2025 Pollinator Week Activities

Published on

16 April 2025

McHenry County Region Pollinator Week 2025 Activities
June 16-22

This Year’s Pollinator Week – Join the Homegrown National Park Movement!

Want to become a biodiversity hero? Learn how planting natives and removing invasive species can make you a part of the Homegrown National Park movement. Come learn about this nationwide call-to-action with a short film, “What’s the Rush?” by renowned conservationist Doug Tallamy, followed by a presentation and Q&A with a local pollinator expert from one of the many conservation organizations in McHenry County that are co-sponsoring this event at libraries throughout our region. Read more at homegrownnationalpark.org. There will be a drawing for a pocket pollinator garden plant collection at each library event.

Also, there are additional outdoors events and celebrations you can join during Pollinator Week to learn about our native landscape and how it supports pollinators that are in peril and need your help.

Check out the events below!

Event	Date/Time
Color Our World Art Show at Genoa City Library, 126 Freeman St with Color Your Gardens for Pollinators display by Friends of Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge to kick off Pollinator Week	Saturday June 14 10 am-2 pm
What’s the Rush? film at Algonquin Eastgate Library, 115 Eastgate Dr	Monday June 16 2-3:30 pm
What’s the Rush? film at Harvard Diggins Library, 900 E McKinley St	Monday June 16 6-8 pm
What’s the Rush? film at McHenry County College Sustainability Center, 8900 Hwy 14, Crystal Lake	Tuesday June 17 1-2:30 pm
What’s the Rush? film at Woodstock Library, 414 W Judd St	Tuesday June 17 3:30-4:30 pm
What’s the Rush? film at Cary Library, 1606 Three Oaks Rd	Tuesday June 17 7-8:30 pm
What’s the Rush? film at Marengo Union Library, 19714 E Grant Hwy, Marengo	Wednesday June 18 10-11 am
What’s the Rush? film at Johnsburg Library, 3000 N Johnsburg Rd	Wednesday June 18 2-3:30 pm
Neighbors Helping Pollinators at Johnsburg schools pollinator garden, 2222 W Church St Learn how to make our community spaces more friendly to pollinators by joining the volunteers tending school gardens which serve as outdoor learning spaces. No experience necessary.	Wednesday June 18 3:30-5 pm Contact smallwatersnfp@yahoo.com to sign up and get details.
What’s the Rush? film at Nippersink Library, 5418 Hill Rd, Richmond	Wednesday June 18 6-7:30 pm
What’s the Rush? film at McHenry Library, 809 Front St, McHenry	Wednesday June 18 7 pm
What’s the Rush? film at Crystal Lake Library, 126 W Paddock St, Crystal Lake	Thursday June 19 6:30-8 pm
Pollinator Planting and Prowl at MCCD’s Boone Creek Conservation Area, 916 N Cold Springs Rd, Bull Valley You won’t want to miss this extra special Roaming Restoration Day at Boone Creek Conservation Area during National Pollinator Week where District staff will join us and we’ll learn how actions, powered by the community as part of MCCD’s stewardship/ restoration volunteer program, are impacting pollinators in positive ways. Team up with a dedicated crew of volunteers as we plant pollinator-friendly plugs in the area we have been restoring under the oaks at the trailhead. We will feast on pizza with gratitude for the many ingredients brought to us by pollinators and end our time with an informal prowl in search of pollinators.	Friday June 20, 10 am-1 pm Register here for this family-friendly event.
Neighbors Helping Pollinators at Harrison Elementary School pollinator garden, 6809 McCullom Lake Rd, Wonder Lake Learn how to make our community spaces more friendly to pollinators by joining the volunteers tending school gardens which serve as outdoor learning spaces. No experience necessary.	Friday June 20 6-8 pm Contact smallwatersnfp@yahoo.com to sign up and get details.
Boloria Meadows Nature Preserve Walk, Street parking at 7219 Millburne Court, Bull Valley Join The Land Conservancy of McHenry County for a family friendly butterfly and pollinator walk. The preserve contains nearly 60 acres of high-quality restored wetlands, prairies, and oak woodlands. With over 150 species of wildflowers, Boloria is a haven for over 30 species of native butterflies as well as many species of bees and other pollinators. One unusual butterfly species that should be abundant in June is the Baltimore Checkerspot that uses the Turtlehead flower as its host plant. The walk will cover roughly one mile of gently rolling terrain.	Saturday June 21, 10-11:30 am Register at www.conservemc.org 30 people max
What’s the Rush? film at Huntley Library, 11100 Ruth Rd	Saturday June 21, 2-3 pm
Pollinator Week Celebration at McHenry County Conservation District’s Prairie View Education Center, 2112 Behan Rd, Crystal Lake Did you know that along with bees and butterflies, beetles, moths, and flies are also pollinators to this region? Explore their life cycle, how they pollinate, and what you can do to support them now and into the future. Let’s celebrate the last day of Pollinator Week with this family-friendly event with crafts, a guided nature hike, and games! Indoor and outdoor options available. Dress for the weather.	Sunday June 22, 1-4 pm