News

New! Allerton Elderhostel Spring Break

Allerton Spring Break looks a little different this year! Elderhostel Spring Break (ESB) 2020 is reserved for current and past Allerton volunteers. Participants will stay overnight at Allerton for the week, volunteering their time on projects that protect and improve the park while experiencing all that this unique setting has to offer. There will be a variety of projects throughout the week, all designed to preserve and improve the Park. Some examples of previous projects include: painting, simple woodworking, invasive plant removal, trail maintenance, and garden cleanup. Most projects will take place outdoors. The week will include optional social activities like Movie in the Mansion, a guided nature hike, and cook-out over a fire pit. Get more information and apply here.

New Visitor Center - We Want Your Input

In November, we hosted a public meeting to talk about a new Visitor Center at Allerton. The purpose of this meeting was to give the public an opportunity to express what they would like to see in the upgraded building. We would like to continue the conversation and hear more of your thoughts. If you want to share your ideas for Allerton’s new Visitor Center, please fill out this survey. We appreciate your input!

Volunteers Needed for Summer Day Camp

Summer Day Camp registration opens Monday, February 17. Camp runs June 1 - August 7. We need lots of helping hands for campers ages 3-12. If you are interested in helping, please contact Mindy Brand at brand@illinois.edu or 217-333-3287.

Congrats to Melissa!

Congrats and well wishes to Melissa Chitwood on her retirement from the Allerton business office! Melissa has been employed with the University for 30 years, and 15 of those years were spent at Allerton. Melissa plans to enjoy her retirement by spending time with her family, gardening, and volunteering.

New Volunteer Portal

Allerton's new volunteer portal Better Impact went into effect January 1. This system will make it easier for volunteers to apply, sign up to help, and keep track of their hours.

Volunteer opportunities are now available for sign-up within the portal. Reach out to Katie at kmblacke@illinois.edu if you have any questions when creating your profile or signing up for jobs. Here are some helpful links if you need more assistance when setting up your profile.

Training & Opportunities

Orange Trail Training | Second Saturday of each month | 9:30-11:30am

This training will familiarize you with the Orange Trail at Allerton and prepare you to lead nature tours. Training is led by Allerton volunteer and Master Naturalist, Carol Dunn. Training will be held in the Visitor Center Auditorium and will include indoor activities, handouts and power points as well as trail walks, so dress for the weather and bring a water bottle. To sign up for this training you must have a profile create in our new volunteer portal, Better Impact. If you haven't done that yet, you can do it here.