March Programs at Giant City State Park
Date/Time
Date(s) - 03/07/2026 - 03/21/2026
12:00 am
Location
Giant City State Park
Categories
Buds and Bark Winter Tree I.D
Saturday, March 7th
1-3pm
MAKANDA, Ill. –Identifying trees without leaves is a snap when you know what to look for. Join MDC Community
Forester, Jennifer Behnken, as she shares easy and fun tips to discover trees using their buds and bark. We will be
hiking the 1 mile Giant City Nature Trail. This program is free and open to the public but space is limited and
registration is required. For more information or to register please call 618-457-4836.
Accessible Birding Hike
Sunday, March 8th
9:30-11:30am
MAKANDA, IL – With the vegetation out of the way, it’s a great time to look for birds in Giant City! Join Vicki LangMendenhall, park volunteer and Southern Illinois Audubon Society member, as she guides participants along the
1/3 mile accessible Post Oak Trail. This program is free and open to the public but space is limited and registration
is required. Binoculars will be on loan for anyone who would like them. Please call 618-457-4836 to register or for
more information.
What Frog is That?
Sunday, March 8th
1-2pm
MAKANDA, IL – It may be chilly out but spring is right around the corner! Join renowned Biologist John Palis as we
get a jumpstart on warmer weather by learning how to identify the frogs of southern Illinois. This will be a free
indoor presentation with limited seating. No live animals will be present. Please call 618-457-4836 to register
Glaciers End Hike
Saturday, March 14th
10am-12:30pm
MAKANDA, IL – The Illinoisan glacier pushed farther south in Illinois than anywhere in North America, including
encroaching on the Northern edges of Giant City Park, reforming the landscape across our region with plentiful
evidence of that event that remains today. Bring your lunch and join Steve Gariepy, experiential education
specialist with the SIUC STEM Education Research Center for an interpretive hike to Glacier’s End!
Primer to Understanding Grasses and Sedges
Sunday, March 15th
2-3pm
MAKANDA, IL – Join local Botanist, Chris Benda, as he discusses how to identify the differences between some
common grasses and sedges of southern Illinois. Please call 618-457-4836 to register.
Egg-cellent Natural Dyes
Saturday, March 21st
1:30-3pm
MAKANDA, IL – Dip. Dunk. Wrap. Any way you do it, there are some really egg-citing ways to naturally dye eggs.
Kara and Anne will help you eggs-plore different techniques and dyes that will get you hopping into the holiday
spirit. Don’t forget to register soon, this is an egg-clusive and egg-cellent workshop you don’t want to miss! This
program is free and open to the public but requires registration. Please call 618-457-4836 to register.
Giant City State Park is administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The mission of the Illinois
Department of Natural Resources is to manage, conserve and protect Illinois’ natural, recreational and cultural
resources, further the public’s understanding and appreciation of those resources, and promote the education,
science and public safety of Illinois’ natural resources for present and future generations.