Twenty years ago, Friends of the Chicago River started Chicago River Day with 25 volunteers who dragged shopping carts, mattresses, and plastic bags from its banks. Today, this inspiring event has grown to 4,000 volunteers at 65 locations along the Chicago River.

Celebrate this amazing milestone through Chicago River Day 20/20 – . . . → Read More: Chicago River Day 20/20 still has many events before River Day!]]>

__________

Explore Stewardship Across Chicago What better way to . . . → Read More: Earth Day is Just Around the Corner, but You Can Celebrate Every Day]]> Celebrate Earth Day by attending one of the many upcoming stewardship events coming up soon!   Can’t make it?  Check out our Event Calendar, which will be updated with exciting opportunities from stewardship events to festivals and everything in between to celebrate Earth Day all year long.

__________

Explore Stewardship Across Chicago
What better way to celebrate Earth Day than to get outside and clean up Chicago?  Events occur all month long. Register, if requested, with the event host and send any questions to the event contact.  Most sites offer gloves, bags and other necessary materials.  Please bring your own snacks and water bottle.  Be sure to dress appropriately for the weather and activity.  Comfortable shoes that can get dirty are recommended.  All events are kid-friendly – feel free to bring the whole family!

Contact svergara@thesca.org

Earth Day Celebration at Washington Park

It has been an amazing 6 years and we look forward to many more years of grassroots community development and environmental stewardship throughout Chicago.

Want to . . . → Read More: The Chicago Conservation Corps Six-Year Report]]> Check out the Chicago Conservation Corps’ six-year report here. We have come a long way since 2006 and we want to share the memories and impacts with you.

It has been an amazing 6 years and we look forward to many more years of grassroots community development and environmental stewardship throughout Chicago.

Want to join our environmental leadership network? There is still space available for our Spring 2012 Environmental Leadership Training Series. During the training, you’ll learn from community and environmental leaders about urban environmental challenges and opportunities for change; then you’ll lead an environmental service project in your community with C3 support and resources.

To apply for the C3 Leadership Training Series, you must be a City of Chicago resident and attend one orientation. The Spring 2012 training will be held at the Chicago Center for Green Technology, 445 N. Sacramento Blvd, on Wednesdays from 5:30 p.m. – 8:15 p.m. on April 25, May 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30. Attend an orientation in April to learn more.

• Tuesday, April 10, 6 p.m. – 7 p.m., Chicago Center for Green Technology, 445 N Sacramento Blvd

• Wednesday, April 11, 12 p.m. – 1 p.m., City Hall, 121 N La Salle St

• Thursday, April 12, 6 p.m. – 7 p.m., Washington Park Fieldhouse, 5531 S. Martin Luther King Dr.

To sign up for an orientation or for more information, visit www.conservationcorps.org or contact C3 at (312) 743-9283 or conservation@cityofchicago.org. A $75 fee covers course participation and project support. Financial assistance is available upon request.

We are now accepting applications! www.surveymonkey.com/spring2012leaderapplication Remember that you must also attend an orientation listed above to participate.

Are you a teacher or know a teacher at a CPS School?  Then consider our Student Clubs program!

Club projects include recycling, worm composting, water conservation, and anti-idling campaigns. Teachers involved receive a stipend, materials, project guides, training and other resources.  Learn more about the program here.

Attend one of the orientation dates below to learn more:

For questions or to reserve a seat, please contact (312) 743-9283 or conservation@cityofchicago.org.

To apply you must be a Chicago Public School teacher (6th – 12th grades) and attend an orientation.  If you are accepted into the program, you must attend three workshops in the 2012-2013 school year, held on Tuesday evenings at the Chicago Center for Green Technology, 445 N. Sacramento Blvd, Chicago, IL 60612.

We hope you will join us!

Chicago Park District Rainbow Beach Workday

Saturday, March 24th

10 a.m. – 12 p.m. (Note New Time)

77th St. and the Lake (Meet at the entrance to the Nature Area, southeast end of the beach.)

Contact the steward at alison.anastasio@gmail.com for more information or to register.

In the mid . . . → Read More: Chicago Park District Rainbow Beach Workday, 3/24, 10AM]]> Explore Dune Restoration

Chicago Park District Rainbow Beach Workday

Saturday, March 24th

10 a.m. – 12 p.m. (Note New Time)

77th St. and the Lake (Meet at the entrance to the Nature Area, southeast end of the beach.)

Contact the steward at alison.anastasio@gmail.com for more information or to register.

