trees in an IL Department of Transportation (IDOT) field off of the I-55/ I-74 interchange on Market St in Bloomington. There will be appropriate safety signs and barriers in place, but all volunteers must be ready to follow all safety training and precautions that will be provided. Volunteers must be 18 or older for this project. Tools and heavy equipment will be in use and all volunteers must be able to safely use hand tools, stay on their feet for 3 hours at a time and lift a moderate weight (~15 pounds).
Please dress appropriately for weather conditions and working outside. Long pants and closed-toed shoes or boots are required; no sandals or flip-flops. More information as well as a confirmation email will be communicated to volunteers prior to the workday and NOT at sign up.
Select one (or both!) of the shifts below:
Morning 9-11:30am shift
Afternoon 12:30-3pm shift

Tree Planting Workday, Sunday March 23 2025 (multiple shifts) IDOT Market st
2025-03-23
Help the Ecology Action Center plant small (1-3 ft tall) bareroot seedling trees to improve air quality, sequester carbon, increase wildlife habitat, and more!
We will be planting trees in an IL Dept of Transportation (IDOT) field off of the I-55/ I-74 interchange on Market St in Bloomington. There will be appropriate safety signs and barriers in place, but all volunteers must be ready to follow all safety training and precautions that will be provided.
Volunteers must be 18 or older for this project. Tools and heavy equipment will be in use and all volunteers must be able to safely use hand tools, stay on their feet for 3 hours at a time and lift a moderate weight (~15 pounds).
Please dress appropriately for weather conditions and working outside. Long pants and closed-toed shoes or boots are required; no sandals or flip-flops. More information as well as a confirmation email will be communicated to volunteers prior to the workday and NOT at sign up.
Select one (or both!) of the shifts below:
Morning 9-11:30am shift
Afternoon 12:30-3pm shift

Tree Prep Workday - March 28 2025 (multiple shifts)
2025-03-28 | EAC Shed, Bloomington
Help the Ecology Action Center prepare small (1-3′ tall) bareroot seedling trees for planting. These trees will help to improve air quality, sequester carbon, increase wildlife habitat, and more!
Volunteers must be 18 years old or older or alternately 14 years or older and accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Tools and heavy equipment might be in use and all volunteers must be able to safely use hand tools, stay on their feet for 3 hours at a time and lift a moderate weight (~15 pounds). Please dress appropriately for weather conditions and working outside. Closed-toed shoes or boots are required – no sandals or flip-flops. More information as well as a confirmation email will be communicated to volunteers prior to the workday and NOT at sign up.
Select one (or both!) of the shifts below:
Morning 9:30am-12pm shift
Afternoon 1-3:30 shift

Tree Planting Workday, Saturday March 29 2025 (multiple shifts) IDOT Veterans Pkwy
2025-03-29
Help the Ecology Action Center plant small (1-3 ft tall) bareroot seedling trees to improve air quality, sequester carbon, increase wildlife habitat, and more!
Volunteers will meet at the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) facility and will carpool to the planting site. We will be planting trees around the I-55/ I-74 interchange off of Veterans Parkway in Bloomington. IDOT personnel will be providing traffic control and appropriate safety signs and barriers, but all volunteers must be ready to follow all safety training and precautions that will be provided. Volunteers must be 18 or older for this project.
Tools and heavy equipment will be in use and all volunteers must be able to safely use hand tools, stay on their feet for 3 hours at a time and lift a moderate weight (~15 pounds). Please dress appropriately for weather conditions and working outside. Long pants and closed-toed shoes or boots are required; no sandals or flip-flops. More information as well as a confirmation email will be communicated to volunteers prior to the workday and NOT at sign up.
Select one (or both!) of the shifts below:
Morning 9-11:30am shift
Afternoon 12:30-3pm shift

CANCELLED: Tree Planting Workday, Sunday March 30 2025
2025-03-30
This tree planting day has been cancelled. If interested in volunteering for Tree Corps please look at the BNGreen Events Calendar for other workdays.
Help the Ecology Action Center plant small (1-3 ft tall) bareroot seedling trees to improve air quality, sequester carbon, increase wildlife habitat, and more!
Volunteers will meet at the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) facility and will carpool to the planting site. We will be planting trees around the I-55/ I-74 interchange off of Veterans Parkway in Bloomington. IDOT personnel will be providing traffic control and appropriate safety signs and barriers, but all volunteers must be ready to follow all safety training and precautions that will be provided. Volunteers must be 18 or older for this project.
Tools and heavy equipment will be in use and all volunteers must be able to safely use hand tools, stay on their feet for 3 hours at a time and lift a moderate weight (~15 pounds). Please dress appropriately for weather conditions and working outside. Long pants and closed-toed shoes or boots are required; no sandals or flip-flops. More information as well as a confirmation email will be communicated to volunteers prior to the workday and NOT at sign up.
Select one (or both!) of the shifts below:
Morning 9-11:30am shift-CANCELLED
Afternoon 12:30-3pm shift-CANCELLED

