What are the opening hours?

Monday 8am - 12pm 1pm - 4:30pm Tuesday 8am - 12pm 1pm - 4:30pm Wednesday 8am - 12pm 1pm - 4:30pm Thursday 8am - 12pm 1pm - 4:30pm Friday 8am - 12pm 1pm - 4:30pm

Boone County Conservation District

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United States
Belvidere, IL
Boone County Conservation District

We manage 4200 acres in more 30 conservation areas consisting of prairies, woodlands and wetlands in For media inquiries, please contact: (815)547-7935.

Social Media Public Comment Policy:
Thank you for being a fan of BCCD social media platforms. BCCD participates in social media in order to engage the public and to encourage participation with our conservation efforts and environmental education programs. Disclaimer
Posted comments and images do not necessarily represent the views of BCCD. External links on this site do not constitute official

endorsement on behalf of the BCCD. While we encourage fans to share thoughts and opinions on BCCD’s social media pages, we expect that this will be done in a respectful manner. BCCD does not agree with or endorse every comment that individuals post on our pages. Our goal is to share ideas and information with as many individuals as possible and our policy is to accept the majority of comments made to our profiles. Therefore, a comment will be deleted if it contains:

Hate speech,
Profanity, obscenity or vulgarity,
Nudity in profile pictures,
Defamation to a person or people,
Name calling and/or personal attacks,
Comments whose main purpose are to sell a product,
Comments that infringe on copyrights,
Spam comments, such as the same comment posted repeatedly on a profile,
Other comments that the BCCD Social Media team deems inappropriate. All links posted as comments on BCCD posts will be reviewed and may be deleted. Repeated violations of the BCCD comment policy may cause the author to be blocked from the BCCD’s social media profiles. We understand that social media is a 24/7 medium; however, our moderation capabilities are not. We may not see every inappropriate comment right away, and we are trusting in the maturity of our community to ignore personal attacks and negative speech or respond politely.

06/06/2026

Happy National Trails Day! Today is all about celebrating the trails that connect us to the outdoors! Whether you’re hiking, biking, birdwatching, or simply enjoying some fresh air, every visit is a chance to appreciate the incredible conservation areas we share here in Boone County and elsewhere.

This year’s National Trails Day message encourages all of us to become trail caretakers by leaving trails better than we found them. Staying on marked paths, taking our trash, and respecting wildlife are small actions that make a big difference. Grab your walking shoes, hop on your bike, or explore a favorite preserve today. The trails are waiting!

06/05/2026

Our Canoe Convoys are right around the corner - register now! Join BCCD and Severson Dells for guided canoe trips. We have trips for beginners and a day trip for those more experienced paddlers. All canoeing supplies are provided, just bring your own snack, water, sun protection, bug protection, and water-ready clothes and shoes. These programs are very popular so don't wait!
Get more info and register now at https://www.seversondells.com/canoe-convoys

06/04/2026

Join the Boone County Conservation District in celebrating National Trails Day! June 6 from 9:00–11:00 am we are hosting a family-friendly bike ride along the Long Prairie Trail. We’ll start at the County Line Rd TrailHead Parking Lot, ride to Capron for a short break and treat, then head back for a total trip of about 4–5 miles.

Please bring your own bike and equipment. Helmets are required. Registration is required. To register, email [email protected] or call 815-547-7935.

06/03/2026

Caption this! Comment your best caption below!

06/02/2026

One of spring’s most recognizable arrivals is back in Boone County!
The Red-winged Blackbird is back, one of our most familiar marsh birds and a sure sign that warmer days are on the way. Males are easy to recognize with their black feathers and bold red shoulder patches outlined in yellow, while females are streaked brown and blend right into grasses and fields.

While the males often arrive as early as January, the females return later in the season, sometimes as late as May, just in time for nesting during May and June. You’ll find them in marshes, ditches, hayfields, and wetland edges, where males perch high and call out their unmistakable “konk-la-reee.”

Watch for them near any watery habitat this season. If you hear one, spring is officially settling in.

06/01/2026

Life is better outside! Did you know getting outside can actually make your life better? Spending regular time outdoors can boost your immune system, help regulate your sleep, support your mental help, and more. The time to get outside is now, start small, start slow, but start!

05/29/2026

As May wraps up, our local trails are getting greener, busier, and a little more lively with the start of early summer 🌿

A friendly reminder as you head outside this season: staying on marked trails helps protect the plants and wildlife that call our preserves home. Many native plants are just getting established, and nesting wildlife may be hidden in tall grasses and along trail edges.

A few simple habits go a long way. Watch your step, stay on the path, and take only memories as you explore Boone County’s natural spaces.

Enjoy the trails and all the fresh growth this season brings.

05/28/2026

Meet the Great Blue Heron!

The Great Blue Heron is the largest heron in Illinois, and it’s hard to miss once you know what to look for. Standing tall with blue-gray feathers, a white face and neck, long yellow-green legs, and a sharp pointed bill, this bird moves with slow, deliberate patience along the water’s edge.

You’ll find them in marshes, ponds, rivers, flooded fields, and shorelines throughout May and June. They feed on fish, insects, and crayfish, often standing completely still before striking in an instant.

This is also nesting season, with herons gathering in tree colonies called rookeries to raise their young before dispersing later in the summer.

If you spot one, take a moment to watch… they’re one of the quietest but most powerful hunters in our local wetlands.

05/27/2026

Looking for a fun way to explore the outdoors Saturday?

Join us on May 30 for a Family Creek Walk at Kinnikinnick Creek Conservation Area. We’ll step into the creek with a BCCD educator and search for the tiny creatures and wildlife that make this habitat their home.

Be prepared to get a little wet and wear shoes that can handle the stream. Children must be accompanied by an adult. The program may be cancelled if water levels are unsafe for exploring.

Registration is required. To register, email [email protected] or call 815-547-7935.

05/26/2026

Save the date! BCCD and C**n Creek Casters are hosting our annual Hooked on Fishing clinic Saturday, June 13th from 9:00am-12:30pm! This clinic is for children ages 5-15. Lunch will be provided by Meijer of Sycamore.
Registration is required - https://www.bccdil.org/hooked-on-fishing/

Address

603 N Appleton Road
Belvidere, IL
61008

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 12pm
	1pm - 4:30pm
Tuesday	8am - 12pm
	1pm - 4:30pm
Wednesday	8am - 12pm
	1pm - 4:30pm
Thursday	8am - 12pm
	1pm - 4:30pm
Friday	8am - 12pm
	1pm - 4:30pm

Website

http://www.bccdil.org/

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