Chicago Conservation Corps Blog » Land

Volunteer with the Water Bottle Awareness and Recycling Effort at the Taste of Chicago

Britt — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 16:05:09 +0000

Attention C3 leaders and trainees:
Team leaders are needed to supervise water bottle recycling efforts at the the 2010 Taste of Chicago. You will be working with teams of students to collect recyclables and help to bring conservation actions to this hallmark event of consumerism.

Event Details
Thursday, July 1, 2010
1:00 pm- 5:00 pm
Meet at the corner of Balbo and Columbus.
Transportation assistance will be available if necessary.
Please email M. Grace Sielaff grace@mgracedesigns.com if you are interested in helping out.

Not a C3 volunteer? You are still eligible to participate.
Get in touch with Grace immediately!

With your help, we can make a difference by nurturing our city, conserving our natural resources, and protecting the environment!

And the fun doesn’t stop there.
Join Grace at the celebratory After Party
Thursday, July 8th
8:00pm
Organic Looms
1019 West Fulton Market
Healthy food and great drinks

Illinois Native Seed Bank, Sustainable Backyards and Mayor Daley’s Landscape Awards

Britt — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 17:34:04 +0000

Today we celebrate the 2010 Summer Solstice as the official start of summer. As you are packing in all your outdoor activities into the three most beautiful months of Chicago’s seasonal transformation, be sure to take advantage of these three great opportunities to enjoy beauty of the season and make a positive impact on the environment.

Illinois Native Seed Bank Project
The Dixon National Tallgrass Prairie Seed Bank at the Chicago Botanic Garden is working to conserve the genetic diversity of our native plants by collecting and preserving seeds from across the tallgrass prairie region in long-term cold storage. This project is being coordinated in conjunction with National Seeds of Success (SOS) program that is apart of an international seed conservation initiative known as the Millennium Seed Bank Project (MSBP).
Goals
-Ultimately seeds of multiple populations will be collected for over 3000 plant species of the tallgrass prairie. The goal is to collect seeds from one plant population (if it exists) in each of the twelve eco-regions for all 543 species.
-Initially 543 species important for habitat restoration will be collected across twelve eco-regions.
-In addition to long-term storage, the collections will be used as a resource for research and restoration projects.

For more information on volunteer opportunities and other ways to support this project, contact Emily Yates, Seed Bank Coordinator: eyates@chicagobotanic.org or David Sollenberger, Seed Conservation Specialist: dsollenberger@chicagobotanic.org
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Sustainable Backyard Workshops
Backyard Compost Bin and Rain Barrels are back!
This year, the Chicago Department of Environment has revamped the ever popular Compost Bin and Rain Barrel program. Instead of widespread distributions days, Chicago residents are encouraged to attend one of the upcoming sustainable backyard workshops. Attendees will learn basic installation and maintenance tips for composting and rain water harvesting AND receive a $30 rebate towards the purchase of a compost bin or rain barrel at your local hardware store or garden shop. For more information contact: rainbarrel@cityofchicago.org

Additional workshops are being hosted by C3 leaders citywide. For more information on these workshop, visit C3 event calendar under the “Explore Environmental Service” tab.
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Mayor Daley’s 2010 Landscape Awards
The 54th Annual Mayor Daley’s Landscape Awards Program is the City’s way of acknowledging the individuals, businesses, community groups, schools and other public institutions who contribute their time and energy to make our city the greenest in the nation. You are invited to share your gardening accomplishments with other and perhaps you will find yourself as one of the lucky winners. To enter complete the Mayor’s Landscape Awards Application

Don’t delay! Applications must be postmarked no later than July 2, 2010. Please include the application and two printed photos (no polaroids or digital photos).
Send your application materials to:
Mayor Daley’s Landscape Awards Program
Chicago Department of Environment
445 N. Sacramento
Chicago, IL 60612
Email and fax will not be accepted

Green Field Day June 11 9:30-12:30 at IIT

Yvonne W. — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 18:56:47 +0000

Friday, June 11
C3 Trainee, Yvonne White-Morey:
On Track for the Environment –Greening a School Field Day Event
9:30 am -12:30 pm

The 4^th Annual Chicago Virtual Charter School Field Day Event will be a lot greener this year as students incorporate green games with track and field events.

