Newsletter from Thursday, May 26th, 2022
Dear NCH2 Community,
We hope you and your families are staying safe and healthy. Please submit materials for the next newsletter by June 8th, 2022 so we can make sure to include them. Submit items by emailing [email protected].
This week's newsletter includes information wrap-up on NCH2's May Is Mental Health Month initiative, upcoming local events, volunteer and job opportunities, and links to articles in the popular press.
This week's newsletter includes information wrap-up on NCH2's May Is Mental Health Month initiative, upcoming local events, volunteer and job opportunities, and links to articles in the popular press.
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Follow Us!
Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. All can be found using the handle @NCH2Network or by clicking the links below: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter 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! Keep us updated on local events, exciting opportunities in the area, and send us pictures of local nature to be featured on the website. Contact us at [email protected]. |
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Pictures above show moments from our "Discovering Mental Health in Nature: Big Marsh Park" Event on May 17th. Thank you to everyone who came and made our first in-person event in 2 years a success!
May Is Mental Health Awareness Month
As May is winding down, continue to check out NCH2's May Is Mental Health Awareness Month Initiative! Visit our May page, Instagram, and Facebook page, throughout the month for more events, resources, and information about May as Mental Health Month and NCH2's Tools2ThriveOutside campaign. These resources will be archived for those interested in engaging with them year round. Mental Health America's theme this year for May is Mental Health Awareness Month is Back to Basics. NCH2 is promoting getting outside and engaging with nature for mental health awareness and engaging with #Tools2ThriveOutside.
We want to know how you use nature to help promote your mental health and wellness. Share your nature activities by posting a picture and a brief description and tagging @nch2network on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Don't forget to tag us in your pictures using your #Tools2ThriveOutside using any of these hashtag: #Tools2ThriveOutside, #MHM2022_outside, #MHM2022_NCH2
As May is winding down, continue to check out NCH2's May Is Mental Health Awareness Month Initiative! Visit our May page, Instagram, and Facebook page, throughout the month for more events, resources, and information about May as Mental Health Month and NCH2's Tools2ThriveOutside campaign. These resources will be archived for those interested in engaging with them year round. Mental Health America's theme this year for May is Mental Health Awareness Month is Back to Basics. NCH2 is promoting getting outside and engaging with nature for mental health awareness and engaging with #Tools2ThriveOutside.
We want to know how you use nature to help promote your mental health and wellness. Share your nature activities by posting a picture and a brief description and tagging @nch2network on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Don't forget to tag us in your pictures using your #Tools2ThriveOutside using any of these hashtag: #Tools2ThriveOutside, #MHM2022_outside, #MHM2022_NCH2
Local Events
Chicago Park District: Nature-at-Night at NPV
Date: Fri, May 27th
Time: 4:00 - 8:00 pm
Location: North Park Village Nature Center Park
5801 N. Pulaski Rd.
Chicago, IL 60646
Description: Open late for those who work during the day. Drop in on the last Friday of the month to visit the Nature Center and preserve at night. For all ages & free parking and entry, always!
For more information, click here.
Photo from Chicago Park District
Date: Fri, May 27th
Time: 4:00 - 8:00 pm
Location: North Park Village Nature Center Park
5801 N. Pulaski Rd.
Chicago, IL 60646
Description: Open late for those who work during the day. Drop in on the last Friday of the month to visit the Nature Center and preserve at night. For all ages & free parking and entry, always!
For more information, click here.
Photo from Chicago Park District
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Chicago Park District: Nature of Magic Walk Series at Humboldt
Date: Fri, May 27th Time: 6:00 - 8:30 pm Location: Humboldt (Alexander Von) Park 1440 N. Humboldt Boulevard Chicago, IL 60622 Description: A narrated park tour every second Sunday in six Chicago parks from May to Oct. Each tour will be a full immersion into exploring natural areas, history, culture, and connection to community. Each walk will be conversational, with many opportunities for stops and discussion, and deep explorations within the park. www.equiticity.org All ages welcome! For more information, click here. Photo from Chicago Park District |
Forest Preserves of Cook County: Bird Walk
Date: Tue, May 31st
Time: 8:00 am
Location: Eggers Grove
E 112th St & S Ave E
Chicago, IL 60617
Description: Join a naturalist as we explore this preserve while looking for local birds.
