Community Calendar

They were among the best the United States had to offer, and on June 6, 1944, they were sent to Normandy, France. They moved inland from the landing zones, facing machine-gun fire, mortars, and artillery at Omaha and Utah Beaches. This documentary provides an opportunity to remember one of the most important days in world history, as described by those who were there. Many of the enlisted soldiers were young and inexperienced as they arrived by air or by boat, uncertain of what would happen next. Within days, Allied forces secured territory in France and began to shift the course of the war.

This program is free and open to the public. It is approximately 54 minutes, not rated, and made possible through the WWII Foundation.

Do your kids need something positive, fun, and engaging this summer? 4-H staff, McHenry County Farm Bureau Ag in the Classroom teachers, and 4-H Ambassadors are offering a summer 4-H club experience that introduces youth to a variety of exciting 4-H project areas in a relaxed, summer setting.

What Will Youth Explore?

This summer club provides a glimpse into the 4-H program and encourages independent learning through engaging, hands-on activities:
Agriculture Adventures:
McHenry County Farm Bureau Ag in the Classroom instructors will share a short lesson and activity each session.
Outdoor Exploration:
Learn about birds, reptiles, mammals, and insects through games and hands-on experiences.
STEM Challenges:
Explore science, technology, engineering, and math with fun problem-solving activities.
Cultural & Creative Arts:
Express creativity through art and cultural activities.
Promoting Self-Care:
Emphasis on social-emotional health and proper nutrition.

In 1971, Daniel Ellsberg, a former Pentagon official and Vietnam War strategist, made a life-altering decision: he leaked 7,000 pages of top-secret documents to The New York Times, exposing decades of government deception. As the story spread worldwide, Ellsberg was seen as both a hero and a traitor, risking prison to challenge a war he once helped shape.

This documentary examines Ellsberg’s transformation and offers an inside look at government secrecy and accountability. It also follows the landmark legal battle between the press and the presidency, reaching the Supreme Court of the United States, and traces how these events connect to the Watergate scandal and the resignation of Richard Nixon.

This program is free and open to the public. It is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, not rated, and made possible through Kanopy.

What was life like before, during, and after the American Revolution? Join us for an interactive program that begins with a screening reel from The American Revolution, a documentary by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt, offering a compelling overview of the nation’s founding and its global impact.

Then step into history as a virtual volunteer transcriber for the Library of Congress through the By the People program. Work directly with real historical documents from colonial America through the early Republic and help bring to light the everyday experiences and voices of those who lived through this transformative era. Your contributions will make these materials more accessible to researchers and the public, joining a nationwide effort that has already surpassed one million transcribed pages.

This program is free and open to the public. Recommended for youth ages 13 and up and adults. Participants should bring a laptop or tablet with a charging cord. The program will run approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Let’s play ball! Women have been part of baseball’s story since the 1800s, especially in the Midwest. During World War II, Philip K. Wrigley launched the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League to keep America’s pastime alive while showcasing women’s athletic talent. Illinois played a central role in the league, producing 125 players, including All-Star Dorothy Schroeder, the only woman to play all twelve seasons.

Join us for a lively look at the evolution of women’s baseball, from its early roots to the rise of the AAGPBL. Learn about the league’s unique rules, its memorable teams, including the Rockford Peaches, Springfield Sallies, Peoria Redwings, and Chicago Colleens, and the culture surrounding the game, from uniforms to “Charm School” and wartime publicity.

This program is free and open to the public. It will be offered as a blended program with in-person and virtual options. To register virtually, go to: t.ly/vbcFw.

Step back into the 18th century and try a hands-on craft rooted in early American life. The program begins with a short introduction to historical samplers — what they were, who made them, and what they reveal about everyday life in colonial America. Young people once stitched samplers to practice needlework and demonstrate skill, and the pieces they left behind remain some of the most personal records of early American girlhood we have.

Afterward, participants will create their own burlap sampler using simple embroidery techniques inspired by that tradition. As part of the America250 commemoration, this program invites you to explore history through making. Free and open to the public. Recommended for ages 10 and up. All materials provided.

Emily Graslie continues her journey through deep time in Prehistoric Road Trip, traveling across the western United States to explore ancient landscapes where fossils and expert insights bring long-extinct worlds to life.

In “Tiny Teeth, Fearsome Beasts,” Emily discovers surprising truths written in the fossil record and gets to know the earliest mammals of North America, including ancient beavers, an ancient saber-toothed animal, and more. She also travels to Standing Rock reservation where she examines the effects of improper fossil collection from Indigenous land. Meanwhile, scientists studying our planet’s past are revealing clues about its future.

This program is free and open to the public. It is approximately 56 minutes, rated G and is made possible through Kanopy.

Join us for this engaging presentation shining a light on the groundbreaking women who helped shape our understanding of Earth's ancient past. Through compelling stories and remarkable discoveries, explore how Mary Anning, Mary Ann Mantell, and Sue Hendrickson overcame barriers, made world-changing contributions, and forever altered the field of paleontology. Educational, inspiring, and accessible for all ages, this is a fresh look at the often-overlooked pioneers behind some of history's greatest fossil discoveries.

Presented by Anderson Taylor, a dinosaur enthusiast, young historian, and founder and curator of the Cambridge Natural History Museum in Cambridge, Illinois. In August 2024, at just nine years old, he turned a lifelong passion for prehistoric life into a real museum — a space where curiosity, science, and imagination come together. With a simple mission to show people of all ages that science is fun, fascinating, and full of adventure, Anderson champions the real scientists, especially women, whose discoveries made history.
This program is free and open to the public.

Before smartphones and darkrooms, there was sunlight. Join us for a hands-on introduction to cyanotype printing — a technique invented in 1842 and used by Anna Atkins, considered the first woman photographer, to create botanical images still held in museum collections today. Participants will watch a short video from the Victoria and Albert Museum, then make their own prints using cyanotype paper, natural objects, and the sun. Free and open to the public. Recommended for ages 10 and up.

Do your kids need something positive, fun, and engaging this summer? 4-H staff, McHenry County Farm Bureau Ag in the Classroom teachers, and 4-H Ambassadors are offering a summer 4-H club experience that introduces youth to a variety of exciting 4-H project areas in a relaxed, summer setting.

What Will Youth Explore?

This summer club provides a glimpse into the 4-H program and encourages independent learning through engaging, hands-on activities:
Agriculture Adventures:
McHenry County Farm Bureau Ag in the Classroom instructors will share a short lesson and activity each session.
Outdoor Exploration:
Learn about birds, reptiles, mammals, and insects through games and hands-on experiences.
STEM Challenges:
Explore science, technology, engineering, and math with fun problem-solving activities.
Cultural & Creative Arts:
Express creativity through art and cultural activities.
Promoting Self-Care:
Emphasis on social-emotional health and proper nutrition.