Left to right: Thadd Walter, Prairie Lands Foundation Superintendent; Jodi Martin, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Livingston County; David Hammer, Prairie Lands Foundation President, presenting a check for $11,286.68 to Susan Popejoy, President of Boys & Girls Club of Livingston County, and Scott Phares, VP of Boys & Girls Club of Livingston County. These funds are the annual distribution from the Boys & Girls Club of Prairie Central Endowment Fund that was established by Prairie Lands Foundation to help support the B&G Club’s operational expenses.

PLF Steward, Bill Handel, worked the drill while volunteers who participated in Heartland Community College’s Service Day planted new additions to Munz Park.

Bluebells

Sweet bells, the daughters of the spring,

That hide among the mosses green,

And every year the woodlands bring

Your fairy faces forth to bless the scene;

We love the bluebells as they blossom bright,

And deck the sullen lawns with pure delight.

—Anne Brontë

On Monday February 23, David Hammer, PLF president, and Nancy Todd, of the Chenoa Revitalization Committee member, sat down with Kent Casson of Route24 Radio for a conversation about PLF and some of the park improvement projects that the Chenoa Park District is working on with Nancy and other Chenoa community members.

https://www.facebook.com/100076783670320/videos/1424281685832029

The Forrest Wabash Depot Park is nearing completion! The Flexground is being poured and the project is on track to be completed in time for the Wabash Festival in Forrest on September 27, 2025

Master Naturalist Kathy McLean led a morning yoga session on Saturday in Fugate Woods as part of the Wellness in Nature program done in cooperation with the University of Illinois Extension Office. Master Naturalist Tom Niebur led a group through a sensory walk in the woods and Master Naturalist Becky Shafer provided materials for participants to make nature mandalas.

Some much needed improvements were made to the pickleball courts at Fairbury’s North Park and a new roof was put on the dugouts at Chenoa’s ballpark.

UPCOMING EVENT

Experience the benefits of being in nature for your health! Join the Illinois Grand Prairie Master Naturalists, in collaboration with Prairie Lands Foundation, at Fugate Woods Nature Preserve on Saturday, June 28, from 9 to 11 a.m. for Wellness in Nature. Engage in the calming practice of yoga and connect with nature through a guided sensory awareness experience, along with creating nature mandalas.

We welcome adults and youth who are at least 14 years old for our time of quietness and reflection.

Dress comfortably for yoga and sitting on the ground. Please bring a yoga mat or towel, water, and insect repellent as needed.

Parking and Meet-Up: Park at the main gate of Fugate Woods Nature Preserve, 23150 E 1000 North Rd, Fairbury. Master Naturalists will greet you at the gate.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact

Alison Meanor

How about a stop by Fugate Woods on the Saturday before Mother’s Day? Prairie Lands Foundation will have golf carts available for Seniors and those who need assistance to get to the Gathering Grove. The blooming flowers and fresh air will make this gathering even more special!

23150-23898 E 1000 N Rd, Fairbury, IL 61739

Weather Permitting

Refreshments will be provided.

Come out and enjoy the spring flowers with Mom!

https://extension.illinois.edu/events/2025-04-26-spring-bird-walk

Event Date(s)

April 26, 2025

Event Time

8:00 AM – 9:30 AM

Location:

Fugate Woods

Spring is a great time to look for birds, especially colorful warblers passing through on their way to nesting grounds along with other birds we only see during migration. Join us on April 26 from 8:00 to 9:30 am at Fugate Woods Nature Preserve to learn tips on bird identification and see how many we can find together. While admiring the birds above, we will also see beautiful blooming wildflowers on the ground below. 

All ages are welcome. Bring binoculars and field guides if you have them. We will meet at the north entrance of Fugate Woods Nature Preserve, located at 23150 E 1000 North Road, Fairbury IL 61739.

DIRECTIONS: From Route 24 in Fairbury, go north on Seventh Street to 1000 North Road. Turn right and go about 1 1/2 miles. The main entrance is just east of the bridge. Click here for the coordinates. 

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact

Darci Webber

Join Science Educator Scott Saffer and U of I Master Naturalists on Saturday, March 8 at 1:30 p.m. for a family-friendly outdoor adventure as we explore the hidden world of salamanders!

We’ll cross the west bridge into James Family Woods. Keep your eyes peeled for the elusive Smallmouth Salamanders (Ambystoma texanum) and the striking Tiger Salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum).

Park on the north side of Prairie Central High School, located at 411 N 7th St, Fairbury, IL 61739.

Wear comfortable walking shoes or mud shoes and weather-appropriate clothing.

If you have any questions or need a reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact Darci Webber at dlwebber@illinois.edu.

https://registration.extension.illinois.edu/start/salamander-seekers?

Congratulations to Master Naturalists Becky Shafer and Joan Smeltzer for their dedication to Fugate Woods. The Prairie Lands Foundation appreciates their vision and hard work. A big thanks to all of the Master Naturalists and volunteers who help make Fugate Woods a “magnificent place”, as a recent visitor and donor from out of state let us know.

Prairie Lands Foundation has teamed up with Donorbox, the online donation platform, to make it easier to support your favorite local PLF projects. With new features like Repeat Donation, Peer-to-Peer and Crowdfunding capabilities. Donorbox also facilitates memberships, event management, and the automatic generation of tax-deductible receipts.

Join us on November 2 for a free and enchanting evening presented by the University of Illinois Master Naturalists and the Prairie Lands Foundation. Our guide, science educator Scott Saffer, will kick off the adventure with a reading from the children’s book Owl Moon. After the story, Scott will lead us on a night-time hike through Fugate Woods, where we’ll listen for the calls of elusive owls.

11/2/2024
5:00:00 PM
Fugate Woods Nature Preserve, North Entrance, off of 1000 North Rd

A seminar on white tail deer management took place in the White Community Room at Dominy Library on Thursday evening, October 3rd.

Representatives from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources presented information about the white tail deer and population control.

Did you know?

White tail deer have hollow teeth.

White tail deer live to be 6-7 years old.

Female white tails, or does, live in female only groups that consist of a matriarch and her female offspring.

Fawns are hidden by their mother for the first 2 weeks of their lives. They remain hidden to avoid detection by predators.

If you find a hidden fawn, it has most likely not been abandoned by its mother. The best thing to do, according to wildlife experts, is to leave it alone. Allow the mother to collect it and move it when it’s old enough to travel.

Learn more about local wildlife by attending events hosted by Prairie Lands Foundation and the Fugate Woods Nature Preserve’s Master Naturalists.

Complete eight fun outdoors tasks and earn rewards. At the preserve experience two events, develop two new skills, volunteer twice, and attend two educational programs. Find ideas in the posting below.

There are no age restrictions, no time limits, and no fees. When you think you have completed eight outdoor tasks of your choosing, simply contact a representative from Fugate Woods at fugatewoods.org and talk with them about your experience.

Complete the Fugate Challenge and the Prairie Lands Foundation will post your picture on their website and reward you with a gift. More importantly, outdoor time promotes better physical and mental health. Attending educational programs and developing new skills is mind building. Volunteering builds community.

Below are the remaining 2024 educational programs. Registration is required.

• October 19 Creatures of the Night with Illinois Grand Prairie Master Naturalists
  Register Here
  See our Events page for more information.
• November 2 Owl Walk with science educator Scott Saffer