For more information, click here.
Photo from Forest Preserves of Cook County
Forest Preserves of Cook County: Walk in the Woods - LGBT+ Environmentalists
Date: Wed, Jun 1st
Time: 5:00 pm
Location: LaBagh Woods
N Cicero Ave, north of W Foster Ave
Chicago, IL 60630
Description: To kick-off Pride Month, join us for a walk in nature as we highlight the work of LGBT+ environmentalists—locally and abroad. Ages 8 & up. Registration Required: Call 773-758-8899.
For more information, click here.
Photo of the North Branch of the Chicago River is the dominant feature of this urban preserve from Forest Preserves of Cook County
Date: Wed, Jun 1st
Time: 5:00 pm
Location: LaBagh Woods
N Cicero Ave, north of W Foster Ave
Chicago, IL 60630
Description: To kick-off Pride Month, join us for a walk in nature as we highlight the work of LGBT+ environmentalists—locally and abroad. Ages 8 & up. Registration Required: Call 773-758-8899.
For more information, click here.
Photo of the North Branch of the Chicago River is the dominant feature of this urban preserve from Forest Preserves of Cook County
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The Conservation Foundation: Local Foods - From the Farm and From Your Yard Webinar Date: Wed, Jun 1st Time: 7:00 - 8:00 pm Location: via Zoom Description: From farm shares to farmers’ markets, farm stands, and from our yards, local foods are important for our environment and our health! Learn about local foods, where to get them, and how to grow them, including some you can grow on your own all the way into the fall! For more information and registration, click here. Photo by Kindel Media |
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Forest Preserves of Cook County: Wellness Walk
Date: Sun, Jun 5th
Time: 1:00 pm
Location: Thatcher Woods
Chicago Ave, west of Thatcher Ave
River Forest, IL 60305
Description: Join Roberta Jannsen, University of Illinois Extension volunteer, for a mindful and calming forest walk. 18 & up. Registration Required: Call Trailside at 708-366-6530.
For more information, click here.
Photo from Forest Preserves of Cook County
Date: Sun, Jun 5th
Time: 1:00 pm
Location: Thatcher Woods
Chicago Ave, west of Thatcher Ave
River Forest, IL 60305
Description: Join Roberta Jannsen, University of Illinois Extension volunteer, for a mindful and calming forest walk. 18 & up. Registration Required: Call Trailside at 708-366-6530.
For more information, click here.
Photo from Forest Preserves of Cook County
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer in the parks with the Chicago Parks District
Explore the links below for detailed information on our various volunteer opportunities:
Photo from Chicago Parks District
Explore the links below for detailed information on our various volunteer opportunities:
- One Day Volunteers
- Group One Day Service Projects
- Natural Areas Community Stewardship
- Community Gardening
- Conservatory Docent Programs
- Park Advisory Councils
- Pitch in for the Parks - Park Clean-Up Effort
- Contact the park supervisor or program manager for more information on the following areas. Go here to find a park.
- Special event support, coaching and sports instruction, tutoring/mentoring after school programs and camps
Photo from Chicago Parks District
Volunteer for Astronomy in the Parks
Join Chicago Council on Science and Technology, Chicago Parks District, and the Chicago Astronomer Crew at McKinley Park, located on the city's southwest side, on Saturday, Jun 4th, 2022 from 5:30 PM - 9:30 PM (CDT) and Explore the Night Sky! We are seeking 12 volunteers to help the staff with:
To learn more and sign up, click here.
Join Chicago Council on Science and Technology, Chicago Parks District, and the Chicago Astronomer Crew at McKinley Park, located on the city's southwest side, on Saturday, Jun 4th, 2022 from 5:30 PM - 9:30 PM (CDT) and Explore the Night Sky! We are seeking 12 volunteers to help the staff with:
- Providing access to STEM experts in astronomy and astrophysics for learners of all ages
- Assisting with family-friendly hands-on activities on the topics of astronomy and telescopes to the community to guide exploration of the night sky.
- Handing out resources to guests for further exploration in astronomy
- Surveying the community to ask what sort of STEM programming they want to see in the future
To learn more and sign up, click here.
