Summer Program Prep Volunteering: June 11, 2026 (10:00am-12:00pm)
2026-06-11 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | Ecology Action Center, 202 W College Ave, Normal, IL, 61761, United States
With summer on the horizon, the EAC needs help preparing. Volunteers will assist with cutting up T-shirts for a summer children’s program and/or creating pop-tab keychains for a library program.
Volunteers must be 18 years or older, or 13+ with a parent or guardian present.
This volunteer event takes place in a seated, ADA-compliant setting, making it a great opportunity for individuals with limited mobility.
*Registration for this workday has closed, please visit ecologyactioncenter.org/volunteering to see other volunteer options*

CANCELLED: Tree Support Install BNWRD: June 12, 2026 (9:30am-12pm)
2026-06-12 09:30 - 12:00
Help the Ecology Action Center install tree guards to protect our newly planted seedling trees from deer at BNWRD! This will involve some hand tool use and a fair amount of walking and kneeling on uneven terrain. This workday will be Friday June 12 from 9:30am-12pm.
Please dress appropriately for weather conditions and working outside. Closed-toed shoes or boots are required – no sandals or flip-flops. Wear long socks and pants to protect you from ticks and scratches. Volunteers 14 and under should be accompanied by an adult. More information as well as a confirmation email will be communicated to volunteers prior to the workday and NOT at sign up.
*This event has been cancelled due to low sign ups. Please consider volunteering for a different Tree Corps volunteer day at Tree-Corps.org*

mCLEAN Up Crew Workday
2026-06-13 09:00 - 12:00
Our local environment needs your help! Join the Ecology Action Center in picking up trash around McLean County for our June mCLEAN Up Crew Workday. Volunteers will use trash grabbers with safety equipment like high visibility vests and gloves to pick up litter around designated areas. Participants must be 18 years or older or 12-17 years old and accompanied by a guardian. 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 1-2 days prior to the workday. Please register each participant individually.
*Please note that signup has closed for this event*

Summer Program Prep Volunteering: June 16, 2026 (5:30-7:30pm)
2026-06-16 17:30 - 19:30 | Ecology Action Center, 202 W College Ave, Normal, IL, 61761, United States
With summer on the horizon, the EAC needs help preparing. Volunteers will assist with cutting up T-shirts for a summer children’s program and/or creating pop-tab keychains for a library program.
Volunteers must be 18 years or older, or 13+ with a parent or guardian present.
This volunteer event takes place in a seated, ADA-compliant setting, making it a great opportunity for individuals with limited mobility.
*This sign up has closed. If you are interested in volunteering for this event please contact hmckenzie@ecologyactioncenter.org*

Grow Solar BN 2026 Virtual Power Hour
2026-06-17 13:00 - 14:00
Looking to go solar? Sign up for our virtual Power Hour presentation on the Grow Solar BN 2026 program, a solar group buy program run as a partnership between the Ecology Action Center and the Midwest Renewable Energy Association. This Power Hour will go over the program, how solar works, available incentives, and whether solar is right for you. Register today using the website link below!

ParkLands Foundation Nature Quest Challenge and Partner Events (June 20-July 26)
2026-06-20 - 2026-07-26
ParkLands Foundation invites you to get out and explore their premier preserves while documenting the nature you observe along the way. You’ll be using the iNaturalist app to identify and document the plants and animals that you see at the preserves. iNaturalist is a worldwide citizen science effort. Your observations help researchers and naturalists across the world.
Visit any of our 5 featured preserves (Letcher Basin, Chinquapin South, Merwin, Lexington Preserve, and Moon Preserve) between June 20th and July 26th and use the iNaturalist app to document the nature you see. The eBird app can also be used for recording bird observations.
Prizes will be awarded for most species observed in several categories. Visit our Nature Quest Webpage for more information as well as Nature Quest Partner Events to lookout for!
Don’t know how to use iNaturalist? Join us on June 20th at the Illinois Art Station for a kick-off meeting and iNaturalist training. After the presentation, we will practice entering observations in the iNaturalist app while exploring native gardens close to the Illinois Art Station.
For more information on the challenge, as well as the free Nature Quest Partner Events you can attend, visit our Nature Quest Webpage:
https://www.parklandsfoundation.org/nature-quest/

ParkLands Nature Quest Kickoff Event at The Illinois Art Station June 20 2026
2026-06-20 09:00 - 10:30 | Illinois Art Station, 101 E. Vernon, Normal, 61761
Don’t know how to use iNaturalist? Join the ParkLands Foundation on June 20th from 9:00-10:30am at the Illinois Art Station (located at 101 E. Vernon Avenue in Normal, IL.) for a kick-off event and iNaturalist training. At the event, Nancy Smith, iNaturalist Ambassador and Master Naturalist, will teach us how to sign up for the project and make good observations. After the presentation, we will practice entering observations in the iNaturalist app while exploring native gardens close to the Illinois Art Station.
Registration for the event is at https://www.parklandsfoundation.org/nature-quest/

Sugar Creek Stewards Workday
2026-06-20 09:00 - 12:00
Come join us for our June workday along Sugar Creek! We need help improving Sugar Creek in designated areas throughout Bloomington and Normal, by clearing invasive plant species and managing the non-invasive plants.
Volunteers must be 18 years old or older (or 14 and accompanied by a parent or guardian) and be able to hike along uneven terrain and safely use basic hand tools such as loppers and bow saws.
The Sugar Creek Stewards is part of the Ecology Action Center’s Clean Water programming, and is supported by the Bloomington-Normal Water Reclamation District, the City of Bloomington and the Town of Normal. For more information, contact us.