Watershed Stewards
2025-04-01 | University of Illinois Extension – 1615 Commerce Drive, 1615 Commerce Drive, Bloomington, IL, 61704, United States
This spring, University of Illinois Extension is launching the Master Watershed Stewards Program to be hosted in McLean County. The Illinois-Indiana Master Watershed Steward Program is an 8-week journey designed to empower community members as a guardian of our precious natural ecosystems. Through engaging, science-based education by local experts and group activities, participants gain the tools and knowledge to protect and conserve our land and water resources. The course will run from April 1 through May 25, meeting in person at the McLean Extension Office on Tuesday nights from 6 to 8 p.m. For $84, participants receive all training materials and program support through the 20 hours of coursework. Topics include water quality science and the impacts of climate change, invasive species, and agriculture. After completing training, participants can connect with local partners to engage in restoration science, community science, and educational programs.
Our three counties, McLean, Livingston, and Woodford are included in the Sangamon, Mackinaw, and Vermilion watersheds. It is vital to protect and preserve the rivers, lakes, and streams that run throughout our communities. The health of a watershed is tied to the health of a community, and understanding where water comes from, how it moves, and what impacts its quality and quantity is crucial to maintaining safe and sustainable water resources now and in the future.
To learn more and sign up visit: https://extension.illinois.edu/events/2025-04-01-mater-watershed-steward-program

Tree Prep Workday, Wednesday April 2 2025 (1-4pm)
2025-04-02 13:00 - 16:00
1pm-4pm Wednesday April 2nd
Help the Ecology Action Center prepare small (1-3′ tall) bareroot seedling trees for planting. These trees will help to improve air quality, sequester carbon, increase wildlife habitat, and more! Volunteers must be 18 years old or older or alternately 14 years or older and accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Tools and heavy equipment might be in use and all volunteers must be able to safely use hand tools, stay on their feet for 3 hours at a time and lift a moderate weight (~15 pounds). Please dress appropriately for weather conditions and working outside. Closed-toed shoes or boots are required – no sandals or flip-flops. More information as well as a confirmation email will be communicated to volunteers prior to the workday and NOT at sign up.
*Registration for this event is closed. Please sign up for one of our other workdays by visiting ecologyactioncenter.org/volunteering*

Bridging Birding and Science to Inform Conservation Management Decisions
2025-04-03 19:00 - 20:30 | Illinois Wesleyan University – Center for Natural Sciences C101, 201 E. Beecher St., Bloomington, IL, 61701-7222, United States
On April 3 at 7:00pm hear from Tara Beveroth, an Avian Ecologist with the Illinois Natural History Survey, as she discusses how citizen science efforts for birds sets the foundation for future scientific investigations, and ultimately, for bird conservation. She coordinates multiple citizen science programs including the Illinois Spring Bird Count, Monitoring of Owls and Nightjars (project MOON), and most recently, the Illinois Breeding Bird Survey. This event will be held on Illinois Wesleyan University’s campus at the Center for Natural Sciences room C101. No sign up required.

Tree Prep Workday: April 4, 2025 (9:30-12pm)
2025-04-04 09:30 - 12:00
Help the Ecology Action Center prepare small (1-3′ tall) bareroot seedling trees for planting. These trees will help to improve air quality, sequester carbon, increase wildlife habitat, and more! Volunteers must be 18 years old or older or alternately 14 years or older and accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Tools and heavy equipment might be in use and all volunteers must be able to safely use hand tools, stay on their feet for 3 hours at a time and lift a moderate weight (~15 pounds). Please dress appropriately for weather conditions and working outside. Closed-toed shoes or boots are required – no sandals or flip-flops. More information as well as a confirmation email will be communicated to volunteers prior to the workday and NOT at sign up.