Yvonne will coordinate the addition of a Green Resource Center designed to educate students and their families on Recycling/Upcycling options, Vermicomposting, improving indoor/outdoor air quality by making green cleaning solutions and taking alternative transportation, energy efficiency and water conservation. Students will receive refillable water bottles. Families will take the $800 Savings Challenge.

Following awards and raffle prizes, families will gather on the lawn of Illinois Institute of Technology for a picnic lunch and hear a green literacy reading of Seeds of Change by Author Jen Cullerton Johnson, from her book based on the life of Wangari Maathai, the first African woman and environmentalist to win the Nobel Peace Prize. (Four C3 leaders or trainees willing to make ten-minute presentations on the environment to students and families are still needed.)

For volunteer opportunities, contact C3 trainee Yvonne: ywm@alumni.depaul.edu
773-944-0757

Earth Wine and Fire: Earth Day benefit party Fri April 23

Matt — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 16:28:43 +0000

Earth, Wine and Fire is a charity event intended to benefit the environment. It will occur on Friday April 23, 2010, the day after Earth Day, from 5-11PM (a movie screening of No Impact Man starts at 5:00; the party kicks off at 7:00). We expect it to be a fun party hosted by a small group of community folks who banded together to create an enlightened evening with a purpose. We intend to educate, incite action and enjoy. Buy your tickets in advance for a discount. $25 now; $35 on the day of the event. Includes: Entry, 3 tickets that can be used for drinks or the raffle, appetizers, music, entertainment and full access to all Nature Museum exhibits! Additional beverages available for purchase. Children 12 and under are free. Join the party! Buy your tickets at www.EarthWineAndFire.com!

C3 Events and Opportunities: August 2009

Samantha — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 15:55:52 +0000

You Care. Do Something. We’ll Help.
The following is a list of events coordinated by our C3 Leaders, as well as volunteer opportunities facilitated by our C3 Partners. For a full listing of events, visit the C3 Calendar.

Upcoming Events and Opportunities
- August 1: Environmental Awareness Fun Booth at the Hope Festival
- August 8: Winnemac Park Stewardship Day
- August 15: Green Games
- August 22: Garden in the Sky
- C3 Leadership Application online!

Environmental Awareness Fun Booth at the Hope Festival
- Saturday, August 1, 11am – 2pm
- Robichaux Park, 9247 S Eggleston Ave.

C3 Leader Cheryl Chrismon has created a Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rethink event to be held in conjunction with the Trinity United Church of Christ’s (TUCC) Hope Festival at Robichaux Park in the Washington Heights neighborhood. She will distribute CFLs, water aerators, reusable water bottles, and Chicago recycling brochures. Interested attendees will have the opportunity to make green cleaners and participate in other hands-on activities. Cheryl will also encourage Festival attendees to take the $800 Savings Challenge to learn ways to save money at home while helping the environment.

Winnemac Park Stewardship Day
- Saturday, August 8, 9am-11am
- Winnemac Park, 5100 N. Leavitt St.

The Chicago Park District is hosting a prairie restoration day at Winnemac Park on the city’s north side. Volunteers can expect to perform invasive plant removal, mulching, seeding, planting and seed collection. After the workday, volunteers are encouraged to take a walk on the park’s nature path and explore the prairie’s natural beauty. If interested, please meet by the two large trees west of the parking lot off of Damen Ave., just south of Foster Ave. For more information, contact Danielle Green at dgreen731 at sbcglobal.net.

Green Games
- Saturday, August 15, 10am-2pm
- 57th Street Beach

C3 Leader Laura Pawlik invites you to join her and her project team for a fun and interactive day at the beach. This year’s Green Games consist of a clean-up of 57th Beach, followed by a series of games focused on green living and enjoying the great outdoors. Prizes will be awarded to winners of the event and everyone will receive a small gift bag of green items. Participants from Wrigleyville and surrounding north side neighborhoods are invited to join the carpools heading south that morning. Email conservation@cityofchicago.org for more information or to sign up for the event.