COII Open House
2026-06-20 10:00 - 12:00 | Green Top Grocery, 921 E. Washington, Bloomington, IL, 61701
Join COII on June 20th 10am-12pm for a special meet and greet with Interior Designer Jennifer Crawford! Come see samples of the finishings for COII Homes in the Maple Square development. Learn about the Maple Square development and the home models that will be available for Pre-Sale this summer of 2026! Be sure to register at https://coii.co/events so there is enough food and beverages! Stop by anytime between 10am and 12pm at Green Top Grocery!

Wiggle and Learn: Vermicomposting Summer Library Program at Heyworth Public Library
2026-06-22 14:00 - 15:00
Join the Ecology Action Center at Heyworth Public Library to learn about vermicomposting! After reading the picture book “Worm Makes a Sandwich” by Brianne Farley, students will understand how compost can help plants grow big and strong. Students will learn about the benefits that worms can bring to ecosystems, how they work, what they can eat, and the magic of their poop. The EAC’s Red Wiggler composting worms will make a guest appearance, and students will have the opportunity to see the worms at work and feel them wiggle in their hands! This program is intended for students ages 5-12 and their caregivers.

Buckle Up for a Recycling Roadtrip!: Recycling Summer Library Program at Bloomington Public Library
2026-06-23 10:00 - 11:00
Join the Ecology Action Center at the Bloomington Public Library to learn about recycling and how we can dispose of things properly! During this program, attendees will learn about recycling and how littering can negatively impact the environment, including along Route 66, through a story time and activity. Once we understand litter and what to do about it, attendees will decorate their own car from a reused box, and “drive” along a chalk road picking up litter. Attendees will be able to trade in their litter at a “recycling facility” to receive something new! This program is intended for children 5-11 years old, accompanied by their caregivers.

Wiggle and Learn: Vermicomposting Summer Library Program at Mt. Hope Funks Grove Library
2026-06-25 14:30 - 15:30
Join the Ecology Action Center at Mt. Hope Funks Grove Library to learn about vermicomposting! After reading the picture book “Worm Makes a Sandwich” by Brianne Farley, students will understand how compost can help plants grow big and strong. Students will learn about the benefits that worms can bring to ecosystems, how they work, what they can eat, and the magic of their poop. The EAC’s Red Wiggler composting worms will make a guest appearance, and students will have the opportunity to see the worms at work and feel them wiggle in their hands! This program is intended for students ages 5-12 and their caregivers.

Tree Storage Workday - Shed: June 26, 2026 (9:30am-12pm)
2026-06-26 09:30 - 12:00
Morning shift: EAC Shed 9:30am-12pm
Help the Ecology Action Center prepare our excess bareroot seedling trees to be stored at the tree nursery. Work will involve potting trees in buckets and loading them into the truck. We may also do some equipment cleaning if time allows.
This workday will be held at the shed that is not climate controlled so 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.

Sign up here!

Tree Storage Workday - Nursery: June 26, 2026 (1-3:30pm)
2026-06-26 13:00 - 15:30
Afternoon shift: Tree Nursery 1-3:30pm
Help the Ecology Action Center store excess bareroot seedling trees at the tree nursery. Work will involve burying buckets and containers of trees in mulch, and watering.
Note: This shift is dependent on sign ups for the morning shift, and could be canceled if we don’t get morning volunteers.
This is an outdoor event so 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.

Sign up here!

Rain Barrel Workshop: Tuesday, June 30, 2026 (5:30-6:30pm)
2026-06-30 17:30 - 18:30
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 $60.00 for general public and $50.00 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.

Vermicomposting Workshop- Tuesday, June 30, 2026 (7:00-8:00pm)
2026-06-30 19:00 - 20:00
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.

Vermicomposting Workshop- Tuesday, July 7, 2026 (5:30-6:30pm)
2026-07-07 17:30 - 18:30

Grow Solar BN 2026 Power Hour @ Green Top Grocery
2026-07-09 17:00 - 18:30 | Green Top Grocery, 921 E. Washington, Bloomington, IL, 61701
Grow Solar BN is back for 2026! A partnership between the Ecology Action Center and the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, Grow Solar is a group buy program to discount the cost of rooftop solar panels for homeowners in McLean County. Join us for a Power Hour presentation at Green Top Grocery’s Teaching Kitchen to find out more about the program, how solar works, available incentives, and whether solar is the right fit for you. Space is limited, so register today at the website link below!

