We like to keep the NCH2 community updated on the most important events and information through our bi-monthly newsletters. Click the title below to see our most recent newsletter. If you are not on our mailing list yet, please head to our Get Involved page to sign-up. 

Highlights from the most Recent Newsletter

Click on the date to see details and links!
Date: 6/9/22
​Key Points:
  • ​Email us and follow us on social media.  Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. All can be found using handle @NCH2Network. 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 NCH2.Chicago@gmail.com​. 
  • A Bird's Eye on our Big Marsh Park Event. Over 40 community leaders and organizations gathered on May 17th at Big Marsh Park on Chicago’s southeast side for our Discovering Mental Health In Nature workshop.  As the initial kick-off to the Walder Foundation-funded Nature, Culture, and Human Health Catalyst, this event offered the opportunity for in-person brainstorming, networking, and connection.  The Southeast corner of Chicago has been identified by many as a growth area for improved nature spaces and new ones as well.  Friends of Big Marsh discussed the community engagement process that helped create a new and unique way in Chicago to recreate in nature.
  • Mama & Me June Birdwatching Event. If you're looking for a great activity to do with your kiddies this Saturday (the 11th), you and your little ones are invited to our June Birdwatching event! Binoculars will be provided but feel free to bring your own. We will have a BYO Picnic lunch (don’t forget the blanket and/or portable chairs), so we can talk and the children can play! Make sure you and your babies WEAR comfortable shoes! While registration is NOT required, please contact Mamas & Me Program Coordinator Hope Kyle at hope@ecowomanist.org to RSVP so we can have the most accurate count for snacks, etc. and if you have ANY questions!
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County: Without Limits - Recreation for All! On Sat, June 11th, individuals of all abilities can enjoy rich and challenging outdoor adventures and experience exploring nature through adaptive cycling, paddling and more. In partnership with Adaptive Adventures and Cycling without Age. Registration Required: Call 773-758-8899.
  • Metro Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Guided Bird and Nature Walk. MWRD is joining the Jewish Neighborhood Development Council of Chicago and Chicago Audubon Society at Park 538 this summer for nature walks beginning on June 12. Sightings of herons, swallows and kingfishers are possible! They will be distributing saplings and milkweed seeds.
  • 47th Ward Ecofest. Join Chicago Alderman Matt Martin, 47th Ward and other officials at Eco Fest on June 18 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at Welles Park. We welcome environmentalists, big and small, to join us for the first ever 47th Ward Eco Fest. This event will bring together small businesses, non-profits, and other vendors from across the city for a day of learning, activities, and fun focused on a sustainable future. The MWRD will be giving away free oak saplings, bags of compost and having a drawing for a free rain barrel!
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County: Pond Paddle. On Wed, June 22nd, enjoy an afternoon out paddling.  Instruction, sanitized equipment and kayaks provided. Registration Required: Call 312-533-5751.
  • ​Announcing the 1st Annual EcoVoice Festival. The EcoVoice Project (The EcoVP) uses music and interdisciplinary collaboration to inform, connect, and inspire people to act for environmentally just causes. The EcoVoice Festival is three days of performances and activities that build awareness, educate, and call others to action on climate change. The 2022 inaugural festival will take place July 8-10 and be hosted at Loyola University and the University of Illinois, Chicago. The festival will feature the premiere live performance of the New Earth Ensemble and two new song cycles, as well as educational panels and sessions. All events will be open to the general public, and the Sunday morning sing along encourages family participation. 
  • Walk with a Future Doc Resumes. Walk With a Future Doc (WWAFD) aims to bring medical students and community members together for outdoor walks. Last year, the CPF brought the program to Chicago's parks and we return again this summer! ​Local medical students lead 45-min weekly park walks and give short talks on health-related topics. This is a free, low-pressure way to get moving, connect with your neighbors, and learn more about your own health! Join us for our first walks: Lake Shore Park (808 N. Lake Shore Drive), Wednesdays at 6PM, Starting June 1st.
  • Depave Chicago Summer Workshops. Depave Chicago is part of a growing depave movement to transform paved sites through resilient nature-based design. Depave programs work with communities to replace unused and abandoned paved areas (such as parking lots and paved school grounds) with community gardens, pocket forests, street trees, pollinator gardens, and natural-play spaces! They are launching with two important workshops this summer (June 16th and July 21st) to be followed by an actual depave project (Workshop #3). The workshops will teach partners and participants all the steps involved in completing a depave project. The workshops are free for everyone. We also invite anyone who wants specific training as a crew leader to contact us ASAP. Spaces and stipends are available for this training.
  • Job Opportunities
    • The Forest Preserves of Cook County is seeking a Deputy Director to assist the Director of Conservation & Experiential
      Programming (CEP) Department       with all aspects and operations of the department, its staff, and contract management. The
      Deputy Director will assist in implementing the Department's vision, mission, and strategies. The CEP Department advances
      the Forest Preserve’s mission by connecting people to nature through interpretation, education, and outdoor recreation.
      The CEP Department includes 121 staff members (52 full-time, 41 part-time year-round, and 21 seasonal staff) who are
      responsible for public engagement, including interpretative programs for the public, schools, and community groups; nature
      center management; ambassador animal care; campground and aquatic center management; and community engagement,
      partnerships, and outreach. CEP manages the contract and vendor management for Campground Management (five
      campgrounds) and Aquatic Center Management (three seasonal Aquatic Centers) for the Forest Preserves.
