Community Calendar

The Presidential Commission on Well-being proudly present NIU’s annual Well-being Fair from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, April 16 in the Holmes Student Center’s Duke Ellington Ballroom.

Faculty, staff and students are all invited to attend and engage in a variety of free prizes, treats and opportunities. Campus and community partners will provide attendees with interactive activities, services and information focused on “Healthy Body, Healthy Mind and Healthy Spirit.”

Northern Rehab Physical Therapy Specialists and the Kishwaukee Family YMCA invite the public to join them for their collaborative Lunch & Learn Educational Series on Thursday, April 16 at 11:00 am held at the Kishwaukee Family YMCA in Sycamore. This event is free and open to the public and refreshments will be provided by co-sponsor, Hy-Vee in Sycamore.

April’s presentation topic is “Knee Pain: Prevention & Management” presented by Northern Rehab’s physical therapist Brandon Clement. Attendees will learn about knee anatomy, common injuries, and strategies to prevent and self-treat injuries.

This free event is open to the public (YMCA membership is not required), but space is limited, and registration is required. You may sign up online at kishymca.org or call 815.375.5392.

For more information about this event, please visit northernrehabpt.com/events or kishymca.org or call 815.375.5392.

Join us for PPSOC's annual banquet. There will be a meet a greet, books for sale, a silent auction, buffet dinner (turkey dinner with a vegetarian option) and a presentation. Tickets are $45. For more information please call or text 1-815-973-4926 or email lin.vogl@gmail.com.

“From Prairie to Patient: How Healthy Ecosystems Shape Healthy Communities”

An exploration of how native ecosystems influence human health in Northern Illinois and how healthy landscapes support healthy people. Learn how prairie restoration, biodiversity, and fire ecology shape the landscape of vector-borne disease—and why predators like foxes and coyotes influence the spread of Lyme disease and how prescribed burning could change the risk of West Nile virus. Join us in April for an engaging look at the surprising connections between prairie conservation and public health.

Dr. Samuel Randall, MD, DTM, FAAFP is a family physician, studies medical entomology, and is an assistant clinical professor at the University of Illinois Chicago as well as a member of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. He works in clinical practice and teaches medical, professional, and community lectures on One Health, travel medicine, and tropical medicine.

Illinois Elks Children’s Care Corporation in cooperation with Dixon Elks Lodge 779 will sponsor a free children’s podiatry assessment clinic on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Morrison Podiatry, located at 841 N. Galena Avenue Suite 300 Dixon IL with Dr. David Yeager as the clinician in charge.

The Clinic starts at 8:00 AM and is by appointment only. To make an appointment call the Illinois Elks Children’s Care office at 1-800-272-0074 between the hours of 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Friday. There are no charges for any services at this clinic.

No medical referral is necessary for the clinic, but physicians are welcome to refer patients to the clinic for a specific reason or second opinion. School nurses are welcome to refer children and families to the clinic. The clinic is an ideal time to have a child reviewed for bone and joint development.

Join Severson Dells for this free, fun casual walking club. We'll stroll at a gentle pace and pause to take in whatever beauty we find.

Take part in the 2026 City Nature Challenge and join the Boone County Conservation District on guided hikes to explore different habitats and document the wildlife and plants that live in our community!

Join Brian Hale to uncover the wonder of Piscasaw Fen, a unique type of wetland! Expect around a mile hike and don't forget to take pictures! An intro to iNaturalist* will precede the hike.
*iNaturalist is a free, fun, and easy app and website that allows people to post observations about wildlife and plants. Researchers from around the world can use the data uploaded to help them make informed land management decisions and better understand local plants and animals.

City Nature Challenge is a worldwide movement to document nature and help fight biodiversity loss! Every observation made of WILD nature is a data point that helps scientists and researchers understand and protect nature for all. It began in 2016 as a friendly competition between San Francisco and L.A. and quickly grew to 159 cities across 6 continents in 2019. Last year alone, City Nature Challenge had 35,000 participants that made nearly 1 million wildlife observations and documented over 1,000 rare, threatened, and endangered species. It is organized by California Academy of Sciences and Natural History Museum Los Angeles County.

Earth Day 2026 is all about "Out Planet, Our Power." Take action and show your love for Planet Earth by participating in this month's Volunteer Saturday at the Boone County Conservation District as we work to make our local habitats and community healthy! We have the power to make a difference!

Registration is required. To register, email dgrelecki@bccdil.org or call 815-547-7935.

Take part in the 2026 City Nature Challenge and join the Boone County Conservation District on guided hikes to explore different habitats and see what's blooming!

Capture the beauty of Flora Prairie Nature Preserve, on the last remnant prairies in IL, as you discover the flowers that call this place home! Expect around a mile hike. An introduction to iNaturalist* will precede the hike.

*iNaturalist is a free, fun, and easy app and website that allows people to post observations about wildlife and plants. Researchers from around the world can use the data uploaded to help them make informed land management decisions and better understand local plants and animals.

City Nature Challenge is a worldwide movement to document nature and help fight biodiversity loss! Every observation made of WILD nature is a data point that helps scientists and researchers understand and protect nature for all. It began in 2016 as a friendly competition between San Francisco and L.A. and quickly grew to 159 cities across 6 continents in 2019. Last year alone, City Nature Challenge had 35,000 participants that made nearly 1 million wildlife observations and documented over 1,000 rare, threatened, and endangered species. It is organized by California Academy of Sciences and Natural History Museum Los Angeles County.

Take part in the 2026 City Nature Challenge and join the Boone County Conservation District on guided hikes to explore different habitats and see what's blooming!

Catch the buzz about the local birds, bees, and blooms with Brian Hale and Joel Neylon! Be prepared to explore nature right here in Belvidere at Spencer Conservation Area! An introduction to iNaturalist will precede the hike. Meet at the Rec Hall Pavilion by using the entrance at 1121 N Appleton Road.

iNaturalist is a free, fun, and easy app and website that allows people to post observations about wildlife and plants. Researchers from around the world can use the data uploaded to help them make informed land management decisions and better understand local plants and animals.

City Nature Challenge is a worldwide movement to document nature and help fight biodiversity loss! Every observation made of WILD nature is a data point that helps scientists and researchers understand and protect nature for all. It began in 2016 as a friendly competition between San Francisco and L.A. and quickly grew to 159 cities across 6 continents in 2019. Last year alone, City Nature Challenge had 35,000 participants that made nearly 1 million observations and documented over 1,000 rare, threatened, and endangered species. It is organized by California Academy of Sciences and Natural History Museum Los Angeles County.

Take part in the 2026 City Nature Challenge and join the Boone County Conservation District on guided hikes to explore different habitats and see what's blooming!

Join NRM staff Ben Davies and Aaron Minson to explore the habitats of Distillery Conservation Area while looking for different flora and fauna species! Expect a longer hike as we take the time to capture the beauty of this site. An introduction to iNaturalist will precede the hike.

iNaturalist is a free, fun, and easy app and website that allows people to post observations about wildlife and plants. Researchers from around the world can use the data uploaded to help them make informed land management decisions and better understand local plants and animals.

City Nature Challenge is a worldwide movement to document nature and help fight biodiversity loss! Every observation made of WILD nature is a data point that helps scientists and researchers understand and protect nature for all. It began in 2016 as a friendly competition between San Francisco and L.A. and quickly grew to 159 cities across 6 continents in 2019. Last year alone, City Nature Challenge had 35,000 participants that made nearly 1 million wildlife observations and documented over 1,000 rare, threatened, and endangered species. It is organized by California Academy of Sciences and Natural History Museum Los Angeles County.