Rain Barrel Workshop: Saturday, July 11, 2026 (9:30-10:30am)
2026-07-11 09:30 - 10:30

COII Open House on July 11
2026-07-11 10:00 - 12:00 | Green Top Grocery, 921 E. Washington, Bloomington, IL, 61701
Join COII on July 11 from 10am-12pm for a special meet and greet with Lead Project Architect Ryan Reber! Learn about the architecture and sustainability of COII Home models in the Maple Square development. Dive into the materials we are building with and see renderings of the home models that will be available for Pre-Sale this summer of 2026! Be sure to register at https://coii.co/events so there is enough food and beverages! Stop by anytime between 10am and 12pm at Green Top Grocery!

Backyard Composting Workshop: Saturday, July 11, 2026 (11:00-12:00pm)
2026-07-11 11:00 - 12:00
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.

*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.

Rain Barrel Workshop: Thursday, July 16, 2026 (5:30-6:30pm)
2026-07-16 17:30 - 18:30

Wiggle and Learn: Vermicomposting Summer Library Program at Normal Public Library
2026-07-17 10:00 - 11:00
Join the Ecology Action Center at Normal Public Library to learn about vermicomposting! After reading the picture book “Worm Makes a Sandwich” by Brianne Farley, students will understand how compost can help plants grow big and strong. Students will learn about the benefits that worms can bring to ecosystems, how they work, what they can eat, and the magic of their poop. The EAC’s Red Wiggler composting worms will make a guest appearance, and students will have the opportunity to see the worms at work and feel them wiggle in their hands! This program is intended for students ages 5-12 and their caregivers.

Yard Smart Garden Walk Volunteer: July 18, 2026 (9:00-2:00pm)
2026-07-18 09:00 - 14:00
The Ecology Action Center is holding its 23rd annual Yard Smart Garden Walk on Saturday, July 18. This FREE tour highlights beautiful and functional yards in our community that protect our environment, benefit wildlife, and use few or no synthetic chemicals. The tour features multiple home gardens of different styles. The walk will conclude with lunch and a talk.
This walk cannot happen without volunteers helping with setup and tear down, giving directions, handing out food, and more. Please note that a personal vehicle is needed for this volunteer event. You can sign up to volunteer at the button below.

Yard Smart Garden Walk: July 18, 2026 (9:30-1:30pm)
2026-07-18 09:30 - 13:30
The Ecology Action Center is holding its 23rd annual Yard Smart Garden Walk on Saturday, July 18 from 9:30am – 1:30pm. This FREE tour highlights beautiful and functional yards in our community that protect our environment, benefit wildlife, and use few or no synthetic chemicals. The tour features multiple home gardens of different styles. The walk will conclude with lunch and a talk. Registration is required for this event. Please register using the button below.

This event is free, but our staff works hard to make this event happen, so we do encourage donations to help offset the cost of the event and to help the Ecology Action Center continue its efforts to promote a healthy local environment! More information on the Yard Smart program as well as a set of free resource fact sheets is available at YardSmart.org.
The Yard Smart program promotes a more sustainable approach to lawn and garden maintenance. Working with nature to build a healthier ecosystem in both the soil below ground, the yard above ground, and reducing pollutants that runoff into our local water supplies will create a more beautiful, sustainable and safer environment for everyone— children and adults, pets and wildlife. The program encourages local homeowners to reduce the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, to conserve natural resources such as water and fossil fuels, and to make room for wildlife in their yards. Yard Smart Certification recognizes local homeowners who use ecologically sustainable practices in maintaining their yards and who realize that their lawn, garden and landscaping decisions affect the health of the whole community.
Participants should bring their own reusable water bottles, and dress for the weather. Participants are encouraged to carpool to conserve fossil fuels and reduce pollution, so check with your friends/family to see if they are going, and consider riding to the event with them. We will send event details to registered participants closer to the event 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.

McLean County Fair Green Team Volunteers 2026 [Multiple Shifts]
2026-07-29 16:00 - 23:00, 2026-07-30 16:00 - 23:00, 2026-07-31 16:00 - 23:00, 2026-08-01 16:00 - 23:00 | McLean County Fairgrounds, 1106 Interstate Dr, Bloomington, IL, 61705, United States
The McLean County Fair is going GREEN for the 4th year in a row! In partnership with the McLean County Fair, the Ecology Action Center will have recycling receptacles available for recyclables generated at the county fair. However, in order for this initiative to be successful, the EAC is recruiting volunteer green team members to help staff these receptacles. Volunteer duties will include educating fair goers of what is and is not recyclable, collecting recyclables, and monitoring for contamination. The McLean County fair is being held July 29-August 1 at the McLean County fairgrounds. Volunteers 18+ years or 16 years or older with parent or guardian can sign up for a 3 hour shift. As a volunteer you will be given a Green Team volunteer t-shirt for you to keep and free entrance into the fair for another night of your choosing. Volunteers must be able to spend four hours on their feet and carry a weight of 10-15 pounds.
More information will be emailed a week before the event.

Rain Barrel Workshop: Tuesday, August 4, 2026 (5:30-6:30pm)
2026-08-04 17:30 - 18:30
