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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Environmental Defenders of McHenry County
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260304T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260304T190000
DTSTAMP:20260523T071511
CREATED:20260209T230539Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260209T230539Z
UID:5816-1772643600-1772650800@mcdef.org
SUMMARY:Community Open House for Comprehensive Conservation Plan
DESCRIPTION:Forward to 2040 with a Vision to 2071\nThe McHenry County Conservation District is excited to be creating a Comprehensive Conservation Plan\, titled “Forward to 2040 with a Vision to 2071” to guide the District’s path for the next 10+ years\, and create a vision for the future extending to the District’s Centennial Anniversary in 2071. The plan will help determine District priorities and where future resources will be focused. \nAs part of this planning process\, the Conservation District has enlisted Upland Design\, LTD. who bring with them a collection of experts from aQuity Research\, Engineering Resource Associates\, Dewberry\, Vetter Consulting Enterprises LLC\, and 110%. \nUpland Design and the Conservation District will be holding two Community Open Houses to gain feedback from residents and site users. We invite you to attend and share your ideas for the future of Conservation in McHenry County. The District will also be creating and issuing a statistically valid community survey that will be distributed in future months\, and will be hosting pop-up events and other ways for site users to share their ideas throughout the creation of this plan. \nAttend an Open House\nJoin us at one of the following COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSES to learn about the planning process and share your thoughts. Registration is not required.\nWednesday\, February 18\, 5pm-7pm\, Lost Valley Visitor Center\nWednesday\, March 4\, 5pm-7pm\, McHenry County College 
URL:https://mcdef.org/event/community-open-house-for-comprehensive-conservation-plan-2/
LOCATION:McHenry County College\, 8900 US-14\, Crystal Lake\, IL\, 60012\, United States
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260304T170000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260304T190000
DTSTAMP:20260523T071511
CREATED:20260209T231043Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260304T195118Z
UID:5818-1772643600-1772650800@mcdef.org
SUMMARY:Green Drinks - March
DESCRIPTION:A Forest in a Footprint: \nAlgonquin Garden Club Pioneers Local Mini-Forest \nOn October 25\, 2025\, the Algonquin Garden Club and its collaborators\, Mini Forest Alliance and Ruthless Readers book club\, planted the seeds for a greener\, wilder future right in the Dixie Briggs Fromm Land and Water Preserve. The ambitious project\, a Miyawaki Mini-Forest\, has transformed a small\, former buckthorn infested plot into a densely packed\, biodiverse habitat – the first of its kind for the collaborators and a significant step for local conservation. \nCarol Weinhammer\, long-time steward of Dixie Briggs and Chairman of the Algonquin Garden Club’s Special Committee\, along with Cindy Germata\, President of the Algonquin Garden Club\, will share how this Mini Forest project came to fruition. \n5pm begins our social hour to mix\, mingle and meet like-minded peers. Presentatiom starts at 5:45 pm! We encourage all guests to order food before the presentations begin or make a dining room table reservation for after the presentation. \nFood and beverages available from Duke’s menu: before\, during or after the event. Kitchen closes at 8pm. \nAttend on Zoom
URL:https://mcdef.org/event/green-drinks-march/
LOCATION:Duke’s Alehouse and Kitchen\, 110 N Main St\, Crystal Lake\, Illinois\, 60014\, United States
CATEGORIES:Green Drinks
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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260306
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260307
DTSTAMP:20260523T071511
CREATED:20260115T183743Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260115T183743Z
UID:5746-1772755200-1772841599@mcdef.org
SUMMARY:Annual Auction Ends
DESCRIPTION:Important Dates \nDonation Due Date: February 13\, 2026\nAuction Start: February 20\, 2026 at 8:00 AM\nAuction End: March 6\, 2026\, at a time to be determined. \nHow Can you Bid on Donated Items?\nBefore the auction goes live\, the EDMC staff will send out an email giving you the link to start reviewing the items up for auction and start bidding. Watch for this to happen starting before the bid opening date. Bid high and often to make this a memorable fundraiser!
