Newsletter from Tuesday, January 24th, 2023
Dear NCH2 Community,
As our region becomes more wintery (less March in January), we note how thankful we are for our typical Chicagoland snows, cold temps, and brisk sunny days. Let us know how you all tap into your Nature fix in the winter.
If you want to get outside this winter, head to Thatcher Woods for an NCH2 meet and greet! Join the Nature, Culture, and Human Health Network on February 10th at 2:00 p.m. for connecting, a winter outdoor activity, and hot cocoa/tea. There will be information about the Catalyst Seed Grant RFP as well for any last minute questions. We look forward to seeing you! Learn more here.
Or, if you decide to hunker down indoors in the winter and snow, are you starting to plan your spring and summer activities—edible and pollinator gardens, tree planting, outdoor adventures, environmental education and awareness, walking clubs?. We would love to include these ideas in our newsletters. Send your program ideas for 2023 to our email or post on the NCH2 Instagram.
We have held two webinars about the NCH2 Catalyst Seed Grant RFP. We recorded the session held on Monday, 1/23/2023 and have posted it HERE. The RFP offers small grants ($2-5k) for community-engaged planning processes that incorporate our Triple Aim Values. All applications are due February 21st by 5:00 p.m. CST. Please do not hesitate to contact Laura Derks if you have more questions or would like to schedule a one on one call about the application at laura.derks@northwestern.edu
NCH2 Team
If you want to get outside this winter, head to Thatcher Woods for an NCH2 meet and greet! Join the Nature, Culture, and Human Health Network on February 10th at 2:00 p.m. for connecting, a winter outdoor activity, and hot cocoa/tea. There will be information about the Catalyst Seed Grant RFP as well for any last minute questions. We look forward to seeing you! Learn more here.
Or, if you decide to hunker down indoors in the winter and snow, are you starting to plan your spring and summer activities—edible and pollinator gardens, tree planting, outdoor adventures, environmental education and awareness, walking clubs?. We would love to include these ideas in our newsletters. Send your program ideas for 2023 to our email or post on the NCH2 Instagram.
We have held two webinars about the NCH2 Catalyst Seed Grant RFP. We recorded the session held on Monday, 1/23/2023 and have posted it HERE. The RFP offers small grants ($2-5k) for community-engaged planning processes that incorporate our Triple Aim Values. All applications are due February 21st by 5:00 p.m. CST. Please do not hesitate to contact Laura Derks if you have more questions or would like to schedule a one on one call about the application at laura.derks@northwestern.edu
NCH2 Team
Community Spotlight
Have an event or organization to spotlight? Help us feature it in the next newsletter! Contact us for more information.
Upcoming Events
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Indoor Farmers Markets
Do you miss all the delicious jams, baked goods, and crafts available at Evanston's summer farmer's markets? Check out the local vendors at the Ecology Center Indoor Farmer's Market! The Ecology Center will be hosting ten market days between January and April of 2023. Winter markets will be held on alternate Saturdays from 8am to 12pm. Park in the McCormick parking lot and head on over. Winter Dates January 14th, 8am-12pm January 28th, 8am-12pm February 11th, 8am-12pm February 25th, 8am-12pm Click here for more information. |
Photo by City of Evanston
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Photo by Friends of the Forest Preserves
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Forest Preserves of Cook County: All About Fire
Date: January 28th, 2023 Time: 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM Location: Thatcher Woods, Chicago Ave, west of Thatcher Ave River Forest, IL 60305 Join us for activities related to fire! Learn safe fire building and containment practices, then make your own fire and roast a marshmallow. Drop-in. All ages. Learn more here. |
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Forest Preserves of Cook County: Candlelight Walk
Date: January 27th, 2023 Time: 6:00 - 8:30 PM Location: Sand Ridge Nature Center 15891 Paxton Ave South Holland, IL 60473 Join FOFP for a candlelight walk. Registration required: Call Sand Ridge at 708-868-0606 or email at sandridge.naturecenter@cookcountyil.gov. Learn more here. |
Photo by Jerry Attere
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Future Events: Save the Date
Photo by Felix Mittermier
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Building Health, Wellness, and Mindful Nature Programming Workshop