Job Opportunities
The Horton Research Group at Northwestern University is hiring a new Research Study Coordinator. The successful candidate will coordinate research and community engagement projects that examine the role of urban green space as an environmental determinant of mental and physical wellbeing. The Research Study Coordinator (RSC) manages collection, analysis, processing & reporting of data & assists Principal Investigator (PI) in judging the validity of test data obtained in regard to biomedical &/or social-behavioral research study(ies) involving co-investigators, multiple campuses &/or universities. This is a full-time position, with a generous benefits package.
The full position description can be found on the NU Human Resources website https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/careers/apply/, search for Job # 44256 Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
The full position description can be found on the NU Human Resources website https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/careers/apply/, search for Job # 44256 Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
The Keller Science Action Center is hiring a Program Assistant and a Senior Program Manager.
The Program Assistant would support the City of Chicago, Youth Conservation Action, and Calumet Initiatives during the peak seasons of activity involving planting native gardens, support for programs, and community engagement events, especially in the far south side of the Chicago portion the Calumet region. This is a limited 6-month term position.
The Senior Program Manager would manage the Chicago Region program by deploying supports that multiply our success: annual and strategic planning, meeting design and facilitation, program evaluation, and budgeting and reporting. The Senior Program Manager will lead one or more initiatives, fostering coordination across all and supporting team learning. The Senior Program Manager reports to the Chicago Region Program Director and partners with the Center’s senior leaders from the Center’s two other programs, Conservation Tools and Andes-Amazon, and other team leads across the Museum.
Click here to learn more about the Program Assistant role, and here to learn more about the Senior Program Manager role.
The Program Assistant would support the City of Chicago, Youth Conservation Action, and Calumet Initiatives during the peak seasons of activity involving planting native gardens, support for programs, and community engagement events, especially in the far south side of the Chicago portion the Calumet region. This is a limited 6-month term position.
The Senior Program Manager would manage the Chicago Region program by deploying supports that multiply our success: annual and strategic planning, meeting design and facilitation, program evaluation, and budgeting and reporting. The Senior Program Manager will lead one or more initiatives, fostering coordination across all and supporting team learning. The Senior Program Manager reports to the Chicago Region Program Director and partners with the Center’s senior leaders from the Center’s two other programs, Conservation Tools and Andes-Amazon, and other team leads across the Museum.
Click here to learn more about the Program Assistant role, and here to learn more about the Senior Program Manager role.
In the News
Overview: New Flood Control Project With Bonuses
Earlier this month members of Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Board and local elected officials cut the ribbon on the Arrowhead Lake Flood Control Project. The $1.6-million project near Palos Heights increases storage capacity by more than 13-million gallons, removing about 70 homes and structures from a flood plain. In completing the project MWRD raised a bike trail on the north and east sides of the lake, resurfaced 2,675 feet of a multi-use pedestrian path with new asphalt and re-graded and restored an eroded bank at the south side of Arrowhead Lake with native seed, plant plugs and trees.
Read more: https://mwrd.org/mwrd-partners-celebrate-completion-arrowhead-lake-flood-control-project-removes-homes-palos-heights
In the photo (L-R): Palos Heights 1st Ward Ald. Donald Bylut, and 2nd Ward Ald. Jack Clifford, Palos Heights Mayor Robert Straz, MWRD President Kari K. Steele, FPCC General Superintendent Arnold Randall, State Senator Bill Cunningham (18th District) and MWRD Commissioner Chakena D. Perry cut the ribbon on the Arrowhead Lake Flood Control Project that has removed 70 homes and structures from the flood plain and improved trails and forest preserve amenities. Photo from MWRD.
Earlier this month members of Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Board and local elected officials cut the ribbon on the Arrowhead Lake Flood Control Project. The $1.6-million project near Palos Heights increases storage capacity by more than 13-million gallons, removing about 70 homes and structures from a flood plain. In completing the project MWRD raised a bike trail on the north and east sides of the lake, resurfaced 2,675 feet of a multi-use pedestrian path with new asphalt and re-graded and restored an eroded bank at the south side of Arrowhead Lake with native seed, plant plugs and trees.