    • 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 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. 
  • In the News
    • ​https://www.50chicagoareahikesbikesbites.com/index.cfm?&secure. Bike Hikes. Newcomers as well as long-time residents may find the perfect bike trip to public lands in and around the Chicago area. Bicyclists can search the website to learn the distance to a specific destination as well as the amenities – such as accessibility, playgrounds and wildlife – to be found there. 
    • https://mailchi.mp/45351666d568/news-from-the-nature-conservancy-in-illinois-14234923?e=976c8f0d1a. Stormwater Management. The city of Harvey is revitalizing its downtown with green infrastructure. By planting trees, adding green spaces for native plants, it is replacing concrete with nature to address stormwater runoff that can overwhelm sewer systems. The plants and trees will keep the air cooler in the summertime and provide a habitat for wildlife and pollinators.
    • https://resphealth.org/new-report-shows-elevated-health-risks-from-diesel-engine-pollution-in-illinois/. Diesel Pollution Poses Health Risks. The Respiratory Health Association recently issued a report showing that pollution from diesel engines in Illinois is 21% higher than the national average, according to a May 26 article by Caleb Bates about the report. The report was released nearly a year after the Illinois General Assembly urged Gov. Pritzker to join an agreement with 17 other states promising to increase the number of zero-emission trucks sold in coming years.
​
​Have something to share?  
We are currently taking requests for our Coffee & Discussion Series - Please submit Coffee and Discussion suggestions here.
We are also taking requests for any upcoming events to be added to future newsletters and our events calendar which can be done here. ​
Date: 5/26/22
Key Points:
  • ​Email us and follow us on social media.  Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. All can be found using handle @NCH2Network. 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 NCH2.Chicago@gmail.com​. 
  • Our "Discovering Mental Health in Nature: Big Marsh Park" Event on May 17th was great! Thank you to everyone who came and made our first in-person event in 2 years a success!
  • ​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. 
  • Chicago Park District: Nature-at-Night at NPV. On Fri, May 27th the North Point Village Nature Center is 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! 
  • Chicago Park District: Nature of Magic Walk Series at Humboldt. On Fri, May 27th, join for 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.
  • ​Forest Preserves of Cook County: Bird Walk. On Tue, May 31st, join a naturalist as we explore this preserve while looking for local birds.
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County: Walk in the Woods - LGBT+ Environmentalists. On Wed, Jun 1st, 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.
  • ​The Conservation Foundation: Local Foods - From the Farm and From Your Yard Webinar. On Wed, Jun 1st, 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!
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County: Wellness Walk. On Sun, Jun 5th, 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.
  • ​Volunteer Opportunities
    • Volunteer in the parks with the Chicago Parks District. Check out the newsletter for a list of links detailing information on the various volunteer opportunities available with the Parks District and the greater Chicago area. These can include clean-up, planting, special event support, coaching and sports instruction, tutoring/mentoring after school programs and camps. To learn more visit the Chicago Park District website here.
    • 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. 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 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. 
  • In the News
    • ​https://mwrd.org/mwrd-partners-celebrate-completion-arrowhead-lake-flood-control-project-removes-homes-palos-heights. 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.
    • https://www.chicagobotanic.org/birds/spring_bird_migration. 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.
    • 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). ​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.
    • ​https://www.dw.com/en/environment-nature-rights-indigenous-activism-legal-personhood/a-52186866. 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.
​
​Have something to share?  
We are currently taking requests for our Coffee & Discussion Series - Please submit Coffee and Discussion suggestions here.
We are also taking requests for any upcoming events to be added to future newsletters and our events calendar which can be done here. ​​
Date: 5/12/22
Key Points:​
  • ​Email us and follow us on social media.  Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. All can be found using handle @NCH2Network. 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 NCH2.Chicago@gmail.com​. 
  • ​May is upon us, which means so is 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. 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​
  • ​Come Join Us - ​Discovering Mental Health in Nature: Big Marsh Park. On Tues, May 17th  from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm. Join the NCH2 Network on May 17th for our first in-person event in over two years, as we celebrate Mental Health Awareness month.  We will gather at Big Marsh Park, one of Chicago Park District's unique nature spaces, on the Southeast side of Chicago.  Our morning will begin at 8:00 a.m. for anyone who would like to bird the Marsh, an essential piece of the bird migration corridor and shoreland birds.  Coffee and networking will begin at 9:00 a.m. followed by presentations and group discussions centered around co-creation of community collaborations and identification of resources needed to foster them.  In the middle of our morning, Cassandra Powell, from Light of Loving Kindness will lead us in a nature-based walking meditation.  We will adjourn at 12:00, but attendees are invited to continue birding, walk or bike the bike trails (bikes are available).
  • Chicago Botanic Garden: Spring in the Woods Walk. Sun, May 15th, enjoy spring’s beauty in McDonald Woods—from delicate wildflowers and budding trees to the sounds of birdsong. Get involved with our community science program, Budburst, and observe flowers blooming and new leaves growing. Find out how to be part of our new EcoQuest monthly challenges and how to submit observations with our mobile app. Then set out on self-guided walk in McDonald Woods. (A short trail loop is about 1/3 mile; the longer trail loop is about 2/3 mile.) We’ll have one guided woods walk, lasting approximately 45 minutes, at 1 p.m. Dress for the weather.
  • