Environmental Defenders of McHenry County

Gardenfest 2025
2025-04-12 07:30 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | McHenry County College, 8900 US-14, Crystal Lake, IL, 60012, United States

Recycling Drive in Harvard
2025-04-12 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago)
The Recycling Action Team will be participating in a Drive Saturday, April 12, in Harvard at the
Milky Way Park, 300 Lawrence Road, 9:00 AM to Noon, with the McHenry County Department
of Health. We will be collecting Styrofoam, fluorescent tubes and bulbs, batteries, clothing and
textiles. McHenry County and Elgin Recycling will be collecting the electronics.
ACCEPTED MATERIALS AT DEFENDERS RECYCLING DRIVES
Batteries‒ Household (A, C, D, AA, AAA, Lithium, Ni-Cad, Button and NI-MH) are accepted
for $1.00 per pound, which only covers our costs to get them recycled. Lead batteries (car,
motorcycle, sump pump, marine) are accepted at no charge.
Fluorescent Light Bulbs–The following are accepted for a fee, which only covers our costs to
get them recycled:
4-foot, $.50 each;
8-foot, $1.00 each;
Compact bulbs used in lamps and lighting fixtures, $.50 each
Packing Peanuts that are clean, dry, in a box or bag, are accepted.
Solid Styrofoam is accepted at no charge providing it is clean, with no glue, tape, food or
anything else attached to it. Soft material that bends and is generally used in packaging is not
accepted. If it has a smooth cover (usually blue or pink in color) on it, it is not accepted.
Textiles–Clothes, blankets, towels, shoes, etc., with holes, worn out, torn, accepted at no charge,
BUT they must be clean.

Highway Cleanup with Waste Reduction Team
2025-04-12 09:30 (America/Chicago)
Join our Highway Cleanup with our Waste Reduction Action Team!
Saturday, April 12 at 9:30am
Cary Algonquin Road from Fox Trails Drive to Main Street (next to Fox Bluff Conservation Area)

Meet our Waste Reduction Team + other Defenders
Children ages 10+ are welcome with adult present
Please bring gloves
Dress for the weather

Email alange090@gmail.com for more details and to let us know you’re coming! less

MCC Repair Fair
2025-04-15 16:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | McHenry County College, 8900 US-14, Crystal Lake, IL, 60012, United States

Earth Day Celebration at Prairieview Education Center
2025-04-19 12:00 - 16:00 UTC | Prarieview Education Center, 2112 Behan Rd, Crystal Lake, IL, 60014
Earth Day Celebration
12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Prairieview Education Center

Spend the afternoon with us to celebrate the Earth! Explore Earth friendly activity & craft stations. Plant seeds, take a guided hike, view a puppet show, and more! Please bring a picnic lunch.

Free / All-Ages / No registration required.
RECYCLING DROP-OFF:

Batteries‒ Household (A, C, D, AA, AAA, Lithium, Ni-Cad, Button and NI-MH) are accepted for $1.00 per pound, which only covers our costs to get them recycled. Lead batteries (car, motorcycle, sump pump, marine) are accepted at no charge.
Fluorescent Light Bulbs–The following are accepted for a fee, which only covers our costs to get them recycled:
4-foot, $.50 each;
8-foot, $1.00 each;
Compact bulbs used in lamps and lighting fixtures, $.50 each
Packing Peanuts that are clean, dry, in a box or bag, are accepted.
Solid Styrofoam is accepted at no charge providing it is clean, with no glue, tape, food or anything else attached to it. Soft material that bends and is generally used in packaging is not accepted. If it has a smooth cover (usually blue or pink in color) on it, it is not accepted.
Textiles–Clothes, blankets, towels, shoes, etc., with holes, worn out, torn, accepted at no charge, BUT they must be clean.

Book & Plant Swap | Libro e intercambio de plantas
2025-04-22 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | The Green Read, 61 N. Williams, Crystal Lake, IL, 60014

Book & Plant Swap
2025-04-22 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | The Green Read, 61 N. Williams, Crystal Lake, IL, 60014
Tuesday, April 22 at 6pm - 8pm
Martes, 22 de Abril at 6pm - 8pm
Can you think of a better way to celebrate Earth Day than swapping plants and books with new friends? Bring your preloved books, plants, and/or cuttings to trade! This event is free and open to all.