Date: Feb 8th, Feb 15th, and Feb 22nd, 2023 Time: 8:30 AM - 1:00 PM Location: Kane County (exact locations to be announced in early January) This three half-day workshop series by DuPage Nature Rx Coalition dives deep into opportunities to build health, wellness, and mindfulness nature programming at local parks, forest preserves, and open spaces. The training will include an overview of the health benefits from spending time in nature along with various mental health, physical health, and mindfulness programming options. This workshop is intended for park district, open space district, and forest preserve staff, leadership, and volunteers looking to expand their impact through outdoor health and wellness partnerships and programs. Learn more here. |
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Nature Express Bus: Free Transportation to the Forest Preserves
Is your community group or nonprofit organization interested in visiting the Forest Preserves of Cook County? Have you been limited by the cost of transportation? The Nature Express Bus program can help your group access Forest Preserves events and amenities, or visit their partner organizations, the Chicago Botanic Garden and the Brookfield Zoo. Best of all, it's free. To qualify, your group must have a minimum of 25 participants and demonstrate a need for transportation funding. In order to provide equal access, groups are limited to one free bus per calendar year. Learn more here. |
Photo by Jonas Mohammed
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Photo by Chicago Academy of Sciences
The Calling Frog Survey: Frog Monitor Training
Date: February 2nd, 4th, 8th, & 11th, 2023
Location: Virtual
In the 1960’s, the cricket frog was the most common amphibian in Illinois. Today, it has nearly disappeared from the northern third of Illinois, for unexplained reasons. By monitoring amphibian populations in the Chicago region, the Chicago Academy of Sciences will be able to detect population changes before it is too late as well as assess the effects of management regimes on amphibians. In 2000, Chicago Wilderness initiated a calling frog survey as part of its amphibian biodiversity recovery plan. In 2014, the Chicago Academy of Sciences and its Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum became home to the Calling Frog Survey. Educated volunteers collect and submit data each spring. Apply and attend a training workshop to begin volunteering as a frog monitor!
Learn more here.
Date: February 2nd, 4th, 8th, & 11th, 2023
Location: Virtual
In the 1960’s, the cricket frog was the most common amphibian in Illinois. Today, it has nearly disappeared from the northern third of Illinois, for unexplained reasons. By monitoring amphibian populations in the Chicago region, the Chicago Academy of Sciences will be able to detect population changes before it is too late as well as assess the effects of management regimes on amphibians. In 2000, Chicago Wilderness initiated a calling frog survey as part of its amphibian biodiversity recovery plan. In 2014, the Chicago Academy of Sciences and its Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum became home to the Calling Frog Survey. Educated volunteers collect and submit data each spring. Apply and attend a training workshop to begin volunteering as a frog monitor!
Learn more here.
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CRTI Annual Partner Recognition Celebration: ‘Hot Topics and Urban Trees: Resiliency in the Face of Urban Heat Island and Climate Change’
Date: February 9, 2023 Time: 6-9 p.m. Location: The Morton Arboretum Visitor Center Temperatures are on the rise, but the residents of the Chicago region won’t burn without a fight. Join us in learning about the urgent challenges of Climate Change and Urban Heat Island Effect from esteemed Keynote speakers, Dr. Vivek Shandas and Tanner Yess and a wonderful panel of local experts, including Raed Mansour from the City of Chicago, Dr. Ashish Sharma from Argonne National Laboratory, and Mayor Kevin Burn from the Village of Geneva. Celebrate local urban forestry heroes who work tirelessly to tackle these challenges in their own communities. This event is free, but registration is required. Learn more here. |
Photo by Chicago Region Trees Initiative
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Nature Date Night: Romantic Night Hike
Date: February 10th, 2023
Time: 6:00 - 7:00 PM
Location: Fullersberg Woods
Experience the magic of an evening walk along lantern-lit trails on a self-guided, 1- to 2-mile journey. Follow the candlelight to roaring fires, roasting marshmallows, and hot chocolate. Ages 18 and up. $12 per person. Register and learn more here.
