This September, join the Illinois Forestry Association for our 18th Annual Conference! This year, we will be holding this event at the Memorial 4-H Camp in Monticello, Illinois. This site is conveniently located next to Allerton Park. This event will include lectures on various forest-related topics, and guided activities and tours. Whether you own forestland, manage forest, or simply want to learn more about forests, this is the right event for you!
When: Sept. 21st - 23rd
Where: 4-H Memorial Camp, 499 Old Timber Road, Monticello, IL 61856
Schedule:
Thursday, September 21st (Early Arrival/Social)
5:30 pm - Registration opens, silent auction opens
6:00 - 8:00 pm - Social time, fireside forestry chats
Friday, September 22nd (Activities/Lectures/Annual Business Meeting)
8:00 am - Registration opens, silent auction opens
9:00 - 9:15 Welcome and Introductions (Paul Deizman, IFA President)
9:15 - 10:00 Timber Harvests (Kyle Burkwald, IDNR)
10:00 - 10:45 Forest management and Whip-poor-wills: How do we save this declining bird? (Mike Ward, U of I NRES Professor and INHS Ornithologist)
10:45 - 11:00 BREAK
11:00 - 12:00 pm IFA Seed Collection Program (Tricia Bethke, Forest Pest Outreach Coordinator and IFA Vice President)
12:00 - 1:00 LUNCH
1:00 - 2:00 Afternoon Concurrent Session #1 (pick one of these three activities)
Indoor Option - Fall Beauties: Autumnal Wildflowers of Central Illinois (Jaimie Ellis, INHS Natural Areas Coordinator)
Outdoor Option A - Invasive Plant Identification and Control (Chris Evans, U of I Extension Forester)
Outdoor Option B - Agroforestry Tour Part 1 (2 hour tour) (Kaitie Adams, Savanna Institute Director)
2:00 - 3:00 Afternoon Concurrent Session #2 (pick one of these three activities)
Indoor Option - Galls (Tricia Bethke, Forest Pest Outreach Coordinator and IFA Vice President)
Outdoor Option A - Tree Identification Walk (Sarah Vogel, U of I Extension Horticulture Educator)
Outdoor Option B - Agroforestry Tour Part 2 (2 hour tour) (Kaitie Adams, Savanna Institute Director)
3:00 - 3:20 pm BREAK
3:20 - 4:20 pm Afternoon Concurrent Session #3 (pick one of these three activities)
Indoor Option A - Edible and Poisonous Mushrooms of Illinois (Andrew Miller, INHS Principal Mycologist)
Indoor Option B - You ‘Saw’ It Here First - A behind-the-scenes glimpse of the activities from a sawmill to a finished wood product for the home (Mary Kay & Mike Randall)
Outdoor Option - Alaska Chainsaw Mill Demonstration (Kevin Rhohling, Extension Research Technician & Chris Evans, Extension Forester)
4:20 - 4:40 - BREAK and Silent Auction Bidding
4:40 Silent Auction Ends
5:00 - 5:45 Annual Business Meeting
Saturday, September 23rd (Allerton Park Field Tour)
8:30 am - Meet at Field Tour Site
8:30 am - 11:30 am - Field Tour
Lodging: Attendees will be responsible for arranging their own lodging.
The camp has some rustic cabins with bunk beds that are available. Those who wish to stay in a cabin or tent camp at Memorial 4-H Camp will have an extra fee of $20 per night. For more information on this, please contact Zach DeVillez at zachd@illinois.edu.
Other options include the Allerton Park & Retreat Center, the Best Western in Monticello, and multiple options in Champaign.
Register: There is a registration fee of $40
