"Keep a green
tree in your heart and perhaps the singing bird will come."
-- Chinese
proverb
Mission
Statement
The Environmental
Defenders of McHenry County is a citizen organization dedicated
to the preservation and improvement of the environment. We are
committed to building sound ecological relationships between
people and the natural world that supports all life.
To achieve the aim of environmental
preservation and improvement, we provide the community with
educational programs and volunteer action on pollution
prevention, sustainable land use and energy and natural resource
conservation.
We advocate policies which protect
drinking water supplies and conserve land for open space and
agriculture. We demonstrate waste reduction through recycling
drives and reuse centers. We encourage natural resource
protection through native landscaping and stream protection
programs.
What's important to you?
Through the years, the Defenders have had many successes in
helping to make McHenry County a healthier place in which to live. From
the formation of the McHenry County Conservation District to curbside
recycling, from the regulation of gravel mining to the passage of the
Illinois Groundwater Protection Act, the Defenders have been at the
front line, working closely with local, municipal, and county government
while advocating for a healthy environment.
The Environmental Defenders of McHenry
County has
active committees that meet each month.
Committees plan actions and events to address issues facing our
natural areas, water resources, and open spaces, as well as addressing
decisions being made by our county and city officials. Volunteer
opportunities abound.
Click Here and email or fax
to us.
Whether you are a Defenders member or not
(and of course we would love to have you
join), we want to know how you feel about the
things that are going on in our community.
Click Here to let us know what you’d like to see on website.
Click Here to become an Environmental Defenders of McHenry
County Member.
Upcoming Events and
Announcements:
(also see Calendar link
above)
Office Hours: Monday
through Thursday, 10 am - 4:30 pm
Defenders' Annual Meeting
and
World-Renowned Potluck Supper is set for Saturday,March 13,
5:30pm at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, 404 N Green Street in McHenry. This year
we will be looking back at 40 years of Defender history, with comments by
founding members and former Executive Directors, and into the future.
Tickets for our
Reverse Raffle are on sale from any board member for $25. Top prize is
$1000, with several smaller prizes. Loser's tickets will be drawn
throughout the evening :-)
We will also
have a Bag Raffle and a 50/50 raffle going on - lots of fun and
excitement! Watch for your invite in the mail, or call the office with
any questions.
Defenders' McHenry &
Woodstock Recycling Drives
Our next household battery, fluorescent tubes, and block styrofoam collection will be in McHenry on Saturday,
March 13, from 9 am until noon. Click the link below for the
address and more information.
Now taking - Block Styrofoam! You know, those big
blocks that surrounded your new TV or computer. We have partnered with
someone who is able to transport this material to be recycled. Hooray!
The Environmental Defenders of McHenry County and Lou Marchi Total Recycling Institute present
the Illinois Premiere of the Award Winning Documentary A Chemical Reaction: The Story of a True Green Revolution.
After the movie, there will be a Q&A with the film’s producers!
March 19, 7 pm at MCC’s Conference Center.
Admission is $5, and tickets can be purchased at the Defenders’ office
124 Cass St on the Woodstock Square
or at the door.
"A Chemical Reaction, is a documentary movie that tells the story of
one of the most powerful and effective community initiatives in the
history of North America. It started with one lone voice in 1984. Dr.
June Irwin, a dermatologist, noticed a connection between her patients’
health conditions and their exposure to chemical pesticides and
herbicides. With relentless persistence she brought her concerns to
town meetings to warn her fellow citizens that the chemicals they were
putting on their lawns posed severe health risks and had unknown side
effects on the environment."
Each winter, the Defenders raise funds by working at Alice & Bill's
Christmas Tree Farm. This year, they can use some warm-weather help
after Bill's surgery this winter. We will be cutting down and chipping
trees that have gotten too large to make room for new trees. Bring work
gloves if you have them. Tools and refreshments will be provided.
Sunday, March 21st
from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at Howenstine's Pioneer Tree Farm, 4614 Pioneer Road, McHenry
Questions: Call the
Defenders' Office at 815-338-0393
Join the Defenders
and millions of others going dark during Earth Hour - use
this link!
Celebrate the
Earth!
The Defenders have again partnered with McHenry County Conservation District to bring
you our annual Earth Day Celebration. This year is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day and of the Defenders! The event will be held on
Saturday,
April 17th from 11 am until 4 pm at the Prairieview Education Center, 21112 Behan Road, Crystal Lake.
The event is held both indoors and out and will go on rain or shine!
• Special performance by Green E –The Environmental Elvis at 1:30 pm
• Live music
• Puppet shows at 12:30 pm & 2:30 pm
• Guided nature hikes at 11:30 am & 2:30 pm
• Help out on a restoration service project.
• Get your Earth Day 2010 Patch. Youth group members can do activities
and earn the patch at a reduced cost.
• Enjoy hands-on games, crafts and storytelling.
• Over 20 Environmental Exhibitors, including food and beverage vendors
(or bring
your own "No waste" picnic lunch)
Household Recycling Drop Off: A variety of items will be
accepted for recycling including athletic shoes, batteries and computer
monitors. Check back prior to the event for a complete list of accepted
items and any associated drop-off fees.
Each year, the Defenders offer a
scholarship to high school seniors interested in pursuing a career in
environmental work. Click here
for more info.
The Defenders' Store
- Now you can support the Defenders with your purchases through Amazon.com. Go to our
"Defenders
Store" page, and search Amazon through our search box, or choose one of
the items recommended by other Defenders. We'll receive between 4 and
10% of the purchase price, even on gift cards!
On sale at the office
- Conscious Cup travel
mugs now on sale $5. Styro packing peanuts $5 a bag.
GoodSearch.com
will donate money to the Defenders every time you use their search
engine. Go to
www.GoodSearch.com and find Environmental Defenders of McHenry
County in the "who do you goodsearch for" box. And if you need to shop,
a percentage will be donated to us when you shop through GoodShop
link!
Environmental
Defenders of McHenry County 
