Stewardship Work Days
Anyone wishing to participate must RSVP to Stewardship Coordinator Pete Jackson. Pete will send you directions and specific instructions for the day.
Email: Pete Jackson, Stewardship Coordinator
Call with Questions: 224-612-1803
Please note: Any last minute changes due to weather, etc. will not be posted here. Make sure that you are on Pete’s phone or email list to get the most up to date changes.
IMPORTANT:
Scroll down this page to view
Checklist
Work Site Notes
Directions & Maps
Chainsaw Information
Hope to see you out there!
Upcoming Work Days:
Stewardship Update
The Friends have set a goal of completing the clearing of the two oak savannas we are working on this fall/winter/spring, one in Tamarack West and one in Tamarack Farms. These two savannas total 5 acres, and this is an admittedly ambitious goal! We will see how close we can get. The reason for this is to set the stage for the next phase of these restorations, treatment of the woody respouts and new seedlings that will erupt as early as this spring in the newly-opened savannas. The resprout work needs to be done during the coming growing season. We’ve made great progress, but more work lies ahead. Thanks to all who have contributed mightily so far!
Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026
Time change to 9 AM to beat the heat! – 1 PM
Tamarack Farms
Scroll down this page for map
This workday is another joint workday in partnership with our friends at Openlands.
We will continue clearing along the south edge of the savanna hill we have been working on in Tamarack Farms. Every time we pull back the curtain of invasive trees and shrubs, this beautiful grove of oaks becomes more visible! We need experienced chainsawyers with the full regalia of PPE along with many brush haulers. We’ll take it slow and monitor the heat. It will be vitally important for you to bring some drinking water. I will have some extra water on hand.
Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026
9:00 – Noon
TBD
Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026
10:00 – 1 PM
TBD
Sunday, October 4, 2026
9:00 – Noon
TBD
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
10:00 – 1:00 PM
TBD
Saturday, October 24, 2026
9:00 – Noon
TBD
Tuesday, October 27, 2026
10:00 – 1:00 PM
TBD
Waiver required for working on
Refuge Lands.
This form only has to be signed ONCE per year.
2026 Combination Waiver for
Friends of Hackmatack NWR,
Openlands &
The Conservation Fund
Checklist:
◻ Wear clothes and shoes that can get dirty,
◻ Bring your own drinking water.
◻ Protective clothing (long pants, not leggings) recommended.
◻ Be sure to check your email before you head out to make sure the event is on. If there is no email by 8 AM, we are on!
We’ll provide workgloves, hand tools, safety glasses and a snack.
If you are under the age of 18, you will need to bring a waiver form signed by a parent or guardian. This is a different waiver form than the one we have used at other, non-refuge sites, and it is a bit complicated, but as long as we get the signature of a parent or guardian you will be fine. (You do not need to sign, just your parent/guardian.) Note that some parts of this form are left blank. Take particular care to ensure your parent or guardian completes sections 1-19 and 28-36 of the OF-301a Volunteer Service Agreement:
→ contact information,
→ parental consent section
→ emergency contact section
→ parent/guardian signature
Special Message for Chainsawyers and Others Cutting Brush: McHenry County Conservation District staff occasionally do work on Hackmatack parcels (both on and off refuge) through a memorandum of understanding with the Fish and Wildlife Service. Often this involves the use of machines such as a skid steer that can bunch up un-burned brush left laying around in small piles. MCCD staff has had problems with high stumps, as this interferes with the ability to drive the skid steer across the land, in fact it can give them quite a jolt. In addition, their skid steer can not pick up short pieces of wood, i.e. less than about 6 feet in length, which fall through the arms of the skid steer. Therefore, they have asked us to cut stumps as low as possible, and also to leave as many stems 6 feet or longer as possible. Length is not an issue when working off refuge and when we are planning on burning our own piles. Also, big logs cannot be easily moved when left long, so some larger pieces will have to be cut short. Just a reminder as we want to work in a way that supports our partner, MCCD given the great work they do for us! Thanks!
Work Site Notes & Directions:
BLACKMON TRACT
Tamarack Core
9613 US Route 12
Richmond, IL 60071
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/mYpisVgXSPWxT57E8
Coordinates: 42°27’58.7″N 88°18’29.6″W
Please DO NOT try to pull in on the West side of Route 12 – there is no on-site parking.
Parking is available directly across from the Blackmon site on the east side of Route 12. Park in the Richmond Village Hall lot, 5601 Hunter Dr. The site’s entrance driveway is located on the west side of Route 12, just west of the McHenry County Conservation District’s Prairie Trail. Take care crossing busy Route 12. The entrance will be marked with a ‘Hackmatack Workday’ sign.