Garden in the Sky
- Saturday, August 22, 9am – noon
- 7200 South Ingleside Avenue

Chicago Cares invites Chicagoans to come work in a beautiful garden unlike any other in the city. Volunteers will work on the rooftop garden at the Gary Comer Youth Center. This garden serves a very important role in the community, as vegetables grown here are used to provide healthy meals to children in the neighborhood. Volunteers will help with planting, harvesting, and other traditional garden tasks. Anyone interested in working with Chicago Cares is required to complete an online orientation session before attending the workday. Click here to complete the orientation. After orientation, find this project on the Chicago Cares calendar for sign up information.

C3 Environmental Leadership Training Series
- Chicago Center for Green Technology, 445 N Sacramento Blvd

The application for this fall’s Environmental Leadership Training Series is now available. Click here to apply today.

During the Leadership Training Series, you’ll learn from community and environmental leaders about urban environmental challenges and opportunities for change; then you’ll lead an environmental project in your community with C3 support and resources. To learn more, attend one of the orientation sessions listed below.

Thursday, September 10 – 7pm – 8pm
South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. South Shore Dr., Chicago, IL 60649

Saturday, September 12 – 10am – 11am
Chicago Center for Green Technology, 445 N. Sacramento Blvd., Chicago, IL 60612

Monday, September 14 – 12pm – 1pm
Chicago Department of Environment, 30 N. LaSalle St. 25th Floor, Chicago, IL 60602

You must attend one of these orientations, in addition to filling out the online application, to be considered for the training series.

Classes will be held at the Chicago Center for Green Technology, 445 N. Sacramento Blvd, Saturdays, September 26 and October 3, 10, and 17, from 9:30am – 1:30pm. There is a mandatory field trip on Saturday, October 24. A $75 fee covers course participation and project support. Financial assistance is available upon request. Please respond to this email (conservation@cityofchicago.org) or call (312) 743-9283 for more information, or to reserve a spot at an orientation.

“Greening the Holidays” Guide

Sarah M. — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 07:00:54 +0000

The holidays come but once a year, but it’s not just their memories that can last a lifetime. Unfortunately, the season of generosity and merriment can leave a lasting impact on the environment too. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, Americans discard 25% more trash than they do during the rest of the year. This totals 2 billion extra pounds of garbage each week.

In addition to the increase in waste, our holiday traditions also lead to an increase in energy use and greenhouse gas emissions as we travel and entertain more.

Fortunately, there are many things we can do to retain the spirit of the season while being conscious about the environment. Find simple eco-friendly tips throughout this online guide to incorporate into your holiday routine. Follow these and you’ll help ensure a bright and memorable holiday season for generations to come.

Happy Holidays!

Calling all Humboldt Park community members!

Michael Herman — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:07:28 +0000

Volunteers are needed to help restore a 1-acre pond and wetland at Humboldt Park in the summer of 2008. Meet new friends and neighbors while you help enhance and beautify this nature area.

Saturdays, August 9th, September 13th – 9am – noon

· August 9: Come out and show your green thumbs! Get your hands dirty and learn about the value of wetlands while planting hundreds of native wetland plants
· September 13: See the progress! Volunteers will help plant native shrubs, mulch trees, and remove any remaining invasive or weedy plants

Meet at the Humboldt Park Wetland just south of the Institute of Puerto Rican Art and Culture (old horse stables). To register or for more information, please contact Becky Schillo, CPD Volunteer Stewardship Coordinator, at 312-742-4072 or mailto:becky.schillo@chicagoparkdistrict.com

Funding for this project has been generously provided by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and The Conservation Fund’s Northeastern Illinois Wetland Conservation Grant Program.

DOE News and Opportunities – June 2008

Samantha — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 17:16:37 +0000

Department of Environment News and Opportunities – June 2008
- June 7: Household Chemicals & Computer Recycling Facility Open
- June 9-11: NeoCon at Merchandise Mart
- June 13: Bike to Work Day Rally
- June 21: Environmental Resource Event at U.S. Cellular Field
- June 30: Registration Deadline for Solar PowerUp! for Kids
- Alert: Protect yourself and your family from West Nile Virus

Household Chemicals & Computer Recycling Facility Open
- Saturday, June 7, 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
- 1150 N. North Branch St.

