Giving Tuesday

Giving Tuesday

Help us preserve!

11/29/2022 | Pat Cain, Public Program/Visitor Services Coordinator

Give to Middle Fork River Forest Preserve, Illinois’ only International Dark Sky Park, to help preserve the dark skies, ensure safe habitat for the invaluable local animals that inhabit it, and to help educate the public.

https://secure.qgiv.com/for/darkskytrail/

"Plants and animals depend on Earth’s daily cycle of light and dark to govern life-sustaining behaviors such as reproduction, nourishment, sleep and protection from predators.

Scientific evidence suggests that artificial light at night has negative and deadly effects on many creatures including amphibians, birds, mammals, insects and plants."

https://www.darksky.org/light-pollution/wildlife/

Middle Fork River Forest Preserve International Dark Sky Park acts as a nighttime refuge for wildlife in the midst of significant skyglow from nearby cities such as Urbana, Champaign and Rantoul.

Middle Fork River Forest Preserve is dedicated to protecting natural darkness, reducing skyglow and light pollution in the area. This ensures that these animals have a safe, sustainable habitat, that is free from artificial light.

We are dedicated to educating the community about why preserving is so important.

In July, the Champaign County Forest Preserve District received a $ 294,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) Grant Program to add a trail and amenities. Part of these amenities will include educational programs for the public about the importance of preserving dark skies for wildlife.

This Giving Tuesday, we are asking for your help!

We need to raise funds to match the grant!

Help us raise funds to make the trail and amenities project a reality.

https://secure.qgiv.com/for/darkskytrail/