OTREBLA SITE
Queen Anne Prairie Core
3314 Route 47
Woodstock, IL 60098
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/HYtaz7BdoJUq3nKz8
Coordinates:
42.371179, -88.440046
Access is on private landowner property, on the East side of Route 47, one mile north of Charles Rd. Please park near the radio cell tower.
This site is owned by Openlands, and is not open to the public. Individuals are only allowed with approved personnel.
PERRICONE-SCHAID TRACT
Queen Anne Prairie Core
Greenwood Township, IL
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/nFzYmW16X7edWhsFA
Coordinates: 42°24’30.4″N 88°26’19.3″W
Parking lot is located southwest of the intersection of Route 47 and Thayer Rd.
SPHAR TRACT
Alden Sedge Meadow Core
15805 Hebron Rd.
Harvard, IL 60033
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/JFVF6HgibX9mxdGA6
GPS Coordinates: 42.47921, -88.50691
Gravel parking lot.
SCHAID SAVANNA
Queen Anne Prairie Core
Greenwood Township, IL
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/FRqrh1MpoKbhQ35X6
Coordinates: 42.4068644, -88.4382569
The access to the site is via a small lane off of Route 47. There are actually two lanes off of Route 47 at this location; turn into the lane that is furthest south. (The north lane is private and goes into some residences.) The turn-in lane is a bit hard to see, but look for the Hackmatack signs!
The small lane into the site is located on the west side of Route 47, 4.6 miles south of Route 173 in Hebron, and 6.1 miles north of Route 120 in Woodstock. The turn-in lane is also 0.5 miles south of Thayer Road and just south of the Hackmatack parking lot on Route 47 and the bridge.
TAMARACK FARMS: The Conservation Fund Site
Tamarack Core
6140-6164 Co Hwy 36 (Tryon Grove Rd.)
Richmond, IL 60071
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/vzsRP4RGDXeDaEvN6
GPS Coordinates: 42.44844 -88.32401
From the intersection of Routes 12, 31 and Tryon Grove Road, proceed west on Tryon Grove Road for 1 mile and just past the ditch and guard rails look for a small turn-in on your right, and turn in there. There is a small asphalt apron that leads to a grassy road between two lines of trees. Parking is along this grassy road. We should be able to park along both sides of this narrow lane.
This site is owned by private owners, and is not open to the public. Individuals are only allowed with approved personnel. Signed waiver must be on file – see the link in the announcement above for The Conservation Fund Waiver.
TAMARACK SOUTHEAST
Greenwood Corridor
Corner of Holian Way & Tryon Grove Rd.
Richmond, IL 60071
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/x8unGk7UqruhrUVR6
Coordinates: 42.45044, -88.30931
The site is the oak savanna north of the Richmond-Burton High School. This grove is at the corner of Holian Way and Tryon Grove Road, just west of Route 31 in Richmond.
Look for the ‘Hackmatack Workday’ sign.
TAMARACK WEST
Greenwood Corridor
6200-6676 Co Hwy 36 (Tryon Grove Rd.)
Richmond, IL 60071
Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/Zgg6BQdGasWRR6J56
Coordinates: 42.446541, -88.328512
This site is located on the south side of Tryon Grove Road 1.2 miles west of the intersection of Routes 12 and 31 in Richmond, IL.
The entrance will be marked with a ‘Hackmatack Workday’ sign.
TRYON GROVE TRACT
Tamarack Core
7008 E. Tryon Grove Rd.
Richmond, IL 60071
Google Maps: https://tinyurl.com/HackmatackNWR
Coordinates: 42.445496, -88.332488
This site is on the north side of Tryon Grove Road, 1.5 miles west of the intersection with Routes 12 and 31. If you are familiar with our Tamarack West site, the Tryon Grove site is across
the road and a bit further west (and on the north side of Tryon Grove Road). The entrance will be marked with a ‘Hackmatack Workday’ sign.
TURNER TRACT
Goose Pond Corridor
N541 County Trunk H
Genoa City, WI 53128
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/SaS7QdBYEUW4e7277
GPS Coordinates: 42.511475, -88.339527
This site is located northwest of Genoa City Wisconsin, 6 minutes from Richmond, IL.
Follow U.S. Route 12 out of Richmond, and stay west as it turns into Walworth St. (do NOT take the exit to follow Route 12 to Lake Geneva).
Take Walworth St. into Genoa City and turn right (north) on Freeman St.
Follow County Highway H out of Genoa City. After the last houses on the left, watch for the small parking lot with the Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge sign.
Friends of Hackmatack NWR
P.O. Box 413
Richmond, IL 60071
friendsofhackmatacknwr@gmail.com
Call 262-448-3558 to listen for the latest updates on upcoming activities. If you need to reach us, please leave a message and we will return your call.
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