Join a Conservation Organization
in McHenry County

	Boone Creek Watershed Alliance Contact: 815-337-3734. 1201 S. Valley Hill Road, Woodstock, IL 60098 oakandfen@aol.com
	Cary Citizens for Conservation Contact: Linda Stelle. Box 827, Cary IL 60013. Mission: To Preserve environmentally sensitive properties as open space for parks and conservation.
	Cooperative Extension Service. University of Illinois Contact: 815-338-3737. 1102 McConnell Road, Box 1430,Woodstock, IL 60098. Newsletter. Column in paper. Mission: Educational arm of the University of Illinois and U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. The CES mission is to bring research-based information and education to help people solve everyday problems. Master Gardeners President: Gordon Kelly.
	Environmental Defenders of McHenry County Contact: 815-338-0393. 124 Cass St. Woodstock, IL 60098. Newsletter, weekly email update. Mission: Grassroots organization of over 1000 citizens working for a healthy environment by protecting drinking water supplies, preserving natural resources, and promoting sound land use and transportation planning, natural landscaping, waste reduction and recycling.
	Friends of the Fox River Contact: 815-356-6605. PO Box 1314, Crystal Lake, IL 60039-1314. Newsletter. Mission: To educate and act in the interest of protecting and improving water quality, biological diversity, habitat and scenic resources of the Fox River system.
	Friends of the Kishwaukee River c/o the Defenders 815-338-0393. 124 Cass St, Suite 3, Woodstock, IL 60098. Mission: Boone, McHenry, and Will County neighbors working together to maintain the clear waters quality river otter habitat of one of Illinois' finest basins.
	Friends of Nippersink Creek c/o McHenry County Defenders, 815-338-0393. 124 Cass St, Suite 3, Woodstock, IL 60098
	Friends of Volo Bog Contact: 815-344-1294. 29478 W. Brandenburg Road, Ingleside, IL 60041. Newsletter. Foster and support public access to Volo Bog and Volo Bog State Natural Area. Promote awareness of the environment and protection thereof. Free hikes.
	Friends of Wingate Prairie and Sterne's Woods The Crystal Lake Park District coordinates volunteer workdays at Sterne’s Fen and Wingate Prairie Nature Preserve in McHenry County. For more information please contact John Fiorina at 815-455-1763 or jfiorina@crystallakeparks.org.
	Lake in the Hills Natural Areas Volunteers Contact: Alan and Barb Wilson, 847-658-0024. Mission: Restore and preserve natural areas for the education of and enjoyment by this and future generations. Tours in summer months at the Lake in the Hills Fen, adjacent to Barbara Key Park in Lake in the Hills.
	Land Conservancy of McHenry County Contact: Lisa Haderlein, Box 352, Woodstock, IL 60098, 815-337-9502, info@conserveMC.org. Newsletter. Mission: Not-for-Profit organization formed to accept dedicated conservation easements on private property so as to preserve open space and natural heritage values. Since 1991, TLC has accepted several easements which have preserved oak hickory woods, wetlands, prairie restorations, and stream corridors into perpetuity while still maintaining private ownership of these lands. Volunteers needed to help maintain natural areas.
	McHenry County Audubon Society Contact: Randy Schietzelt, rschietz@harpercollege.edu. PO Box 67, Woodstock, IL 60098. Newsletter. Mission: Following the precepts of Audubon Societies, the McHenry County Chapter encourages the preservation and appreciation of the wildlife of the state, particularly the birdlife, and promote the conservation and protection of all natural resources. Educational programs, field trips, annual bird counts and surveys.
	McHenry County Conservation District 815-338-6223. 18410 U.S. Highway 14, Woodstock, IL 60098 (between Woodstock and Harvard); quarterly newsletter Landscapes, free. Mission: To preserve and restore the natural areas and open spaces for the educational, recreational, and environmental benefits of present and future generations. Operates a Wildlife Resource Center (815-728-8307; 6419 Giant Oak Road, Wonder Lake, IL 60097. Mission: Provides rehabilitation services for endangered, threatened, and watch-listed wildlife species; presents environmental education programs; operates a wildlife information service providing natural history and other wildlife related information to the public.
	McHenry County Conservation Voters Contact: Gene Brown. 847-658-3502. Email mccv@mc.net Mission: an independent non-partisan grass roots political action committee whose purpose is to consolidate the growing strength of environmentally aware citizens through the electoral process and to endorse a high quality of life, to provide and maintain a healthy environment for the benefit of this and future generations, work to inform and register voters and to identify and elect candidates for public office who will implement and enforce the foregoing purposes.
	McHenry County Farmland Preservation Alliance  Contact: Lisa Haderlein at The Land Conservancy of McHenry County. 815-455-4618. To preserve the agricultural heritage, landscape, and economy of McHenry County through a viable farmland protection program.
	McHenry County Natural Area Volunteers Division of The Nature Conservancy. Contact: Regional steward Dan Wilson, 815-648-2389. Newsletter. Mission: Volunteers working to maintain and restore the natural diversity of McHenry County. Provide intensive management required to maintain the ecological health of the land.
	McHenry County Soil & Water Conservation District 815-338-0099. 1143 N. Seminary, Woodstock, IL 60098. Newsletter. Mission: Provides technical information relating to the natural resources of the county; provides leadership and administers programs to help people conserve, improve, and sustain our natural resources and environment. Spring sale: trees, shrubs, fish.
	Natural Resources Conservation Services Works with McHenry County Soil and Water Conservation District toward the same goals.
	Wildflower Preservation and Propagation Committee Contact: 815-337-9502.  Mission: To stimulate interest in wildflowers and to inform the people of McHenry County of the need to protect them. Special emphasis on saving rare, endangered and threatened species.

Other resources

	Underwood Gardens To help grow healthy people on healthy planet. Provides and preserves heirloom, open pollinated and rare seeds.
	Walkup Heritage Farm Walkup Heritage Farm & Gardens specializes in the sale of native plant species, such as prairie and woodland plants, as well as "heirloom" ornamental flowering plants and vegetables.