Our current supporters and the staff, leaders, and donors who came before them are the reason The Conservation Foundation has been able to serve as a reasoned voice for conservation in northeastern Illinois for five decades. We all deserve to celebrate! Join us throughout the year as we celebrate this Golden Anniversary. Here are our 50th Anniversary plans at a glance:
50 Miles for 50 Years Outdoor Challenge
Have you signed up for our 50 Miles for 50 Years challenge yet? Log 50 miles walking, running, biking, paddling, hiking, rolling, skiing, snowshoeing, etc. in nature throughout the year, and earn a hiking stick medallion to commemorate your efforts and our milestone anniversary when you’re finished! We’re sharing recommendations for new local natural areas to explore (along with some of our favorite nearby watering holes), have a Facebook group where you can exchange pictures and ideas with other participants, and offering prizes for other fun categories like most miles logged, best TCF swag on the trail, best nature photo, and more. This is not a fitness contest, although the mental and physical benefits of time in nature are certainly intended side effects. Our hope is to get you
outside, experiencing the wonders of nature firsthand. Sign up today!
Sunset Birthday Bash
Thursday, June 23rd: The most important part of celebrating any milestone? MUST HAVE CAKE! The members who make our work possible are invited to join us for a Sunset Birthday Bash at our McDonald Farm headquarters, where we’ll relax, reminisce, and share some cake a few days after the Summer Solstice. This will be a members-only event, so if you’re not a member yet, become one so you can join the party!
Fox River Paddlewheel Boat Cruise
Saturday, August 20th: It’s become a tradition to commemorate our milestone years with an evening cruise down the Fox River, where we have worked very hard and had a tremendous impact. We’ll see, hear, and feel our mission all around us as we set sail from Pottawatomie Park in St. Charles on their two paddlewheel boats for a sunset cruise on the Fox.
50 Climate Change Tips for 50 Years
For the past 50 years, The Conservation Foundation, through preserving and restoring natural lands, has been helping mitigate the negative impacts of climate change locally. Climate change might seem like a problem too large for you as an individual to make any significant difference. But, in truth, all of our individual efforts combine to make a huge collective difference, and they are a vital piece of a global mitigation strategy. We’re posting weekly climate change tips to help empower everyone to make a positive difference in the climate crisis. View our tips posted each week! By the end of the year we’ll have 50 climate change tips in honor of our 50 years.
Strengthening Our Foundation at McDonald Farm
Thursday, October 6th: The fall Strengthening Our Foundation gathering will be an evening to acknowledge all we have accomplished together in our first 50 years, but also to propel us into the future. And it’s also the 20th Anniversary of our Green Earth Harvest program, originally the Green Earth Institute, and we’ll be enjoying the harvest of organic vegetables picked right from McDonald Farm’s own ground with an opportunity to support our mission.
50th Anniversary Mission Fair & 50 for 50 Awards
November (Date TBA): Many people get connected with The Conservation Foundation through one mission area, and have no idea the depth and breadth of all we do. Our Mission Fair will be set up like a grown up Science Fair with each of our program areas displayed and staff on hand to talk about what all they do to carry out our mission. We’ll also be presenting awards to our 50 Miles for 50 Years Challenge participants.