URL:https://mcdef.org/event/annual-auction-ends/
LOCATION:IL
CATEGORIES:Fundraising
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260308T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260308T140000
DTSTAMP:20260523T071511
CREATED:20260115T185008Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260206T221536Z
UID:5753-1772967600-1772978400@mcdef.org
SUMMARY:Defenders' 2026 Annual Meeting & Brunch
DESCRIPTION:DATE: March 8th\, 2026 \nTIME: 11am-2pm \nLOCATION: Oruga Social | 1000 McHenry Ave\, Crystal Lake\, IL 60014 \nBrunch will be included with the ticket. \n\n\n\nLive Auction: There will be an in-person 50/50 cash raffle\, live mini silent auction\, and bag raffle at the event. Cash and card will be accepted. \nSponsorships: You can be a sponsor of our Annual Meeting and have your own table for friends and family. For sponsorship tickets\, please email Erin at defendersdirector@gmail.com or call our office at 815-338-0393. \n\n\n\nGet Tickets
URL:https://mcdef.org/event/defenders-2026-annual-meeting-brunch/
LOCATION:Oruga Social\, 1000 McHenry Ave\,\, Crystal Lake\, IL\, 60014\, United States
CATEGORIES:Annual Dinner,Fundraising,Member Events,Public Events
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260320T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260320T140000
DTSTAMP:20260523T071511
CREATED:20260318T184758Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260318T184758Z
UID:5854-1774011600-1774015200@mcdef.org
SUMMARY:BMP Talk and Tour: Successful Natural Areas Management for Homeowner Associations
DESCRIPTION:BMP Talk and Tour: Successful Natural Areas Management for Homeowner Associations \nThis Talk and Tour will provide a first-hand look at successful natural area management at the McAndrews Glen subdivision in Bull Valley.  It will also include a brief visit to the adjacent Boloria Meadows Nature Preserve. \nDennis Dreher\, Geosyntec Consultant and volunteer Nature Preserve steward\, will lead the tour and discuss elements of successful management of 25 acres of natural area in the McAndrews Glen. The subdivision was developed 20 years ago following a conservation design theme with homes clustered within naturalized open space. The natural area\, which includes four detention basins\, was formally designated as a common area in the plat of subdivision and the approved HOA covenants require long-term ecological stewardship of the area. \nThe HOA natural area abuts Boloria Meadows Natural Preserve\, owned by The Land Conservancy of McHenry County. To better protect the Preserve and to enable flexible ecological management\, 6 acres of HOA natural area were placed into a Nature Preserve Buffer that is cooperatively managed by the HOA contractor and the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission. \nThe natural area is routinely managed by a contractor hired by the HOA. The management approach focuses on control of invasive species and regular controlled burning. While the overall appearance and ecological quality of the natural area has improved significantly over time\, some ongoing issues with invasive species persist. \nThe tour will visit several representative zones in the natural area as well as the adjacent Nature Preserve. Discussion will address several important topics: \n\nThe role of the HOA in funding and overseeing natural area management. (A HOA board member has been invited to participate.)\nConsiderations in hiring and overseeing natural area contractors.\nThe role of local government in approving effective institutional arrangements\, including covenants. (A representative of the Village has been invited to participate.)\nEffective communication with HOA residents.\nSynergies and opportunities of cooperating with The Land Conservancy and other adjacent landowners.\nBenefits of sound natural area management to stormwater and water quality.\nCost savings of natural area management vs. turf grass maintenance.\n\nTo register\, please RSVP at https://tinyurl.com/BMPTourSignup. Directions and parking instructions will be sent after you have RSVP’d. These popular Talk and Tour programs showcase Best Management Practices successfully implemented in McHenry County. The programs are a collaborative effort with the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County and the McHenry County Department of Planning and Development. \nSign Up
URL:https://mcdef.org/event/bmp-talk-and-tour-successful-natural-areas-management-for-homeowner-associations-2026/
LOCATION:McAndrews Glen Subdivision\, Bull Valley
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260322T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260322T110000
DTSTAMP:20260523T071511
CREATED:20220208T200838Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251114T225442Z
UID:3974-1774170000-1774177200@mcdef.org
SUMMARY:Sterne’s Fen Restoration Workday
DESCRIPTION:THE GROUP\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWe 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. \n \nTHE PARK \nSterne’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! \n \nTHANK YOU \nMuch 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. \nNEWS \nA video about Sterne’s Fen: https://youtu.be/DMVPl80PDQ0 \nPark district updates:  https://www.crystallakeparks.org/project-updates#SternesFen\nWho was Ted Sterne?  The Crystal Lake Historical Society article: https://www.dropbox.com/s/h61unofnnnx06kg/Ted%20Sterne%20.pdf?dl=0\nECOLOGIC RESTORATION \nBy volunteering at a Sterne’s workday you’re helping with the ecologic restoration of an exceedingly rare type of habitat. \nTo learn more about restoration ecology\, here’s a quick video: https://youtu.be/VNwQ6cRMTKI \nSterne’s Fen has a management plan: https://www.dropbox.com/s/9ekp2nfniddn1d6/1989%20management%20plan.pdf?dl=0
URL:https://mcdef.org/event/sternes-fen-restoration-workday/2026-03-22/
LOCATION:Sternes Woods Park\, 5617 Hillside Rd\, Crystal Lake\, IL\, 60014
CATEGORIES:Work Days and Clean-ups
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