Te Conservation Foundation - 50th Anniversary Brook McDonald, president of Te Conservation


Foundation, says one of the things the non-profit organization is doing to celebrate its 50th anniversary this year is to encourage people to spend more time outdoors. “Its called the ‘50 Miles for 50 Years Challenge,’ “


McDonald says. “We are encouraging people to walk, hike, bike, canoe, throughout the whole year.” Established in 1972, the Foundation’s goal is


to preserve and restore open space, to protect rivers and watersheds and to promote stewardship of the environment in northeastern Illinois. Its main office is at 10 S. 404 Knock Knolls Rd., Naperville. In Kendall County, the Foundaton runs the Dickson-Murst Farm, a 4.5 acre historic homestead located at 2550 Dickson Rd., Montgomery, which it purchased in 2006. McDonald said the Foundation is planning a


birthday party celebration to be held in February at the Hoover Outdoor Education Center, but while it is great to celebrate, he said they are looking to the future. “We are finishing up a strategic plan. Our Fox


River work is continuing. We are organizing clean ups. We are doing a lot of land acquisition with the Kendall County Forest Preserve District. We are looking at picking up parcels in the woods near the White Tail Ridge Golf Course and also some land along Au Sable Creek. Tose are are two big focus areas in Kendall County.” McDonald said that the organization is also still


offering its Conservation at Home Program, a popular program which helps people establish native gardens. “We help facilitate the purchace of native plants,”


McDonald said. “We can get people what they need at a decent price. Butterfly gardens are getting really popular now. A lot of people are putting them in their gardens for kids. It’s good for pollinating.”


For more information, phone 630-428-4500 General office hours 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.


email info@theconservationfoundation.org www.theconservationfoundation.org


Recommendation for Best Places for Nature Rx


Richard Young Forest Preserve, 8225 Rt. 71, Yorkville Lyon Forest Preserve, 8300 Van Emmon Rd., Yorkville Hoover Forest Preserve, 11285 Fox Rd. Yorkville Jay Woods Forest Preserve, 860 Creek Rd., Plano Hudson Crossing Park, 65 N. Harrison St., Oswego Silver Spring State Fish and Wildlife Area, 13608 Fox Rd., Yorkville


Harris Forest Preserve, 10460 Rt. 71, Yorkville


Baker Woods Forest Preserve & Ellis House/Equestrian Center, 2939 Rt. 52 & McKanna Rd., Minooka


Violet Patche Park, 1425 Rt. 25, Oswego Maramech Forest Preserve, 14780 Griswold Springs Rd., Plano


Fox River Trail, 31 miles along Rt. 25 Millbrook South Forest Preserve, Fox River Dr., Millbrook


35


Above, volunteers plant a rain garden at Riverfront Park in Yorkville soon after the park was completed, and, below, the rain garden in 2021, now an attraction for pollinating bees, butterflies and birds. For information on Conservation at Home, call the program director, Jim Kleinwatcher, or Jessic Mino, the Kane and Kendall program director, at 630-428-4500.


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