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Acorn/Nut Donations: Drop-off Times, McHenry County
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Do you have acorns in your backyard? Consider donating them! Your acorn/nut donations will contribute to reforestation efforts and our ongoing research on oak reproduction. Thanks to your donations, we’ve already planted over 15,000 acorns this fall!

 Export to Your Calendar 9/10/2026 to 9/25/2026
When: September 10, 12, 23 and 24
See below for times
Where: Lost Valley Visitor Center at specific times - see below for details
6310 Harts Rd
Ringwood, Illinois  60072
United States
Contact: Jackie Bero, McHenry County Conservation District
JBero@mccdistrict.org

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We are most interested in oak acorns (any native species) but would also like hickory nuts and hazelnuts if you find them. If you see acorns/nuts on the ground, it means they are ripe and can be collected from the ground or directly from any low branches if available. Hazelnuts are ready to collect when the husks are turning brown. 

Drop off donations at the Lost Valley Visitor Center, 6310 Harts Rd, Ringwood, IL. A staff member will be available in the lobby to receive donations at these times:

  • Sat, Sept 12 – 1pm-4pm

  • Wed, Sept 23rd – 4pm-7pm

  • Thurs, Sept 24th – 4pm-7pm

What if I want to donate acorns, but can’t make the drop-off times? You may bring acorn/nut donations to one of our Community Conservation restoration days and the staff member in charge will get it to the right place.

Mondays - 11am-1pm - Nippersink Conservation Community (Contact Jackie Bero at jbero@mccdistrict.org)

Thursdays - 3pm-5pm - Cary Conservation Community (Contact Kevin Scheiwiller at kscheiwiller@mccdistrict.org)

Fridays - 1pm-3pm - Woodstock Conservation Community (Contact Elyse Leannais eleannais@mccdistrict.org) 

If none of the above times works for you OR if you have a large donation (for example, size of a garbage can), contact Jackie Bero at jbero@mccdistrict.org to coordinate a drop-off.  Times will be subject to staff availability and may be limited.

We will keep the deadline of Sept 25th as the last possible time to drop off any acorns, as we will be doing our final round of planting after that.

Additional information: 

Please make sure to:

  • Thoroughly dry and bag acorns/nuts prior to dropping them off. 

  • Keep each species separate. If you're unsure of the species, place a leaf from the tree in the bag.

  • Donate only from naturally occurring trees within McHenry County. 

  • Note the date collected and general location from which the donation was collected. 

Where Can I Collect?

  • Please collect only from tree/shrubs on your own property or with the permission of the landowner.

  • Collecting along public trails and parking lots of McHenry County Conservation District sites is allowed. (Note: You may not go off-trail or collect any other species, and yes, our police stop to check!)

Tips for Collection:

  • Look for trees overhanging driveways, roads, or mowed grass. It will be easier to find the acorns/nuts!

  • Bur oak acorns should fall in time for the August drop-off times, and white oak acorns should fall in time for the September drop-offs.

  • If you don’t know which oak it is, send us pictures! Questions can be sent to Tom Simpson at TSimpson@mccdistrict.org.