Sterne’s Fen Restoration Workday
2025-04-27 09:00 - 11:00, 2025-05-18 09:00 - 11:00, 2025-06-22 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Chicago) | Sternes Woods Park, 5617 Hillside Rd, Crystal Lake, IL, 60014
THE GROUP

We meet once a month at Sterne’s outdoor pavilion, 5617 Hillside Dr. from 9-11AM. Volunteers have a chance to learn about restoration ecology and what makes Sterne’s Fen special. Please bring a water bottle and a pair of work gloves. The park district will supply loppers and bow saws. Invasives like honeysuckle and buckthorn are crowding out the native fen species. The brush also prevents the use of controlled burns on the fen. Email Brice Alt, volunteer site steward, to receive a monthly workday reminder: bricemaieralt@hotmail.com.

THE PARK
Sterne’s Woods & Fen became an Illinois State Nature Preserve in 1994 to preserve and protect its unique ecology. A fen is a rare type of wetland in which cold groundwater that is high in calcium and magnesium seeps to the surface. The unique water chemistry supports plants that grow nowhere else. Sterne’s Fen is home to at least 10 rare or endangered plant species. The surrounding parkland acts as a buffer to the fen and includes prairie, oak savanna, and flatwood ecosystems. Every one of those ecosystems can benefit from the efforts of volunteers. Join us once a month and learn about them!

THANK YOU
Much thanks to the local groups who have volunteered with us at Sterne’s: the MUDD trail running club, the Silver and Sleepy Hollow Creeks Watershed Coalition, the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County, the BREAK, Jacobs High School Interact, Crystal Lake South Elementary, Girl Scout Troop 888, Cub Scout Pack 156, and Boy Scout Troops 158 and 368. We can accommodate community groups! Just give us a heads-up of how many volunteers to expect.
NEWS
A video about Sterne’s Fen: https://youtu.be/DMVPl80PDQ0
Park district updates: https://www.crystallakeparks.org/project-updates#SternesFen
Who was Ted Sterne? The Crystal Lake Historical Society article: https://www.dropbox.com/s/h61unofnnnx06kg/Ted%20Sterne%20.pdf?dl=0
ECOLOGIC RESTORATION
By volunteering at a Sterne’s workday you’re helping with the ecologic restoration of an exceedingly rare type of habitat.
To learn more about restoration ecology, here’s a quick video: https://youtu.be/VNwQ6cRMTKI
Sterne’s Fen has a management plan: https://www.dropbox.com/s/9ekp2nfniddn1d6/1989%20management%20plan.pdf?dl=0

Defenders' 2025 Annual Meeting & Dinner
2025-04-27 15:00 - 19:00 (America/Chicago) | RedTail Golf Club, 7900 RedTail Drive, Village of Lakewood, 60014, United States
DATE: Sunday, April 27, 2025
TIME: 3PM to 7PM
LOCATION: RedTail Golf Club | 7900 RedTail Drive, Village of Lakewood, IL 60014
Keynote Speakers:
Environmental Defenders’ Action Team Chairs, Book stores’ Manager, Director of MCSEEP, Director of Paddle the Kish
Anne Basten- Fundraising
Kim Compton- Outreach
Barb Day- Recycling
Gary Kanner- Transportation
Cindy Skrukrud- Water & Natural Resource Protection
Cecilia Carman & Michelle Muryn- Waste Reduction
Pam Johnson- Green Read & Green Spot
Pam King- MCSEEP
Pat Lawlor- Paddle the Kish
We are thrilled to have the chairs of our six Action Teams, the bookstores’ manager, the director of MCSEEP, and the director of Paddle the Kish as our speakers this year. The Defenders’ have accomplished so much in 2024, and this will be the perfect opportunity for our members to hear all about it first-hand from the volunteers who make it all possible.
Dinner and dessert will be included with the ticket, and there will be a cash bar. There will be a bag raffle and 50/50 raffle the night of the event (bring your cash!).

Green Drinks - May
2025-05-07 17:00 - 19:00 (America/Chicago) | Duke’s Alehouse and Kitchen, 110 N Main St, Crystal Lake, Illinois, 60014, United States
Nature’s Voice: How Art Can Inspire Environmental Action
Presented by: Hannah Marquardt, Advocate and Poet
Art helps us feel what facts alone often can’t. From Rachel Carson’s groundbreaking Silent Spring to the searing poetry of Kathy Jetñil-Kijiner, artists have long shaped the way we understand and respond to environmental crises. Today, visual artists like Benjamin Von Wong and Thijs Biersteker turn data and pollution into powerful public installations, making climate change real, urgent, and human. This presentation explores how art—literary and visual—can deepen empathy, challenge complacency, and move people to protect the natural world.

Brewery Tour & Happy Hour
2025-05-15 18:00 (America/Chicago) | Kishwaukee Brewing Company, 1900 Dillard Ct, Woodstock, IL, 60098, United States
Join us for a tour of the brewery and a sampling on us!
In honor of IL Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) EDMC is highlighting one of our favorite breweries that donates their spent grain to local farmers, diverting it from a landfill!

Recycling Drive
2025-05-17 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | Chesak Elementary School, 10910 Reed Rd, Lake in the Hills, IL, 60156, United States
ACCEPTED MATERIALS AT DEFENDERS RECYCLING DRIVES
Batteries‒ Household (A, C, D, AA, AAA, Lithium, Ni-Cad, Button and NI-MH) are accepted for $1.00 per pound, which only covers our costs to get them recycled. Lead batteries (car, motorcycle, sump pump, marine) are accepted at no charge.
Fluorescent Light Bulbs–The following are accepted for a fee, which only covers our costs to get them recycled:
4-foot, $.50 each;
8-foot, $1.00 each;
Compact bulbs used in lamps and lighting fixtures, $.50 each
Packing Peanuts that are clean, dry, in a box or bag, are accepted.
Solid Styrofoam is accepted at no charge providing it is clean, with no glue, tape, food or anything else attached to it. Soft material that bends and is generally used in packaging is not accepted. If it has a smooth cover (usually blue or pink in color) on it, it is not accepted.
Textiles–Clothes, blankets, towels, shoes, etc., with holes, worn out, torn, accepted at no charge, BUT they must be clean.
We will also participate in two other one-day events this year: September 13, McHenry County College, and October 18, McHenry County Fairgrounds..
If you have any questions, please feel free to respond to this email or call me at the number below. Please let me know if you will participate in this drive. We keep records for this to aid in grant writing. Volunteer hours matter.

Pedalpalooza 2025
2025-05-17 10:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago)
Join us for an exhilarating cycling event that not only promises an unforgettable weekend but also makes a significant impact on the health and well-being of our community! Pedalpalooza is a fundraising initiative dedicated to supporting Family Health Partnership Clinic, a lifeline for the uninsured residents in our area.
Pump up those tires, dust off your helmets and embark on a scavenger hunt type journey throughout the county at your pace, start and finish wherever and whenever you like making sure to stop in as many participating establishments along the way! Pedalpalooza is a community-driven event focused on raising funds to ensure that everyone in our community has access to essential heart disease screenings, preventive care, education and chronic disease management. But also partners with local small businesses to give special discounts, raffles or offers to our Pedalpalooza-ers. Check out some of your favorite places and maybe find a few new ones to patronize! You will receive access to the Goosechase App, Directory of locations, official wristband and Tshirt. You can bike, walk, run, drive- whatever works for you- there is no wrong way to Pedalpalooza.
Why Pedalpalooza? The funds raised during this event will directly contribute to heart health initiatives, enabling the clinic to provide heart disease screenings, preventative care, education and chronic disease management to uninsured individuals in our community. Together, we can make a tangible difference in preventing heart-related issues and promoting overall well-being!

Countryside Nursery Fundraiser
2025-05-25 09:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Countryside, 5301 E Terra Cotta Ave, Crystal Lake, 60014, United States
Download CouponYou MUST print off the coupon. Digital coupons are not accepted. Thank you!
Stop in at Countryside Nursery on May 25th and support the Defenders. A portion of your purchase will be donated to the Environmental Defenders. We will be tabling at Countryside from 10 am-2pm so come say hi!

Crystal Lake Pride
2025-06-01 11:00 (America/Chicago)
In keeping with our mission to promote a welcoming and inclusive environment in our downtown, we are very happy to announce the 2025 Downtown Crystal Lake Pride Walk & Social. LGBTQ+ community members and allies are all welcome! Meet at Williams St. & Crystal Lake Ave. at 11 am in your most colorful apparel (Pride flags welcome!) to join the walk from Williams St., to Woodstock St., to Grant St., and we’ll end at the Brink Street Market! Then, stay at the park to eat and socialize, shop the craft fair supporting LGBTQ+ owned businesses and makers, and connect with non-profits and community resources.

Green Drinks - June
2025-06-04 17:00 - 19:00 (America/Chicago) | Duke’s Alehouse and Kitchen, 110 N Main St, Crystal Lake, Illinois, 60014, United States
Environmentalism and Food
Presented by: Zak Dolezal
Duke’s Alehouse and Kitchen is a 3-Star Green Certified Restaurant known for its gourmet comfort foods, salads, sandwiches, burgers, and entrees made with locally sourced and sustainable ingredients. As a restaurant entrepreneur, I am deeply committed to incorporating my passion for the environment and community into our culinary offerings. Duke’s Alehouse and Kitchen has been the proud host of McHenry County Green Drinks since 2009.
The topic of my presentation will be “Environmentalism and Food.” I will discuss the critical issues surrounding America’s food system, which is undeniably facing challenges and significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. I will explore how our dining choices impact the environment and address the question of whether a vegan diet is the most impactful individual action to heal our planet. I will attempt to explain some of the most challenging issues facing our food industry and discuss existing and potential solutions.
Attend on Zoom

Use It Again Garage Sale
2025-06-05 09:00 - 2025-06-07 16:00, 2025-06-12 09:00 - 2025-06-14 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Algonquin Township Road District, 3702 Route 14, Crystal Lake, IL, United States
Give Your Gently Used Items a Second Life!
Are you looking for a way to clear out clutter while making a difference in the community?
Donate your gently used items to our Use It Again Sale! Your donations help keep quality items
out of landfills and give them a second chance to be used and loved again.
Where: Algonquin Township Road District Building 6B (Community garage)
3702 US-14, Crystal Lake
Donations Accepted:
Sunday, June 1, 2025 2 – 4 pm
M-W, June 2 – June 4 from 10 am – 3 pm
Sale Dates:
June 5 – June 7 from 9 am – 4 pm
June 12 – June 14 from 9 am – 4 pm
What We Accept: We gladly accept items that are clean, in good condition, and ready for a new
home. Our best-selling items include:

Garden tools and supplies
Hand tools and hardware
Housewares and kitchen itemsS
Small working appliances
Children’s toys
Unupholstered furniture in good condition

What We Cannot Accept: To ensure safety and quality, we kindly ask that you do NOT donate:

Computers, TVs, and other related electronics (printers, modems, etc)
Children’s car seats or cribs
Large appliances (washers, dryers, refrigerators, etc.)
Upholstered furniture (chairs, mattresses, etc.)
Clothing and shoes (can be put in bins up front)
Stuffed animals
Broken, unclean, or hazardous items

Volunteer Opportunities! Looking for a hands-on way to support our mission? Join us as a
volunteer! We need help with:

Accepting and sorting donations
Organizing and pricing items for sale
Assisting on sale days

Mark Your Calendar for Sale Days! Your donations support our community through our sales
events. Be sure to stop by and find a great deal while supporting a great cause!

Recycling Drive
2025-06-07 09:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | Prairie Ridge High School, 6000 Dvorak Dr, Crystal Lake, IL, 60012, United States
ACCEPTED MATERIALS AT DEFENDERS RECYCLING DRIVES
Household Hazardous Waste
**PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED – www.mcdh.info

Woodstock Pridefest
2025-06-14 - 2025-06-15

Pollinator Week
2025-06-16 - 2025-06-22
It’s Pollinator Week in McHenry County! Join us in celebration!

Pollinator Week is celebrated June 16-22. Under the inspiring theme “Pollinators Weave Connections,” this year’s event urges us to appreciate the important role pollinators play. These essential creatures, including bees, butterflies, moths, beetles and hummingbirds, are the unsung heroes behind the food we enjoy and the beauty that surrounds us.
Here in McHenry County, a coalition of conservation groups and local libraries are sponsoring film showings, walks, celebrations and stewardship events- all connected to understanding the vital role that pollinators play in our ecosystems, economies and agriculture. Find the full schedule of activities at tinyurl.com/2025PollinatorWk.
Over the course of the week, eleven local libraries will host showings of What’s the Rush?, a special video presentation from Professor Doug Tallamy on the Homegrown National Park Movement. By creating native habitat, you can help restore nature while experiencing the joy and fulfillment of connecting with the world around you.
Each film showing will be followed by a presentation on available local resources and Q & A session. There will be a drawing for a pocket pollinator garden plant collection provided by Small Waters Education at each library event.
🐝🦋🌳☀️🌎🪲
Read more about Pollinator Week at pollinator.org/pollinator-week and the Homegrown National Park Movement at homegrownnationalpark.org

OFFICE CLOSED
2025-06-19
– OFFICE CLOSED FOR JUNETEENTH –

On June 19, 1865, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas with the news that the more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in the state were free.

This day came to be known as Juneteenth — a time to celebrate, gather as a family, reflect on the past and look to the future.

#Juneteenth has always been more than a holiday. The day stands as a testament to and celebration of the unyielding spirit of a people. Learn more and join in the celebration with @NMAAHC: nmaach.si.edu/Juneteenth

Duke's Alehouse Pride Ride
2025-06-22 11:00 - 14:30 (America/Chicago) | Duke’s Alehouse and Kitchen, 110 N Main St, Crystal Lake, Illinois, 60014, United States
Pride Ride Event Schedule
Join us for a special Pride Ride on June 22nd! We’re hosting a fun bike ride starting at Duke’s Alehouse and Kitchen and ending at the Food Shed Co-op. It’s going to be a fantastic day of community, celebration, and good times. We’ll have games and activities at the Food Shed Co-op patio. Stay tuned for more details as we finalize the plans in the coming weeks. We’re so excited to have you join us!
Sunday, June 22nd from 11:00AM – 2:30PM (and beyond)
$45 per guest includes:

2 drink tickets
Duke’s homemade snacks
Sack Lunch provided by FoodShed Coop
Games and Activities
Live Entertainment
Goodie Bag

Morning Activities
11:00 AM: Registration and Check-in at Duke’s Alehouse and Kitchen
11:30 AM: Welcome and Safety Briefing
11:45 AM: Start of the Bike Ride to FoodShed Coop
Mid-Day Activities
12:15 PM: Lunch Break at FoodShed Coop
1:00 PM: Games and Activities
1:45 PM: Start of the Bike Ride back to Duke’s Alehouse and Kitchen
Afternoon Activities
2:30 PM: Arrive at Duke’s Alehouse and Kitchen
2:30 PM – 5:00 PM: Outdoor Block Party with Food and Drinks

Grow Geo Power Hour
2025-06-24 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Chicago) | Zoom, IL
The Defenders is partnering with CUB and GAOI to present Grow Geo Power Hour

Green Drinks - July
2025-07-02 17:00 - 19:00 (America/Chicago) | Duke’s Alehouse and Kitchen, 110 N Main St, Crystal Lake, Illinois, 60014, United States
Urban Agroforestry
Presented by: Stephanie Tesmer
In this presentation, we will explore how urban agroforestry – integrating trees, perennial plants, and annual beds into urban landscapes – can enhance food security, boost biodiversity, and improve urban microclimates. We will discuss how transforming basic lawns, into productive green spaces can create local food resilience and boost community well-being. At the end you will see how we put all of this into practice on our suburban 1/3 of an acre site near McHenry.
Stephanie is an Environmental Scientist who spends her days caring for her food forest and advocating for her community’s environmental needs.
Attend on Zoom

MCCD's First Fridays Concerts - Defenders Meetup!
2025-07-11 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Chicago) | Lost Valley Visitor Center Patio, Glacial
Join our Defenders Meetup at MCCD’s First Fridays Concerts! Enjoy music, meet members, & learn about the Defenders.

Join us on the first Friday of each month this summer for an evening of music under the oaks! Bring a picnic dinner, enjoy the beautiful view and stay for a free concert from talented, regional musicians.

Seating is first-come, first-serve.

Find us at our yellow tablecloth!

Lost Valley Visitor Center Patio, Glacial Park
7-8:30 PM
July 11, August 1, and September 5

FREE & All Ages

Invite your friends and we will see you there!

Food Truck Frenzy
2025-07-19 11:30 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Huntley Park District, 12015 Mill Street, Huntley, 60142, United States
The Food Truck Frenzy is coming to town, and so is composting!

The Defenders will have a booth for compost education with a compost bin. Composting for the event is sponsored by the Defenders and will be available for the entirety of the event.

For more details, please visit the Food Truck Frenzy 2025 website.

BMP Talk and Tour: Stream Restoration for Flood Reduction and Water Quality
2025-07-25 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | Dixie Creek
BMP Talk and Tour: Stream Restoration for Flood Reduction and Water Quality
Brad Andresen, Parks and Forestry Supervisor, Village of Algonquin