Celebrate summer by ridding your home of unwanted chemicals, paints, and computers. Bring in your old computers, monitors, cell phones and household chemicals this Saturday to the City’s permanent facility at 1150 N. North Branch St., 2 blocks east of the Kennedy at Division St. for proper recycling and disposal. For a complete list of accepted materials, visit www.cityofchicago.org/Environment and click on “Household Chemicals & Computer Recycling Facility” on the right-hand column.

NeoCon
- Monday June 9 – Wednesday June 11 at the Merchandise Mart
- Hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

At NeoCon® World’s Trade Fair, discover thousands of innovative products and resources for corporate hospitality, healthcare, retail, government, institutional and residential interiors from more than 1,200 showrooms and exhibitors. Stop by the Chicago Center for Green Technology’s booth to learn about their programs and check out green product samples. For more information on NeoCon, visit www.neocon.com.

Bike to Work Day Rally
- Friday, June 13, 7:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.
- Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington St.

Riding your bike can help displace more than 238 million gallons of gasoline annually and reduce the amount of volatile pollutants, such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide, released by vehicle emissions. Choose the healthy alternative and become a bike commuter. The Bike to Work Day Rally challenges commuters to put down the keys, step off the bus and bike their way to work! Join fellow cyclists, local media celebrities, live bands and the City of Chicago at Daley Plaza for a day full of activities from 7:30 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. Cyclists will enjoy live music and receive a free continental breakfast and T-shirt while supplies last. For more information, visit www.bikechicago.us or call (312) 744-3315.

Environmental Resource Event
- Saturday, June 21, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- U.S. Cellular Field, 333 W. 35th St.

Be Safe at Home: Exchange household hazards for environmental resources. Participate in the Department of Environment’s second Environmental Resource Event of the year. Take this opportunity to:
- properly dispose of your household hazardous waste
- recycle your old computers, monitors, laptops and cell phones
- keep medicines out of our water system by bringing them for proper disposal
- pick up a free compact fluorescent light bulb (limit one per household)
- drop off your old gas-powered lawn mower and receive a $100 rebate towards an electric or push mower
- reduce your landfill waste by purchasing a $30 outdoor compost bin and reuse rain water by investing in a $40 rain barrel (both are available to Chicago residents only, must pay with check or money order, limit 1 per household)

Questions? Call the Chicago Department of Environment at (312) 744-7606.

Chicago Solar Powerup! For Kids
- Session 1: July 14- 18; Session 2: July 21-25. Hours are from 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at the Chicago Center for Green Technology, 445 N. Sacramento Blvd.
- Registration ends June 30

The Chicago Center for Green Technology wants future scientists, engineers, and designers for the 3rd annual Chicago Solar Powerup! Solar Powerup gives students ages 9-11 the opportunity to design, build, and race model solar cars while learning about renewable energy sources. Students are give instructions in various design factors and then work in teams to build their car. Following testing, these workshops culminate in a series of one-on-one races in a tournament on Daley Plaza on Wednesday, July 30, to determine champions.

Please note: Registration is limited to 20 students per session and will be admitted on a first come, first serve basis. Spots may only be reserved by the receipt of payment ($75, check only) no later than 2 weeks prior to the first class. Before mailing in payment, please call (312) 746-4155 for availability. Limited scholarships are available.

Alert: Protect Yourself and Your Family from West Nile Virus

This information bulletin is an advisory to assist members of the public in taking precautions to minimize their risk of exposure to the West Nile Virus (WNV). WNV infection is an illness conveyed to humans primarily by mosquitoes. In most cases, people infected with WNV either show no symptoms or have very mild flu-like symptoms, called West Nile fever. WNV is an urgent issue that needs to be taken seriously in the Chicagoland area every summer. Since WNV can affect anyone, we ask that the following steps be taken to prevent or minimize any chance of mosquito bites:

Get rid of sources of stagnant or standing water in your backyard or neighborhood, as mosquitoes can reproduce in standing water that exists for more than 4 days.

