Shawnee Group Programs - Educational and Free!

Free and Open to all!

Upcoming Programs, Shawnee Group

NOTE: Start time at 7 PM!
Location (unless otherwise noted): 217 East Main, Carbondale, IL. Entrance is in the alley behind Consume, Buckwater Brew Works and Holt Tire, through the blue door. The front door is locked! Ample parking is accessible from the alley and from Monroe Street (between Washington and Marion).
Do also consider other Illinois Sierra groups’ virtual presentations, as well as our own, listed on www.sctrips.org.

FALL 2026: SHAWNEE GROUP SIERRA CLUB MEMBER PROGRAMS

Sunday, September 20, 2026, 2 to 4 pm

Event: Kickoff for Sierra Club’s Support of Julie Fortier’s Campaign for the IL 12 Congressional Seat!
Location: Murphysboro’s Youth and Recreation Center, 1818 Walnut St, Murphysboro, IL (near the Sally Logan Public Library). Map of the location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/1X5BFWbMLKd6ZHwn6?g_st=ac

Sierra Club is excited to announce our endorsement of Julie Fortier to represent us in Congress and invite you to come to our kickoff event. You’ll have the chance to meet Julie and hear her speak about her positions on the environment and climate change -- including the multiple threats to our water, air, and quality of life posed by data centers. There will then be plenty of time for Q & A, enjoying the light refreshments, and learning how you can help Get Out the Vote for Julie! The qualities she will bring to representing us stand in stark contrast to those of her opponent, incumbent Mike Bost: her strong background in science, her honesty and forward-looking stance on the issues, and her commitment, demonstrated in her many town halls to date, to listening and working hard to forward the interests of folks in the 12th district. We look forward to seeing you at the gathering for Julie on the afternoon of September 20th! Contact Jane Cogie (jane.cogie@gmail.com) on any questions you may have about this event.
 

Thursday, October 8, 2026, 7 pm

Speaker: F. Agustin Jimenz, SIU Associate Professor of Zoology 
Presentation: Swift armadillos: Neo-natives herald the dispersal of heir creeping parasites
Location: Carbondale Township Hall Meeting Room, 217 E. Main, Carbondale, IL

Agustin Jimenz, SIU Associate Professor of Zoology, will present on armadillos and the parasites that “hitchhike” with their hosts northward. He will detail the effects of the nine-banded armadillo and other neo-natives in the expansion of neotropical parasites across North America. Since changing environments change the chance of infections in mammals from parasites, his research findings help enumerate the factors that may explain infection and its transmission. Though his talk will focus mainly on armadillos, Agustin, as a naturalist who documents the distribution of parasites associated with mammals, will also offer the worm’s perspective in their symbiotic relationship with their armadillo host.

Thursday, November 12, 2026, 7 pm

Speaker: Kevin Rohling, Extension Specialist, Forest Management & Ecology, University of Illinois Champaign Urbana, Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences, College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences
Presentation: Conservation Connections: Forests, Moths, and Management
Location: Carbondale Township Hall Meeting Room, 217 E. Main, Carbondale, IL

Forests provide critical habitat for moths and other insects that, in turn, serve as prey for many species of conservation concern, including several bat and bird species. Forest ecosystems also benefit from active management practices like prescribed fire, invasive species control, and forest stand improvement. This presentation presents results from a study exploring how forest management influences Lepidoptera, their predators, and their interactions. In addition, the presentation will offer practical tips for improving habitat and engaging in citizen science initiatives to monitor changes in moth occurrences over time.

Meet Fellow Shawnee Group Members for Dinner! CANCELED ~COVID-19

The Shawnee Group meets at a local restaurant before each monthly meeting for an hour of socializing and relaxation. New faces are most welcome and we would love to have you join us at any time! Call (618) 549-4673 for more information about group dinners.