Read more: https://mwrd.org/mwrd-partners-celebrate-completion-arrowhead-lake-flood-control-project-removes-homes-palos-heights
In the photo (L-R): Palos Heights 1st Ward Ald. Donald Bylut, and 2nd Ward Ald. Jack Clifford, Palos Heights Mayor Robert Straz, MWRD President Kari K. Steele, FPCC General Superintendent Arnold Randall, State Senator Bill Cunningham (18th District) and MWRD Commissioner Chakena D. Perry cut the ribbon on the Arrowhead Lake Flood Control Project that has removed 70 homes and structures from the flood plain and improved trails and forest preserve amenities. Photo from MWRD.
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Overview: Botanic Garden Offers Magical Mystery Tour of Songbirds
April and May are the months for viewing migratory songbirds – those lovely sparrow-like birds with complex vocal organs. A songbird’s syrinx enables a songbird to produce different notes – even more than one at a time. Birds migrating from Mexico and South America seek shelter and food, and Lake Michigan and the Skokie River at Chicago Botanic Garden offer them the nourishment and protection they need for nesting. May’s songbirds include flycatchers, tanagers, orioles, and up to 36 different species of warblers. Read more: https://www.chicagobotanic.org/birds/spring_bird_migration Photo by Frank Cone |
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Overview: Alliance - Feds Should Stop the Carp
The Alliance for the Great Lakes issued a statement late last month urging Congress to fully fund the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Brandon Road Lock and Dam project in Joliet. At present, the federal share is 90%. The project is designed to keep invasive carp out of Lake Michigan. Brandon Road is the “choke point” for the carp heading for the Great Lakes through the Mississippi River basin. Read more: greatlakes.org/2022/04/alliance-urges-congress-to-fully-fund-project-to-stop-invasive-carp/#:~:text=Alliance%20Urges%20Congress%20to%20Fully%20Fund%20Project%20to%20Stop%20Invasive%20Carp,-April%2029%2C%202022&text=Chicago%2C%20IL%20(April%2029%2C,and%20Development%20Act%20(WRDA). Photo by Karolina Grabowska |
Overview: Rice, Rivers and the Rights of Nature
The wild rice, or manoomin, that grows in the Great Lakes area is a person under the tribal law of the Anishinaabe of the U.S. and Canada. Anishinaabe lawyer Frank Bibeau designed legislation giving manoomin its own rights. The measure was one was one of several actions taken to block an oil pipeline through the Great Lakes ecosystem where the Anishinaabe and the rice have thrived together for generations.
The Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund advised Mr. Bibeau on the legislation, says it believes the manoomin is the first plant in the world to be granted rights. But it is not the only piece of nature to be protected by “rights of nature” legislation. In New Zealand, the Whanganui River was made a person in its own right in 2017. Neither the country, which had created a national park around the river, nor the Iwi Maori tribe, which had hunted and fished there for generations, now own the river. With the idea that indigenous peoples are the most reliable custodians of the planet now coming into mainstream thought, giving nature rights suggests a way their approaches might be adopted by broader society.
Read more: https://www.dw.com/en/environment-nature-rights-indigenous-activism-legal-personhood/a-52186866
On a similar topic: https://theconversation.com/rights-for-nature-how-granting-a-river-personhood-could-help-protect-it-157117
Photo | Copyright: Credit: North Wind Picture Archives / Alamy Stock Photo
The wild rice, or manoomin, that grows in the Great Lakes area is a person under the tribal law of the Anishinaabe of the U.S. and Canada. Anishinaabe lawyer Frank Bibeau designed legislation giving manoomin its own rights. The measure was one was one of several actions taken to block an oil pipeline through the Great Lakes ecosystem where the Anishinaabe and the rice have thrived together for generations.
The Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund advised Mr. Bibeau on the legislation, says it believes the manoomin is the first plant in the world to be granted rights. But it is not the only piece of nature to be protected by “rights of nature” legislation. In New Zealand, the Whanganui River was made a person in its own right in 2017. Neither the country, which had created a national park around the river, nor the Iwi Maori tribe, which had hunted and fished there for generations, now own the river. With the idea that indigenous peoples are the most reliable custodians of the planet now coming into mainstream thought, giving nature rights suggests a way their approaches might be adopted by broader society.
Read more: https://www.dw.com/en/environment-nature-rights-indigenous-activism-legal-personhood/a-52186866
On a similar topic: https://theconversation.com/rights-for-nature-how-granting-a-river-personhood-could-help-protect-it-157117
Photo | Copyright: Credit: North Wind Picture Archives / Alamy Stock Photo