The Macon County Conservation District is well into their busy summer, hosting various camps and programs, nature classes, and the summer concert series every other Sunday. Alysia Callison, Director of Program Services is especially excited about the reintroduction of the Star Lab Portable Planetarium, which can serve area schools and libraries and of course the MCCD for education into the stars.

Callison says that the district utilized a similar portable planetarium in years past but the Star Labs planetarium will be ordered new. The new educational toy purchase was made possible by a donation of $50,000 from the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation.

Evening programs at Rock Springs Nature Center regularly focus on the night sky and constellations, now with the inflatable planetarium, students will no longer need to use their imagination.

In other developing projects for the MCCD, a grant-driven initiative will provide an indoor/outdoor learning center where students will have even more opportunities to connect with nature.

Learn more about the summer programs and what's next for the MCCD at maconcountyconservation.org.

Alysia Callison appeared as a guest on the WTIM Morning Show.