Tree Planting Workday: April 5, 2025 (multiple shifts) IDOT Veterans Pkwy
2025-04-05
Help the Ecology Action Center plant small (1-3 ft tall) bareroot seedling trees to improve air quality, sequester carbon, increase wildlife habitat, and more!
We will be planting trees around the I-55/ I-74 interchange off of Veterans Parkway in Bloomington. IDOT personnel will be providing traffic control and appropriate safety signs and barriers, but all volunteers must be ready to follow all safety training and precautions that will be provided. Volunteers must be 18 or older for this project.
Tools and heavy equipment will be in use and all volunteers must be able to safely use hand tools, stay on their feet for 3 hours at a time and lift a moderate weight (~15 pounds). Please dress appropriately for weather conditions and working outside. Long pants and closed-toed shoes or boots are required; no sandals or flip-flops. More information as well as a confirmation email will be communicated to volunteers prior to the workday and NOT at sign up.
Select one (or both!) of the shifts below:
Morning 9-11:30am shift
Afternoon 12:30-3pm shift

Rain Barrel Workshop: Saturday, April 5, 2025 (10:00am)
2025-04-05 10:00 - 11:00
The EAC’s rain barrel workshops teach attendees about the importance of rain water catchment in preventing storm water runoff pollution! Attendees will learn how to locate, install, and set up their rain barrel. We’ll also provide tips to transition downspouts for rain barrel usage, and information on proper winter storage. Workshops cost $55.00 for general public and $45.00 for EAC Members.
Throughout our workshop there will be ample opportunity for Q&A with EAC staff, who can answer questions about beneficial environmental impacts as well as practical everyday use of rain barrels.
By the end of the workshop, participants will have a sound understanding of the individual and community benefits of having a rain barrel, and can be confident about next steps to install, use and care for one. Participants will leave with their very own rain barrel made from a repurposed food-grade 55 gallon drum.

*Workshop registration closes 3 days before the workshop start date.*
The Ecology Action Center will make reasonable accommodations for participation in public programs and services. To request accommodation, please call 309-454-3169×11 or go to ecologyactioncenter.org/accommodation. Please provide two weeks advance notice if possible.

Backyard Composting Workshop: Saturday, April 5, 2025 (11:30-12:30pm)
2025-04-05 11:30 - 12:30
The EAC’s compost workshop will cover the basics of backyard composting. You’ll learn basic techniques to build your compost pile, discuss what materials to include, and talk about what to do with compostable materials that don’t work in a backyard setting. This workshop will additionally help participants understand how to monitor and maintain their compost, as well as how to know when their compost is done and safe to use!

Our educators will provide resources for help identifying jumping worms, and tips for using your compost bin, thermometer, and stirrer to keep them at bay. By the end of the workshop, participants will have a sound understanding of the individual and community benefits of composting, and can be confident about next steps to set up and monitor compost in their own backyard.
For $35 ($25 for EAC members) attendees get backyard composting best practices information and a basic compost bin from a repurposed 55-gallon drum to take home. For $110, attendees get this same compost bin, backyard composting best practices information, a large thermometer to monitor compost pile temperature, and an aerator for stirring their compost pile. For $120 ($100 for EAC members) attendees receive best practices information and a 275-gallon MEGA Composter made from a repurposed food-grade “tote” with durable plastic cube supported by heavy metal cage. Wooden slates added to help stir and remove compost.

*Workshop registration closes 3 days before the workshop.*
The Ecology Action Center will make reasonable accommodations for participation in public programs and services. To request accommodation, please call 309-454-3169×11 or go to ecologyactioncenter.org/accommodation. Please provide two weeks advance notice if possible.

Tree Planting Workday: April 6, 2025 (multiple shifts) IDOT Veterans Pkwy
2025-04-06

Rain Barrel Class and Demonstration at the Danvers Township Library
2025-04-08 17:30 - 18:30 | Danvers Township Lirbrary, 117 E. Exchange St., Danvers, IL, 61732, United States
Join the Danvers Township Library and Ecology Action Center on April 8th at 5:30 p.m. for a Rain Barrel Class & Demonstration.

Imagine all of the water that was running down your driveway or sidewalk the last time it rained being put to beneficial use in your home and garden. Come join the Ecology Action Center informational workshop and demonstration to learn about the benefits of rainwater harvesting. We will review the types of diverters, installation, and maintenance of rain barrels and share steps to acquire a rain barrel for your home. We will put into practice the information as we install a rain barrel for the library!