Date: February 10th, 2023
Time: 6:00 - 7:00 PM
Location: Fullersberg Woods
Experience the magic of an evening walk along lantern-lit trails on a self-guided, 1- to 2-mile journey. Follow the candlelight to roaring fires, roasting marshmallows, and hot chocolate. Ages 18 and up. $12 per person. Register and learn more here.
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Tree Ambassador Training
Date: February 15th, 2023 Time: 1:00 - 4:00 PM Location: Masjid Al Farooq, 8950 S Stony Island Ave Chicago IL 60617 Do you want to plant a Sadaqah jariyah? Or, do you want to serve the ummah by taking care of trees? Join us at the Tree Ambassador Training. The trainers are a team from Chicago Region Tree Initiative Morton Arboretum led by Airis Cervantes. The opening and closing remarks and Dua by CMGT President Mohammed Faheem. Learn more here. |
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Job Opportunities
Cool Learning Experience is looking for a Deputy Director. Learn more here.
The Nature Conservancy Chicago Area is looking to hire a Director of Community Engagement. Learn more here.
The Field Museum is searching for a Senior Director. Learn more here.
Elevate is looking to fill several positions. Look through their career opportunities here.
Lake County Forest Preserves is looking to fill several positions. Learn more here.
Equiticity is looking to fill several positions. Look through their career opportunities. here.
Alliance for Research in Chicagoland Communities (ARCC) is looking to hire an Associate Director. Learn more here.
Please send us your job openings to be featured!
The Nature Conservancy Chicago Area is looking to hire a Director of Community Engagement. Learn more here.
The Field Museum is searching for a Senior Director. Learn more here.
Elevate is looking to fill several positions. Look through their career opportunities here.
Lake County Forest Preserves is looking to fill several positions. Learn more here.
Equiticity is looking to fill several positions. Look through their career opportunities. here.
Alliance for Research in Chicagoland Communities (ARCC) is looking to hire an Associate Director. Learn more here.
Please send us your job openings to be featured!
In the News
Photo by Friends of the Forest Preserves
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New Position Paper on Diversity & Inclusion
The Friends of the Forest Preserves Board adopted a new position paper, “Amplifying Diversity and Inclusion in the Forest Preserves of Cook County (PDF),” which aims to build upon and broaden the Forest Preserves’ equity lens by expanding the framework and approach outlined in “Moving Towards Racial Equity” to include additional dimensions of diversity and inclusion. Read the full article here. |
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Unprecedented International Biodiversity Compact
In December a Montreal gathering of the United Nations agreed to historic protections and support for Biodiversity --our lands, our oceans and waterways and all that live inside and on them. Despite the overall commitment to this unprecedented vision set for 2030, some people involved with the negotiations and final approval are concerned about some of its measures and incomplete financing. Michael Casey of the Associated Press described some of these concerns. The “30 by 30” commitment, he wrote, is the “most significant part of the agreement. The parties agreed that by the year 2030, 30% of land and water deemed important to biodiversity would be protected. At present, only 17% of land and 10% of water are protected. Financing this protection will come at a cost, and the agreement, Mr. Casey wrote, “calls for raising $200 billion by 2030 for biodiversity from a range of sources and working to phase out or reform subsidies that could provide another $500 billion for nature.” There was some opposition to certain aspects of the agreement; 70 of the 190 countries objected to some parts of the financial deal; others felt the timeline to protect species was not rigorous enough. A 2019 report said that one million species of plants and animals would face extinction within decades. But in the end, Mr. Casey explains that the majority acknowledged the urgency to move forward, however imperfect, and supported the ambitious pact. Read more here. |
Photo by JacobS JS
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Photo by Adobe
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Seeing Eagles in Illinois
The fourth Saturday in January – this year, Jan. 28 – is Illinois Eagle Day. With more than 3,100 wintering here, Illinois has more bald eagles in December, January and February than any other state except Alaska, according to eagles.illinois.gov. Towns and parks throughout the state host eagle-observation programs and exhibits. Read more, including the narratives of the campaigns to save Plum Island and Banner Marsh. Click here for suggested eagle-viewing sites. |
