Conserving Our World

If you consider conservation a priority, the Northwest Illinois Audubon Society's Conservation Committee may be a good fit for your volunteer time. The committee reports to the Chapter's Board and guides the conservation activities of our Chapter.

The Conservation Committee meets monthly.

Conservation Committee membership is open to all Chapter members. Feel free to join us for our next discussion.

Get Involved

We offer many opportunities for citizens of Northwest Illinois to become active in our environment:

• Membership
• Volunteer
• Donate

Membership

Becoming a member of the Northwest Illinois Audubon Society helps conserve our world and gives you a lot of flexibility. You pick how involved you want to be. Whether it's occasional attendance at an event or meeting, financial donations, or full-fledged regular volunteer support, we appreciate your willingness to make a difference and protect our planet.

Two types of membership are available:

1. National Audubon Membership – Automatically provides you with membership in both the national organization and the Northwest Illinois Audubon Society. National members receive the National Audubon Society bimonthly Audubon magazine, an excellent source for national and international environmental news and views, as well as the local chapter newsletter. If you wish to join at the National level, select G55 – Northwest Illinois Audubon Society on the online application, or download and print the local membership form and mail it with your dues to P.O. Box 771, Freeport, IL 61032-0771.
2. Local-Only Membership – Individuals who do not wish to join the National Audubon Society or receive their magazine may join only the local chapter and receive just our bimonthly local newsletter. Download and print the local membership form and mail your dues to P.O. Box 771, Freeport, IL 61032-0771.

Volunteer

A number of prairie restoration and management workdays occur at Elkhorn Creek and Silver Creek Biodiversity Preserves throughout the year. Check our newsletter or our calendar for further details.

Volunteer opportunities include prairie preservation work including

• removing non-native plant species
• trail maintenance
• wood cutting
• prairie burns
• prairie plant seed collecting
• seed cleaning
• seed planting

We invite you to get on our contact list for prairie burns that are done each spring. We don't schedule burns weeks in advance. When conditions are right, we call you, and if you're available, you join our crew. Usually you'll get the call 24-48 hours beforehand. The burn season typically runs from early March through mid-April.

Don't worry if you lack experience. There are some tasks on burn days that are fine for novices. Snacks and water are provided.

Additional volunteer opportunities are available with Northwest Illinois Audubon Society. Check the list below to see which opportunity is best suited to you.

• assist with plant, animal, and bird species lists for Silver Creek Biodiversity Preserve
• build trails at Silver Creek Biodiversity Preserve
• count birds at our annual Christmas bird count
• count spring cranes
• provide educational programs for adults and children
• assist on-call as events arise

Contact Mary Blackmore at 815-938-3204 for details on any of our volunteer opportunities.

Donate

Any contributions are appreciated. We are committed to using your donation wisely. If you'd like, you may designate your contribution for preserve maintenance, educational purposes, or land acquisition.

The Northwest Illinois Audubon Society is a Chapter of the National Audubon Society. We are a nonprofit charitable (501c3) organization dedicated to the conservation of land and bird habitat. This is accomplished through education of our membership as well as the community by conducting informative programs, field trips and conservation projects.

Please mail your tax-deductible contributions to Treasurer, Northwest Illinois Audubon Society, PO Box 771, Freeport, Illinois 61032. Thank you!