August 22, 2008 Announcement:

Making Connections: Arts and Environment

September 4, 2008, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.

 

The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

2430 North Cannon Drive, Chicago

 

Please join us at a gathering to build connections between artists and environmental and conservation organizations in the Chicago region. Together we will:

 

·        Tour an exhibition of art installations that address lawn and lawn care that explores how we got to have so much grass in America, what the environmental consequences and the cultural ramifications are: Lawn Nation: Art and Science of the American Lawn

·        Hear about successful past collaborations of artists and environmentalists and future opportunities

·        Learn about research recently conducted by the New Allies for Nature and Culture program at The Field Museumthat shows how organizations across the region are engaging arts and creative practices to help people make connections to nature and the environment

·        Network with artists and Chicago Wilderness partner organizations

 

Space is limited. Reservations Required!! RSVP by August 25, 2008 to:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=eVBo3ALBJtG_2fNm7k4WDlNg_3d_3d

 

Questions? Contact Michelle Uting, muting@chicagowilderness.org, or Christine Dunford, cdunford@fieldmuseum.org

 

This gathering is co-sponsored by The Field Museum, City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, Chicago Wilderness, Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, Friends of Ryerson Woods, and Jane Addams Hull-House Museum

August 21, 2008, Anouncement:

This just in from Chicago Department of Environment:

Friends of the Parks is seeking Environmental Educators for its Earth Team, for Fall, 2008.

Qualifications:

1. Bachelors Degree in Environmental Science/Studies, Botany, Biology, Education or related field
   

2. Experience working in an outdoor environment.
   

3. Teaching experience in an informal setting, preferably with teens (ages 14-18)
   

4. Experience in building interactive environmental lessons and activities
   

5. Access to computer, internet and email; working knowledge of MS Office--Word, Excel, PowerPoint
   

Responsibilities:

1. Hire and co-teach 25 teens (ages 14-18) in an after school apprenticeship program, at Calumet Park (9801 S. Avenue G) run by Friends of the Parks and After School Matters. 
   

2. Must be available TWTh 3:00-6:30 P.M. for programming starting October 6 to December 12, 2008. Also, available for 5 start-up/recruitment days between September 15-30 in the school.  Total hours contracted will be 180 over 12 weeks.
   

3. Instruct teens in environmental education lessons, motivating them to learn about their local environment and take action to improve it.
   

4. Develop a meaningful environmental science project with the teens.
   

5. Assist and motivate teens in researching environmental issues, creating activities, and working towards comprehension and enjoyment of nature and environmental studies.
   

6. Set up field trips and guest speakers to enhance teens' experiences.
   

7. Evaluate teen and program progress, and work with other instructors and director to improve the program.
   

Please E-mail your resume and cover letter to Colin Taylor, Director of Environmental Education, at taylorc@fotp.org

Visit www.fotp.org <http://www.fotp.org/>  to learn more about Friends of the Parks and www.chicagogreenteam.blogspot.com

<http://www.chicagogreenteam.blogspot.com/>  to see past Earth Team programs.

JULY 15, 2008 ANNOUNCEMENT:

Sep. 12, 8:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M.--Introduction to Federal Grants.  At Student Center East, the University of Illinois at Chicago, 750 S. Halsted, Chicago.

A One-day Workshop for Non-profit Faith-Based and Community Organizations, this event is a collaboration of Illinois ResourceNet*, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Administration for Children and Families. 

The workshop will include:

1. Basic information on how to apply for federal grants
   

2. Tips on organizational development and grant writing to make your
   

3. application more competitive
   

4. A panel of federal grant-making agencies
   

5. A panel of non-profit organizations that have won federal grants
   

6. Opportunities for discussion and individual consultation with agency
   

7. representatives
   

Participating federal agencies include:

1. Corporation for National and Community Service-Americorps/VISTA
   

2. Department of Agriculture-Food and Nutrition Service
   

3. Department of Commerce-Census Bureau
   

4. Department of Education
   

5. Department of Health and Human Services-Administration for Children and
   

6. Families
   

7. Department of Housing and Urban Development
   

8. Department of Labor
   

More details and a link to online registration will be sent via email from Illinois ResourceNet in early August.

*Illinois ResourceNet is a project of the University of Illinois at Chicago Neighborhoods Initiative, in collaboration with the University of Illinois Extension.

Announcement Updated July 26. 2008:

Department of Environment News and Opportunities - July 2008

1. Fall 2008 C3 Leadership Training Schedule now available
   

2. - Saturdays, September 6, 13, 20, 27, and October 11, 9:30am-1:30pm
   

3. - Chicago Center for Green Technology, 445 N Sacramento Blvd
   

4. We are now recruiting for our Fall 2008 C3 Leadership Training Course.
   

The Fall training will be held at the Chicago Center for Green Technology, Saturdays, September 6, 13, 20 and 27, from 9:30am - 1:30pm.

A mandatory field trip will take place on Saturday, October 11. We are hoping that you, as C3 volunteers, will pass this information along to your neighbors, colleagues, friends, and others. Orientation session locations and times are listed below:

1. Wednesday, August 20 - 7pm - 8pm, 6th District Police Station, 7808 S. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60620
   

2. Saturday, August 23 - 10am - 11am, Chicago Center for Green Technology, 445 N. Sacramento Blvd., Chicago, IL 60612
   

3. Monday, August 25 - 12pm - 1pm, Chicago Department of Environment, 30 N. LaSalle St. 25th Floor, Chicago, IL 60602
   

Applicants must attend one of the orientations listed above to be eligible for the training series.

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

A $75 fee covers course participation and project support. Financial assistance is available upon request.

For more information, visit www.cityofchicago.org/Environment/C3.

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Chicago Conservation Corps (C3) Student Club Program:

We are now recruiting Chicago Public Schools for our Chicago Conservation Corps (C3) Student Club Program. Teachers receive a stipend, materials, project guides, staff support, and other resources from the Chicago Department of Environment to run an after-school environmental service club for CPS 8th-12th grade students. Program includes year-round staff support and environmental leadership workshops.

To learn more and apply, teachers must attend the mandatory orientation:

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

5:00pm - 6:30pm

Chicago Center for Green Technology

445 N. Sacramento Blvd.

Please forward this information to your middle and high school teacher colleagues.

Teachers can RSVP for the orientation by emailing conservation@cityofchicago.org or calling 312-743-9283. Thanks!

Call the Chicago Department of Environment at (312) 744-7606 for more information                                                 

Chicago Conservation Corps (C3)

You care. Do something. We'll help.

website: http://www.cityofchicago.org/Environment/C3

blog: http://www.chicagoconservationcorps.org

email: conservation@cityofchicago.org

phone: (312) 743-9283   

Announcement June 6, 2008: 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).

1. -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.
   

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