KDSWCD Elections, Women in Ag, SESC Seminar, Envirothon and more!

2025 Issue 1

Upcoming Board Meetings

Second Thursday of every Month

Check website for times and agendas

Election Day! Feb 11

VOTE!

Board Election 2025

Remember to VOTE! Owners and/or occupiers of land in Kane or DuPage Counties are entitled to vote in the election of KDSWCD Board of Directors.

Polling locations will be at the KDSWCD office, 2315 Dean St, Suite 100, St. Charles AND the DuPage County Farm Bureau, 245 South Gary Avenue, Carol Stream.

Make your voice heard on February 11, 2025!

Two Director seats are up for election this year. Candidate slates will be available for review on our website (link below). Serving as a Director on the Soil & Water Conservation District Board is a privilege and an opportunity to serve on a local public body that makes decisions and creates programs regarding natural resource conservation in Kane and DuPage Counties. The Board meets regularly to formulate and administer programs of work that are tailored specifically to the conservation and protection of soil, water and related natural resources within the district.

Attending a Board Meeting is an ideal way to learn about the District, all members of the public are welcome.

CLICK to learn more

In the Fields

Women in Ag #3

Farmland Succession Planning

Thursday, February 27

4:00 - 6:00 pm

Baker Community Center

St. Charles

Kane-DuPage SWCD and American Farmland Trust are hosting two Women in Ag events this spring! We invite you to join us for open discussions with topic experts and local resource professionals sharing their knowledge of conservation practices and farmland protection tools. Snacks and refreshments will be provided.

Our first 2025 session will focus on Farmland Succession Planning to help guide farming families through preparing for handing off an operation to the next generation with Angie Doucette, AFT's Midwest Farmland Protection Manager.

On March 20, we will return our attention to the land with a session focusing on Soil Health with Brenna Ness, McHenry County Conservation District Project Manager.

In Other Developments

22nd Annual KDSWCD

Soil Erosion & Sediment Control Seminar

2025 Focus: Causeways

Wednesday, January 29

8am - Noon

plus bonus 1 hour networking

Elgin Community College

Seigle Auditorium

$35 per person

Earn 4 PDH Credits

2025 NRI & SESC Application Updates

Updated KDSWCD NRI and SESC application forms are now available on our website! Insider scoop: watch for a special announcement this spring about our process automation debut!

NRI Application

SESC Application

In the News

Kits Available for Pickup

March 3-7

Basic Panel Test and Expanded Metals Screening available this year!

More Information

Stock your Pond!

The KDSWCD archives show that in 1980, we delivered fish while wearing a suit and tie! Our 2025 fish sale will be more casual, but will still provide a variety of fish ideal for stocking ponds and promoting a healthy aquatic habitat.

Fish Pick Up Day = April 5

Fish Sale Info

Conservation in the Classroom - AIM

Agriculture + Innovation Matters (AIM) provides lesson plans with engagement resources regarding conservation agriculture topics. This month’s lesson plan is Farming for the Future: Agroecology as a Pathway to Sustainable Agriculture.

Designed for grade levels 9-12, this lesson plan will take 90 minutes to complete. Agroecology is a way of farming that works with nature to grow food and materials, while also caring for the environment and people. It focuses on balancing the interactions between plants, animals, humans and the environment to keep farms productive, healthy and sustainable over time. It isn’t just about growing crops—agroecology also values protecting natural resources, supporting communities and ensuring farming is good for both people and the planet!

During this lesson, students define agroecology and understand its role in sustainable agriculture, as well as identify principles and practices of agroecology. Students discuss the environmental, economic, and social benefits of agroecology and explore real-world examples of agroecological farming systems in Illinois.

Lesson Plan

Soil & Water Stewardship Scholarship

$1000 Scholarship

Deadline February 15, 2025

The Soil and Water Stewardship Scholarship seeks to provide financial support to students enrolled full time at an accredited two- or four-year community college, college or university, which will lead to a career in a natural resource field.

CLICK for more INFO

Apply HERE

Conservation Achievement Scholarship

Applications are now open for the 2025 Conservation Achievement Scholarship.

Are you passionate about preserving Illinois’ natural resources? The Illinois Conservation Foundation wants to support the next generation of conservation leaders like you! ICF is offering up to four $2,000 college scholarships to outstanding seniors who have demonstrated a long-term commitment to the preservation, protection, enhancement, or promotion of Illinois’ natural resources. Deadline to apply is March 1.

Sponsorship Opportunities Still Available!

Each spring, teams of 5 high school students prepare with a teacher/coach to compete in the areas of aquatics, forestry, soils, wildlife and a current issue in natural resources, For 2025, Envirothon has chosen "Roots and Resiliency". Regional winners advance to the state and then the national competition. The Northeastern Illinois Envirothon is organized by local soil and water conservation districts for high schools in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Will, Boone, DeKalb, Lake, McHenry and Winnebago counties.

NE Illinois students will compete on March 19 & 20 at the Morton Arboretum.

The objectives are threefold:

to test environmental knowledge and understanding of natural resource issues of today and into the future
to cultivate future careers in environmental fields
to hone team building and enhance communications skills

Top-scoring winners will receive awards. Regional winners advance to state and then national competition. Scholarships are awarded to the winners of the North American competition!

Sponsor support ensures

that all eligible students can participate

and that each event is successful!

Any donation amount is welcome

Thank You!

CLICK to Sponsor