Spring Birds & Blooms Nature Workshop

Name: Spring Birds & Blooms Nature Workshop
Start: 2026-04-11T08:00:00-05:00
End: 2026-04-11T12:00:00-05:00
Location: Rock Springs Nature Center (RSNC)

Schedule

Sat Apr 11 2026 at 08:00 am to 12:00 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

Rock Springs Nature Center (RSNC) | Decatur, IL

Spring is the perfect time to indulge your curiosity and love of nature. This half-day workshop is designed for adults who want to enjoy a day of fun, discovery, and hands-on learning. This annual educational event is held in honor of devoted Master Naturalist Caroly Mason, whose deep love for the natural world inspired everyone around her.
7 a.m. - Optional birding hike led by the Second Saturday Regulars birding group. Participants will meet in the Rock Springs parking lot. The hike will take place rain or shine.
•8 a.m. Registration and a continental breakfast
•8:30 a.m. – Gardening with Native Plants, presented by Melody Arnold
Arnold became a Master Naturalist in 2010, though her love of nature began much earlier. She has taught biology and served as an Interpretive Naturalist and Education Specialist with the Macon County Conservation District.
•9:30 a.m. – Embracing Your Inner Birder, presented by Rob Kanter
Kanter is a writer, photographer, and naturalist who recently retired from the School of Earth, Society, and Environment at University of Illinois. He taught environmental writing, multimedia communications, and environmental issues and policy, always emphasizing local landscapes and stories. Central Illinois residents may recognize him as the longtime writer and narrator of “Environmental Almanac,” which ran for 16 years as a column in the Champaign News-Gazette and as a radio commentary on WILL-AM 580.
•10:30 a.m.- Smartphone Photography for Outdoor Enthusiasts, presented by Elissa McGlaughlin
McGlaughlin is a trained photojournalist and practicing portrait photographer with more than 30 years of experience. She also works in marketing, volunteers with the Decatur Audubon Society, and is a dedicated DIYer, wife, mother, and dog lover.
•11:30 a.m. – Optional hands-on session dedicated to downloading and using nature-related apps on smartphones
•Noon- Nature Hike with Jenny Garver
Garver is the Volunteer Coordinator for the Macon County Conservation District at Rock Springs Nature Center. She holds a degree in botany from Eastern Illinois University, where she conducted a three-year prairie study at Rock Springs.
Workshop fee: $10 Waivers are available.
Register by April 10
College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences
University of Illinois* U.S. Department of Agriculture* Local Extension Councils Cooperating
Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact 217-877-6042. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time for meeting your access needs.