Rock Springs Nature Center

10/16/2026

🎃Good news for anyone who may have missed the registration deadline for Treat Trail!
If you missed the window to purchase tickets in advance, we will have some tickets available in-person both today and tomorrow, the best time to come will be after 6pm. We're looking forward to another great event! If you get any photos that you would like to share with us, feel free to email or message them to us! 📷

10/15/2026

🚨 LAST DAY to register for Treat Trail presented by Glenda Williamson Realty! Online registration closes tonight. Join us at Rock Springs Friday or Saturday from 5-8pm for treats, activities, and c***r and cookies. Register will close at NOON today, you can find the link in the comments below.

10/14/2026

⏰ Registration closes tomorrow! Don't miss your chance to join Treat Trail presented by Glenda Williamson Realty on October 16 or 17 at Rock Springs. Treat stops, activities, and c***r and cookies await! Register by noon October 15, link in the comments below.

10/14/2026

We love that people choose our sites to celebrate their special moments, but this part? Not so much. 🎉➡️🗑️

While at Fort Daniel Conservation Area this past Saturday, a staff member discovered this confetti mess in front of the pavilion. Our Conservation Areas exist to protect and conserve nature for the whole community to enjoy, and that means everything we bring in needs to go back out with us.

Here’s an easy rule of thumb: if you wouldn’t do this in your own backyard, please don’t leave it in a nature preserve. Confetti may look festive for a moment, but it can linger in the landscape for a long time, ruining the view for others, and wildlife can mistake it for food.

Please remember that our Rules & Regulations (Article IV, Section 1) prohibit depositing or scattering trash, paper, refuse, balloons, or debris on Conservation District property. Celebrating with us? Wonderful! Just leave the site as beautiful as you found it.🌳

Planning a photo shoot or celebration outdoors? Try nature-friendly alternatives like bubbles, ribbon wands, or simply a gorgeous view and a great photo! 📸

10/12/2026

🍂 Looking for the best hiking trails in Decatur, IL to view fall colors and local wildlife?
A few of our staff members went out exploring today to monitor the wild fall mushrooms starting to pop up across our conservation areas. With the unseasonably warm October temperatures and upcoming rain showers in the Central Illinois forecast, we expect to see even more species emerging soon! 🍄

We also crossed paths with a fascinating local reptile on the trail—a native Eastern hognose snake putting on quite a show! 🐍

If you are planning an autumn hike this week, keep your eyes on the forest floor. Have you spotted any interesting fungi or wildlife at our parks yet? Let us know what you've found! 👇

10/12/2026

A big thank-you to Glenda Williamson Realty for being our presenting sponsor for the Treat Trail! And a special thinks to our Treat Station sponsors and in-kind community partners for helping make each stop a sweet experience.

Kids N Fitness
Decatur Audubon Society
Sanitary District of Decatur, IL
Decatur Public Library-Illinois
Central Illinois Scouting
Growing Strong Sexual Assault Center
Macon County Farm Bureau Ag in the Classroom
Seeley Smith with Infant Swimming Resources

💛 Community partners make events like this possible and help us connect families with nature right here in Macon County. Join us at Rock Springs October 16 & 17, 5-8pm. Register by October 15, link in comments below.

10/11/2026

Family fun that won't haunt your wallet! 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Treat Trail presented by Glenda Williamson Realty is just $5 per treat-collector and $2 per accompanying guest. Bring the whole crew to Rock Springs on October 16 or 17, 5-8pm. Register by October 15, link in comments below.

10/09/2026

One week until Treat Trail! 🎉 Treat Trail presented by Glenda Williamson Realty takes over Rock Springs next Friday, October 16 and Saturday, October 17, from 5-8pm. Spots are filling up, so don't wait. Register online by October 15, link in the comments below.

10/08/2026

Love the outdoors and enjoy working with kids?

