The IACD Conference will return February 20th & 21st, 2025. Our conferences are an intimate gathering of friends and professionals dedicated to conservation management and education. You are invited to join us at the 2025 IACD Conference for presentations that matter, to network with other professionals, and have fun with like minded friends.
Thursday, February 20, 2025
8-8:30 a.m.
Pre-conference Workshop Check-in (Great Hall)
8:30-11:30a.m.
Judith Wallace- Pre-conference Hike (Meet at Great Hall)
12:30-1p.m.
Conference Check-in
1-1:15p.m.
Welcome to the 2025 IACD Conference (Starved Rock Room)
1:15-2:30p.m.
Keynote Presentation:
2:45-3:35p.m.
Breakout Sessions I
3:45-4:35p.m.
Breakout Sessions II
5:15-6p.m.
Hotel Check-in and Cash Bar Opens (Great Hall)
6-7p.m.
Dinner (Great Hall)
7-8p.m.
Evening Speaker (Starved Rock Room)
8-10p.m.
Networking Social (Great Hall)
Bar Open Until Midnight
Friday, February 21, 2025
8:15-9:15a.m.
Breakfast (Great Hall)
9:15-9:30a.m.
Hotel Check-out
9:30-10:30a.m.
Breakout Sessions III
10:45-11:45a.m.
Breakout Sessions IV
11:45-Noon
Wrap-up, Evaluations, Door Prizes, Depart
12:15-1:30p.m.
IACD Annual Meeting
Keynote Speaker- Chris Helzer "Prairie Square Meter Project"
Breakout Sessions I: 2:45-3:35p.m.
Chris Helzer- “Strategic Approaches to Invasive Species Management”
Cynthia Kanner-“The Transformation of PSCC: The Story of the BIG Change for the Prairie State’s Land Conservation Community”
Greg Spyreas- “The History of Fire (and Vegetation) in Illinois”
Breakout Sessions II: 3:45-4:35p.m.
Mike Woolery-“Cutting Through the Shade: Using timber harvesting to manage oak forests” (Starved Rock Room)
Oliver Luker- “The Uncertainty Principle: Are Payments for Ecosystem Services a Benefit, or a Curse?” (LaSalle Room)
Josh Clark-“Restoration Roundtable Discussion” (Utica Room)
Evening Speaker: 7-8p.m. (Starved Rock Room)
Cindy Crosby- "Chasing Dragonflies: A Natural, Cultural, and Personal History"
Breakout Sessions III: 9:30-10:30a.m.
Ed Warden- “The Moss Problem, Chicagoland’s Forgotten Flora” (LaSalle Room)
Hannah Griffis- “Water Quality Monitoring in Illinois: Community Science in Action” (Starved Rock Room)
Catherine Dana-“Conserving the Natural Wonder of Illinois Cicadas” (Utica Room)
Breakout Sessions IV: 10:45-11:45a.m.
Stephanie Beilke- “Guiding Migratory Bird Stopover Habitat Conservation in the Illinois Coastal Zone” (Utica Room)
Volunteer Round-Table-Amy Doll, Mark Freedlund, Jessie Crow-Mermel and Brooke Thurau (LaSalle Room)
Allison Sacerdote-Velat- “Smooth Greensnake Conservation and Response to Grassland Management in Northern Illinois (Starved Rock Room)
2025 IACD Conference
February 20 & 21
Registration Now Open!
Starved Rock State Park
Working to Preserve and Protect Illinois' Flora and Fauna
The past conferences have been incredibly popular, so be sure to register early to ensure your spot. When you attend IACD conferences, remember, overnight accommodations are separate from conference fees and are the responsibility of the attendee.
Link to Register: https://cvent.me/0OzQ3e
Rates and deadlines will be as follows:
$150 full conference registration
Registration is non-refundable. If you find you cannot attend, you may request to transfer your registration to someone else.
Registration Issues or Questions contact Ryan at rsolomon@stcparks.org
Lodging
Conference host lodging will once again be at the Starved Rock Conference Center and Lodge. Lodging reservations are separate from your conference registration. Visit Starvedrocklodge.com or call 815-667-4211. Room block is under IACD.
2025 IACD Conference