This free class is for adults and teens.
Registration is required and you may do so by emailing danvers.tl.rsa@gmail.com, calling 309.963.4269, or stopping by Danvers Township Library.

McLean County Museum of History Lunch & Learn: Organizing for policy change for a more just and regenerative food system with Jeff Haake
2025-04-10 12:10 - 13:00 | McLean County Museum of History, 200 N Main St., Bloomington, IL, 61701
Bring your lunch and join the McLean County Museum of History to learn about how the Illinois Stewardship Alliance has been working to organize farmers and eaters to foster a more just and regenerative food system Thursday, April 10, from 12:10 to 1:00 p.m. with farmer and community organizer Jeff Haake.
Haake will discuss some of the unique challenges of the small farm he operates along with his wife and her brother, and how that translates into policy advocacy and organizing at the state level. As a policy organizer for Illinois Stewardship Alliance, Haake will especially discuss the Alliance’s theory of change and their strategy for organizing farmers and eaters to foster a more just and regenerative food system.
This series provides unique learning opportunities every second Thursday of the month over the lunch hour (12:10 to 1:00 p.m.) in person and live via youtube.com/mchistorymuseum.

Tree Prep Workday: April 11, 2025 (multiple shifts)
2025-04-11
Help the Ecology Action Center prepare small (1-3′ tall) bareroot seedling trees for planting. These trees will help to improve air quality, sequester carbon, increase wildlife habitat, and more! Volunteers must be 18 years old or older or alternately 14 years or older and accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Tools and heavy equipment might be in use and all volunteers must be able to safely use hand tools, stay on their feet for 3 hours at a time and lift a moderate weight (~15 pounds). Please dress appropriately for weather conditions and working outside. Closed-toed shoes or boots are required – no sandals or flip-flops. More information as well as a confirmation email will be communicated to volunteers prior to the workday and NOT at sign up.
Select one (or both!) of the shifts below:
Morning 9:30-12:00pm shift
Afternoon 1:00-3:30pm shift

Bring it Back to Normal mCLEAN Up Day at the ISU Farm: April 12, 2025 (10-3:00pm)
2025-04-12 10:00 - 15:00 | ISU Farm, 25578 ISU Farm Lane, Lexington, 61753, United States
The Bring it Back to Normal mCLEAN Up Day volunteers are a group dedicated to helping keep our community clean of trash. Volunteers will use provided trash grabbers, gloves, and trash bags to remove litter from the Illinois State University (ISU) Farm. The ISU Farm is where all Town of Normal yard waste goes to be composted. This means that any contaminates/trash that enter into the yard waste enters into the farm and can blow to surrounding farmers fields.
Volunteers must be 18+ years old or 12-17 with a parent or guardian present. Volunteers must be able to spend three hours on their feet and carry a weight of 10-15 pounds. A confirmation email and location information will be communicated on the Monday prior to the workday. All equipment, transportation from ISU to the farm and back to ISU, and lunch will be provided.
Please note this event is for ISU students, faculty, and staff participating in the “Bring it Back to Normal” event AND for interested community members.
Signup is currently closed for this event. If you are still interested in signing up, please email kvogler@ecologyactioncenter.org before April 11 at 12pm.

Vermicomposting Workshop- Saturday, April 12, 2025 (9:30-10:30am)
2025-04-12 17:30 - 18:30
Love to cook and are looking for a way to compost your food scraps, but backyard composting isn’t an option for you? Try Vermicomposting or composting with worms! Vermicomposting is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and stop food waste in your home. No backyard or large area required, so this is perfect for apartments, dorms, etc., plus it is basically odorless.
The Workshop costs $35.00 to participate and space is limited. Workshop fee includes all materials including worms, worm bedding, a bin to host your worm farm, and all the knowledge you need to start vermicomposting. We will specifically be going over the benefits of vermicomposting, how to start, how to harvest castings, and how to troubleshoot common problems. Registration is required and closes one week before workshop date.

The Ecology Action Center will make reasonable accommodations for participation in public programs and services. To request accommodation, please call 309-454-3169×11 or go to ecologyactioncenter.org/accommodation. Please provide two weeks advance notice if possible.

Tree Planting Workday: April 13, 2025 (multiple shifts) IDOT Veterans Pkwy
2025-04-13

Rain Barrel Workshop: Monday, April 14, 2025 (5:30-6:30pm)
2025-04-14 17:30 - 18:30