Join us for a pop-up Hike Leader Training on Thursday, October 15, from 1:30 – 3 pm at Rock Springs Nature Center. We’ll kick things off inside the Nature Center before heading outside for some hands-on practice.

As a volunteer hike leader, you’ll play an important role in our environmental education programs by guiding small groups of students on nature walks. These easy-paced hikes last about an hour, cover less than half a mile, and are a wonderful way to share your love of nature.

We’ll provide training, topic materials, and the opportunity to shadow an experienced hike leader before you lead your own group. This opportunity is open to volunteers ages 18 and older.

*If you are not currently one of our volunteers but are interested in joining our team of outstanding volunteers, please reach out to Jenny (contact information below) to discuss the volunteer program and application process.

RSVP by October 14 to Jenny Garver at [email protected] or 217-542-5536.

10/07/2026

Every great trail walk deserves a cozy finish. 🍎🍪 After your spooky stroll at Treat Trail presented by Glenda Williamson Realty, warm up inside the Nature Center with apple c***r and cookies. October 16 & 17, 5-8pm at Rock Springs. Registration link in comments below.

03/12/2026

Check out our upcoming history program for this Sunday, March 14!

Abraham Lincoln's relative, James Shoaff, was one the best-known newspaper editors in Civil-War-era Illinois.

He was related by marriage to Lincoln, and this colorful and controversial character both made the news and reported it in the Decatur, Illinois area.

Historian Dr Robert Sampson will present about how Shoaff's work always brought readers back for more on March 14, 2026 at 2 pm at the Rock Spring Nature Center in Decatur, Illinois. The event is free, and no registration is required.

This event is cosponsored by the Friends of the Lincoln Trail Homestead State Park and Memorial, and the Macon County Conservation District.

09/11/2024

Join the University of Illinois Extension and us for Monarch Madness! On September 21 from 2-4pm, come out to learn all about these amazing pollinators. 🦋

08/22/2024

Don't forget that today is our annual Hummingbird Festival from 3-6pm! We have gorgeous weather for it this year!

🕊️ Experience the Magic of Hummingbirds! 🕊️

Join us on Thursday, August 22, from 3-6pm at Rock Springs Conservation Area for our annual Hummingbird Festival! 🌸🌿

Get up close with these fascinating birds as Vernon Kleen of the Lincoln Land Association of Bird Banders shares his expertise on hummingbird species and what draws them to our area. You'll even have the chance to see wild hummingbirds being caught, banded, and released right before your eyes! 🐦✨

Bring your lawn chair, settle on the west lawn of Rock Springs Nature Center, and enjoy an afternoon filled with nature's wonders. Come early for a special opportunity to help release a hummingbird and enter to win a prize! 🎉

Feel free to bring snacks or a picnic dinner and make it a relaxing evening surrounded by nature. The event is free, but donations are always appreciated. Co-sponsored by the Decatur Area Audubon Society. No registration required!

📍 Location: Rock Springs Conservation Area, 3939 Nearing Lane, Decatur, IL
🗓️ Date: Thursday, August 22
🕒 Time: 3-6pm

Don't miss out on this unique chance to connect with one of nature's most captivating creatures! 🌟

08/16/2024

A reminder that our building will be closed today for staff development!

Heads up!

Rock Springs Nature Center will be closed tomorrow, Friday, August 16, for a staff development day. Trails and other facilities at Rock Springs Conservation Area will remain open, and the Nature Center will reopen for normal operating hours on Saturday. Enjoy the wonderful weather this weekend!

08/08/2024

It's a great morning to take a hike.🌳

08/07/2024

Don't miss out on our last summer van trip!🦒

A reminder that we still have some spots left open for our Indianapolis Zoo van trip next Monday, August 12. You have to register by this Friday, August 9 at noon to secure your spot in the van. Enjoy a day at the zoo and leave the driving to us!

Head to the link in the comments for full details and registration.
📷Photo Credit: Google