Magical butterfly sites in Illinois

Springtime in Illinois brings longer days and warmer temperatures, but most importantly, nature begins to bloom and the state transforms, bringing with it mesmerizing sights.

In honor of the first day of spring, here are a few butterfly and botanical gardens to welcome the new season:

Kim St. John Butterfly Habitat
Constructed in 2013 through a partnership between Wildlife Prairie Park and the University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners, the butterfly enclosure is the largest native habitat in downstate Illinois. It contains pollinator and host plants for native Illinois butterflies to make the habitat their home. Some notable butterflies include Monarch, Viceroy, Pipevine, Swallowtail and more.

Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens
In Rockford, the Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens is the third largest conservatory in Illinois, bringing the tropics to the Midwest year-round. Starting March 23, visit the conservatory to experience the Secret Life of Butterflies and get an up-close look at the butterfly lifecycle.

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Operated by the Chicago Academy of Sciences, the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is a natural history museum featuring various exhibits and play spaces for young children. Their Butterfly Haven is a 2,700 square-foot greenhouse where visitors can bask amongst flowers and tropical trees while witnessing 1,000 free-flying butterflies from over 40 different species.

Happy spring!

Innovation in Illinois: Electric Vehicles

When it comes to leading in clean energy, Illinois has countless examples of new and exciting companies dedicated to reducing our carbon footprint – including Rivian in Normal and Lion Electric in Channahon.

The transition to electric vehicles has been a long process in the making. Illinois has been dedicated toward the evolution of electric vehicles through the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act to oversee the phase-out of fossil fuel-fired electrical generation units since late 2021.

Read more …

Honoring Women’s History Month

It’s Women’s History Month! Despite all women have done for centuries, the first official celebration of women’s history wasn’t until 1982. Originally lasting just a week, the National Women’s History Project lobbied Congress to make the event a month long, succeeding in 1987 when the first “Women’s History Month” was celebrated.

This year’s theme is “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion,” recognizing women who understand that we need to eliminate bias and discrimination entirely from our society and institutions.

To celebrate Women’s History Month, here are a few women who had a positive impact on Illinois:

Ida B. Wells: Ida B. Wells-Barnett was a journalist, activist, and researcher who battled sexism, racism and violence. After being forced to leave Memphis, TN, for being outspoken against lynching, she moved to Chicago. During the suffragist movement, she outwardly confronted white women who were apathetic about violence toward the Black community. Because of this stance, she was often ridiculed and ostracized by women’s suffrage organizations. Nevertheless, she remained active in the women’s rights movement and was a founder of the National Association of Colored Women’s Club which was created to address issues dealing with the intersection of women’s suffrage and civil rights.

Georgia Louise Harris Brown: Georgia Louise Harris Brown was an architect and engineer. She was the first Black woman to graduate from the University of Kansas with a degree in architecture and engineering and later she earned her architecture license in Illinois which made her the second Black woman to be a licensed architect in the U.S. During her career. Brown developed structural calculations for many well-known reinforced steel and concrete buildings that populate the Chicago skyline.

Dr. Margaret Taylor Burroughs:  Dr. Margaret Taylor Burroughs moved to Chicago when she was three. She was an activist through her art which focused on the idea that “skin color is just an over-emphasized minor difference among people.” One of her most famous poems was called “What shall I tell my children who are Black.” She was committed to education and prison reform and was able to combine these two passions by working in prisons for over 30 years helping the prisoners transform their lives through art and writing education.

Despite systemic hardships and setbacks, women have accomplished so many great things. Speaking out for civil rights, defying expectations by getting an education and bringing art and education to incarcerated people. This month, take the time to learn about how women have made history.

Celebrating Music in our Schools Day

Music in our schools day happens every year on March 6. Music is an important part of a well-rounded education. High school students who take part in music courses are more likely to have higher GPAs and attendance rates than students who do not participate in music education.

The arts are essential to a complete and competitive education for all students. Through the arts, students learn critical thinking, effective communication, collaboration and creative problem solving. Music education has also been linked to better emotional regularity and an increase in verbal memory.

Illinois’ public schools have a lot to offer on the music education front, and one of the ways to support music in schools is attending one of your local schools’ concerts. The Illinois Music Education Association is a big supporter of music in schools. They have yearly band, orchestra, jazz and choral performances where students from all high schools in Illinois come together for one performance. Another way they help encourage music in schools is by pairing music teachers with current job openings. Celebrate Music in our Schools day by supporting your local school music concert and events.