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 Lake Le-Aqua-Na Improvement
Projects: Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area in northern
Illinois is closed as of Jan. 1 for site improvement projects that
will continue through 2020. The Illinois Department of Natural
Resources (IDNR) and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT)
will oversee a road improvement project that will include culvert
replacements, road realignments, pavement removal and replacement,
dump station replacement, and campsite improvements for the park.
The scope of the projects requires closing the park throughout 2020,
with the park reopening with improved facilities and amenities
following completion of the work.
Pere Marquette Bald Eagle Days: Enjoy watching bald eagles on
the Illinois and Mississippi rivers near Pere Marquette State Park
this winter by participating in one of the park’s popular Bald Eagle
Days tours. The informative programs are conducted on select winter
dates in January, February and March. The programs are free, but
registration is required by calling 618-786-3323. For more, visit
https://bit.ly/2MJhY9e.
Super Saturday at the Illinois State Museum: Children and
their families will have the opportunity to escape the frigid
temperatures and be transported to the prehistoric and modern
beaches of Illinois through the Illinois State Museum’s Super
Saturday program Jan. 4. From 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., kids can
learn about Illinois’ underwater past and present with objects from
the Museum’s collection, build a sandcastle, decorate a pair of
sunglasses, and explore the depths of the ocean. Super Saturday
activities are recommended for children ages 5 and up and their
caregivers. For more information, contact
events@
illinoisstatemuseum.org or 217-782-6044.
Kid’s Day at Dickson Mounds: Dickson Mounds Museum is hosting
a new program — “Kid’s Day: Animals in Winter” — Saturday, Jan. 4
from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Those attending will learn about how a
variety of animals survive the changing of the seasons. The Peoria
Zoo will present “An Animal for all Seasons,” featuring live
animals. Hot or cold, discover how animals make it through the
summer without air conditioning and through the winter without
mittens. The Zoo's program will begin at 2:00 p.m. in the Dickson
Mounds auditorium. Free tickets for the program will be available on
a first-come, first-served basis in the Museum's lobby beginning at
1:00 p.m. the day of the event. Participants also may enjoy hands-on
activities and crafts between 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. in the
Museum's Discovery Center. Kid's Day programs are for kids ages 5
years old and up; children must be accompanied by an adult.
Admission is free; however, donations are greatly appreciated.
Dickson Mounds is located between Lewistown and Havana off Illinois
Routes 78 and 97. For more information, call 309-547-3721.
Cocoa the Bison: Fifth graders in Mr. Bacidore’s class at
Trinity Catholic Academy in La Salle named the newest bison to live
at Buffalo Rock State Park. Cocoa has become fast friends with the
park’s resident bison, Pebbles, who was named by schoolchildren
after she was born at the park in 2005. Cocoa arrived at Buffalo
Rock in November from the bison herd at Midewin National Tallgrass
Prairie. She was relocated to Buffalo Rock following the passing of
Pebbles’ mother, Holly, last September. (See attached release for
picture.)
ERA Fight in Illinois: The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)
battles in Illinois are the subject of a talk Wednesday, Jan. 8 by
Dr. Mark DePue, director of Oral History at the Abraham Lincoln
Presidential Library. Titled “An Unlikely Defeat: The ERA Fight in
Illinois,” the program will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the Illinois State
Museum’s Thorne Deuel Auditorium in Springfield. In his talk, DePue
will feature the stories of those who participated in the ERA
struggle in Illinois and whose voices are recorded as part of the
Oral History Program at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and
Museum. Each month, the ISM Paul Mickey Learning Series features a
different speaker and topic. For additional information, contact
events@illinois
statemuseum.org or 217-558-6696.
Late-Winter/CWD Deer Season Jan.
17-19: The Illinois Late-Winter
Antlerless-only and Special CWD deer hunting seasons conclude Jan.
17-19. There will be 20 counties open for the final segment of the
Late-Winter season and 15 counties open for the final weekend of the
Special CWD season. Hunters should check the IDNR website to make
sure the county they intend to hunt is open for the Late-Winter or
Special CWD season:
https://bit.ly/2Qghl9v.
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Eagle Days on Old Chain of Rocks Bridge: The Eagle Days at
the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge Festival is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday,
Jan. 18-19 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. both days. Visitors can view eagles
through spotting scopes from the historic Old Chain of Rocks Bridge at Granite
City. Visit http://great
riversgreenway.org/ eagledays/ for more details.
Starved Rock Bald Eagle Watch Weekend:
The Bald Eagle Watch Weekend in and around Starved Rock State
Park is set for Jan. 25 and 26. Activities are scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m.
both days at the Illinois Waterway Lock and Dam Visitor Center, Starved Rock
Visitor Center and Starved Rock Lodge. The Bald Eagle Watch Weekend is hosted by
the Illinois Audubon Society, Illinois Raptor Center, IDNR, U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, and Starved Rock Lodge, and is sponsored in part by Ameren Illinois.
For more details, visit https://bit.ly/2QNa2VR
Music at the Museum: The Burr Oak String Band will offer up a
crowd-pleasing mix of lively instrumentals and heartfelt harmonies at the first
“Music at the Museum” concert of the New Year on Thursday, Jan. 9 at 7:00 p.m.
at the Illinois State Museum in Springfield. Masters of a variety of instruments
and styles, the Burr Oak String Band appeals to a range of musical
sensibilities. Music at the Museum is a monthly concert series produced by Chris
Vallillo featuring the best in contemporary and traditional folk and acoustic
music of all styles. For more information, visit
http://www.museumconcerts.com.
INPC Meeting: The Illinois Nature Preserves Commission will meet
Wednesday, Jan. 22, beginning at 10:00 a.m. at the IDNR headquarters, One
Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702. The meeting is open to the public.
For more information, call 217-785-8686.
Ice Fishing Safety: Ice fishing can be great fun, but safety should be
taken seriously. Review important ice fishing safety information on the I Fish
Illinois website:
https://www.ifishillinois.org/ programs/ice.php
Fulton-Mason Eagle Day: The annual Fulton-Mason Eagle Day will be held
Saturday, Feb. 1 from 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Activities will include live raptor
programs, hands-on activities and crafts for kids, and bird watching in various
locations in Lewistown and Havana, Illinois. The event is free and for all ages.
For event schedule, sponsors and other details, visit this link:
http://www. illinoisstatemuseum. org/content/fulton-mason-eagle-day-1
Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grants: Teachers in Illinois can apply
now for the annual Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant program. Funding for
the program is donated by the Independence Tube Corporation in Bedford Park, the
Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Foundation in Skokie, the D. F. and M. T. Grohne
Family Foundation in Wilmington and the Illinois Conservation Foundation.
Application details for these nature field trip grants are online at
https://bit.ly/
35enXt8; the application deadline is
Jan. 31.
Campground Project at Pere Marquette: The campground at Pere Marquette
State Park in Jersey County will be closed from Feb. 1 through June 30 while
contractor crews install new electrical services and make other improvements to
the facility. The project will provide for a campground electrical system
upgrade, campsite pad resurfacing and other campground improvements, including
improved turning radiuses to accommodate larger vehicles. The project will also
resurface and level all aggregate campsites, provide road shoulder repairs, and
make water line improvements throughout the campground area. While the
campground is closed, the park and its other recreation activities will be open,
and lodging and other amenities will be available at the Pere Marquette Lodge
and Conference Center.
Camping Reservations: It is not too early to make reservations for
campsites and shelters for many Illinois state parks and other IDNR sites for
2020. Reservations can be made online through the Reserve America website at
www.reserveamerica.com.
[Illinois Office of Communication and
Information] |