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A 60-Mile Winter Bike Ride Around Chicago
Earlier this month freelance photojournalist Lou Foglia posted a story for WBEZ about his 60-mile winter bike ride around Chicago. He begins, “I’m three years a city cyclist with no intentions to retire my ’70s Schwinn road bike anytime soon. It’s convenient, affordable and as a photojournalist — possible. … I’ve often wondered what motivates the riders I encounter in the cold.” From Lakeview to Bronzeville, Mr. Foglia spoke with couriers, commuters and enthusiasts who told him about their limits, their strategies, and the gear they consider vital. He also met some of the bike mechanics who help get the bikers to their destinations throughout a tough biking season when snow and salt can eclipse bike lanes and wind penetrate layers of clothing. Read more here. |
Photo by Lou Fouglia
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Photo by The Bird Sanctuary
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The Clark Street Beach Bird Sanctuary
After Northwestern University (NU) finished its lakefill in the 1960s, cottonwood, hackberry and box elder trees and shrubby sand willows grew on the patch of unattended land near the south border of the campus. The University’s 2012 decision to build a Visitor Center threatened to doom this little parcel, which had become a bird magnet, attracting migrating warblers and dragonflies, nesting Warbling Vireos and Baltimore Orioles and, of course, birdwatchers. Evanston North Shore Bird Club member Libby Hill requested that the money NU had to pay for each tree removed by the construction project be invested in a “replacement sanctuary.” She and Judy Pollock worked with city staff and the landscape architecture firm Kettlekamp and Kettlekamp to draw up plans for the two-acres abutting Clark Street Beach that in 2015 became the Clark Street Beach Bird Sanctuary. Read more here. |
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Sankofa Wellness Center
A vacant lot on west Madison Street in Chicago is the site for a 60,000-square-foot wellness center for West Garfield Park. The center will be part of a Sankofa Wellness Village, which will also include a fitness center and health clinic, after-school care facilities, a credit union and a business incubator, as well as job training facilities and pop-up groceries. The Garfield Park Rite to Wellness Collaborative was selected to receive a $10 million grant from the Pritzker Traubert Foundation, which created these awards to help revive neighborhoods on Chicago’s south and west sides. The Rite to Wellness Collaborative includes about 20 partner organizations such as Erie Family Health Center, YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago, New Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, the Community Builders and Rush University Medical Center. The West African term sankofa refers to a journey to retrieve something valuable that has been lost or left behind. Read more of this Chicago Tribune story by Brian Rogal here. |
Photo by Julia Sakelli
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Photo by Ricardo Ortiz
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Meditation on Ice
When Cori Nakamura Lin moved to Edgewater in 2019, she determined to get to know her neighborhood, including the majestic expanse that is Lake Michigan. Landing here in the first year of the pandemic, she created ICEWATCH. “Practically,” she wrote, “ICEWATCH is very simple. Every few days of the winter I bundled up, walked over to the lake, observed the ice, took pictures and then went home.” “Simple,” perhaps, but also elegant and moving, with sparse text and delightful graphics. Read more here. |
Connect with Us!
We are taking requests for any upcoming events to be added to future newsletters and our events calendar which can be done here. You can also submit materials for the next newsletter by emailing NCH2.Chicago@gmail.com.
FOLLOW US on our social media by clicking the icons below!
CREATE your own stories on Instagram and tag @NCH2Network so we can share how you engage with nature; we would love to see them!
EMAIL US and keep us updated on local events, exciting opportunities in the area, or send photos of local nature to be featured on the website.
CONTACT US at NCH2.Chicago@gmail.com.
We are taking requests for any upcoming events to be added to future newsletters and our events calendar which can be done here. You can also submit materials for the next newsletter by emailing NCH2.Chicago@gmail.com.
FOLLOW US on our social media by clicking the icons below!
CREATE your own stories on Instagram and tag @NCH2Network so we can share how you engage with nature; we would love to see them!
EMAIL US and keep us updated on local events, exciting opportunities in the area, or send photos of local nature to be featured on the website.
CONTACT US at NCH2.Chicago@gmail.com.