- Call 3-1-1 immediately to report any stagnant or standing water than needs to be removed – it is important to provide the location and number of days that the water has been there.
- Protect your skin by wearing protective clothing such as long pants, shirts with sleeves, and socks.
- Use insect repellants containing the active ingredient DEET (chemical name, N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide). Products containing DEET are available in various liquids, lotions, and sprays and do not present a health concern as long as the product labels are read and directions are followed. DEET has been approved for use by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA).
- For more information, go to the Chicago Department of Public Health’s webpage that can be found under the City Departments link at www.cityofchicago.org and look for the West Nile Virus information under the Infectious Disease link.

DOE News and Opportunities, May 2008

Samantha — Mon, 05 May 2008 15:53:30 +0000

Department of Environment News and Opportunities – May 2008
- May 10: Smart Home Green + Wired
- May 10: Green Your Closets and Drawers
- May 15: Daley Plaza Farmers Market
- May 17: Clean and Green
- May 17-18: Green Festival
- May 17-18: Great Chicago Places and Spaces Tour

Smart Home Green + Wired
- Saturday, May 10, 10 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- Museum of Science and Industry, 57th St. and Lake Shore Drive

Check out the Museum of Science and Industry’s 3-story modular sustainable home, learn about the Chicago Green Home Remodeling Series and pick up a free compact fluorescent light bulb, while supplies last. For more information on the Smart Home Green + Wired, visit www.msichicago.org.

Green Your Closet and Drawers
- Saturday, May 10, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Donations accepted at: Chicago Center for Green Technology, 445 N. Sacramento Blvd.; North Park Village Nature Center, 5801 N. Pulaski Rd.; St. Ailbe’s Church, 93rd and Stony Island.

Bring in your used clothes and eyeglasses to be reused by the Lion’s Club and the Salvation Army and receive a green gift, available while supplies last.

Daley Plaza Farmer’s Market
- Thursday, May 15, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington St.

Fill your produce bags with fresh fruits and vegetables at the first Daley Plaza Farmers Market of the season. For more information, visit www.chicagofarmersmarkets.us

Green Festival
- Saturday, May 17 – Sunday, May 18
- Navy Pier

Come celebrate what’s working in our communities, hear from environmental speakers and check out vendors for the latest in the green movement. Visit the Chicago Department of Environment exhibit to learn how you can reduce your environmental footprint. For more information, visit www.greenfestivals.org.

Great Chicago Places and Spaces Tour
- Saturday, May 17 – Sunday, May 18
- Locations throughout Chicago

Come explore Chicago’s rich heritage in architecture and design during the 10th Annual Great Chicago Places and Spaces celebration. This is a weekend dedicated to architecture and design that offers more than 200 free tours of Chicago and it’s neighborhoods given by prominent architecture, design specialists and community leaders. Most walking tours are outside, please dress accordingly. For more information, visit www.greatchicagoplaces.us.

Mayor Daley’s Clean and Green
- Saturday, May 17
- Locations throughout Chicago

Community groups throughout Chicago can make an immediate difference in their neighborhood by volunteering for Mayor Daley’s Spring Clean & Green Day. For the past 20 years, Chicagoans like yourself have teamed up with community groups and the City of Chicago to help beautify your communities by cleaning up and recycling accumulated litter and trash. The City provides materials. For more information or to register, call 3-1-1.

Open House at Pivot, Feb 27

Samantha — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 22:52:22 +0000

Education and fashion unite to promote a smarter, greener future for Chicago

What: Pivot, Chicago’s first eco-boutique, hosts an open house event to benefit the Academy for Global Citizenship, a new Chicago Public Contract School on the Southwest Side. Opening for Kindergarten and First Grade students in August 2008, the school aims to be a national model for sustainable education by empowering all children to become active world citizens. It will be the only Chicago Public School with a core mission to incorporate environmental and international mindedness into all aspects of their innovative curriculum design.

Five of the school’s sustainability and wellness initiatives will be highlighted at the Pivot event, including an organic garden, solar energy installation, yoga, nutrition education, healthy breakfast and lunch. Guests will have an opportunity to learn more about sustainability and how to support the school’s initiatives. 15% of the evening’s sales will also be donated to the school.

When: Wednesday, February 27, 6 pm to 9 pm
RSVP: pivot@pivotboutique.com or 312.243.4754

Where: Pivot, 1101 West Fulton Market (corner of Fulton Market & Aberdeen)