In the mid 1990s, beach ridges began to form naturally in the eastern section of Rainbow Beach. Soon, dune species began to colonize the newly formed beach ridges. Recognizing the site’s potential to form a natural dune ecosystem, the Chicago Park District installed protective fencing in 2001 to protect this developing nature area from excessive foot traffic. Attend this workday (the first one of the year!) and help this unique and young habitat thrive.  Please dress for the weather and bring water. Gloves and other materials will be provided.

Restoration Workday at North Park Village Nature Center

Sunday, March 18th

9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

5801 N. Pulaski

No registration necessary. Call 312-744-5472 for more information.

Enjoy a day in the woods of the North Park Village.  Help remove invasive plants like buckthorn; plant and/or remove trees; and learn about . . . → Read More: Restoration Workday at North Park Village Nature Center, 3/18, 9AM]]> Explore Garden Stewardship

Restoration Workday at North Park Village Nature Center

Sunday, March 18th

9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

5801 N. Pulaski

No registration necessary. Call 312-744-5472 for more information.

Enjoy a day in the woods of the North Park Village.  Help remove invasive plants like buckthorn; plant and/or remove trees; and learn about native landscapes.  Tools, gloves, and refreshments will be provided.  Be sure to check out the Nature Center after the workday for kid-friendly activities and educational information.

Working Bikes Cooperative is a non-profit organization in Chicago devoted to the motto: Reduce Reuse Recycle. They collect neglected bikes and tune them up to reuse & sell. The revenue is used to ship the remaining bikes to different corners of planet earth so that a poor . . . → Read More: Dirty Hands at Working Bikes Cooperative]]> Content Creator, including photographs: C3 Blogger Tom from www.letUbeU.com

Working Bikes Cooperative is a non-profit organization in Chicago devoted to the motto: Reduce Reuse Recycle. They collect neglected bikes and tune them up to reuse & sell. The revenue is used to ship the remaining bikes to different corners of planet earth so that a poor person in Tanzania, Guatemala, or Peru can get to work and make money to feed his family.

Stored in a warehouse, they appear as a sea of bikes. There are old bikes, and older bikes. Rusty bikes, and dirty bikes. Bikes without wheels, and bikes with banana seats. Some bikes are blue, others have a white basket. Everywhere you look…bikes, bikes, bikes.

On Tuesday January 31, two trainees with the Chicago Conservation Corps (myself & Ben) attended Volunteer Night, which happens every Tuesday night. We immediately noticed the benefits of volunteering at Working Bikes, including:

1. Free food

2. Learning the skills to fix my own bike

3. Finding inspiration from the numerous posters (left)

Ben and I removed axels from tires for 2 hours while other volunteers fixed chains, polished metal, and attached pedals. All of these bikes are on their way to helping a good cause. Unfortunately, the demand for bikes is much higher than the rate at which they can be repaired, so volunteers are in high demand. Volunteering is simple. Go to the store or call during business hours and notify a staff member that you wish to lend a helping hand.

We want to warn you though, being kind can sometimes be dirty. Bike repair is accompanied by oil & grease, so wear appropriate clothing and prepare for dirty hands. Thank you for reading, and don’t forget, Reduce Reuse Recycle.

Explore Bike Maintenance

Tuesday, January 31st

5 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Working Bikes, 2434 S. Western Ave

No registration necessary.  For more information, contact volunteer@workingbikes.org.

Come out and learn about bike maintenance at Working Bikes, a local non-profit that diverts . . . → Read More: Working Bikes Cooperative Volunteer Night, Jan 31st, 5PM]]>

Explore Bike Maintenance

Tuesday, January 31st

5 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Working Bikes, 2434 S. Western Ave

No registration necessary.  For more information, contact volunteer@workingbikes.org.

Come out and learn about bike maintenance at Working Bikes, a local non-profit that diverts bicycles from the waste stream by repairing them for sale and charity.  Have a fun-filled night and learn how to keep any bike running smoothly.

Explore Outdoor Stewardship

Monday, January 16th

Whistler Woods, S Halsted St & W 134th St.

9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

RSVP to Mary Eileen Sullivan at sullivanme@fotp.org.

Join Friends of the Parks and Calumet Is My Backyard (C.I.M.B.Y.) at Whistler Woods to . . . → Read More: Featured Event! Friends of the Parks MLK Jr. Service Day at Whistler Woods, Jan 16th, 9AM]]>

Explore Outdoor Stewardship

Monday, January 16th

Whistler Woods, S Halsted St & W 134th St.

9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

RSVP to Mary Eileen Sullivan at sullivanme@fotp.org.

Join Friends of the Parks and Calumet Is My Backyard (C.I.M.B.Y.) at Whistler Woods to celebrate Martin Luther King Day by providing stewardship work.  Volunteers will be doing various outdoor stewardship activities to restore the woods.  Dress in layers and be prepared to get your hands dirty.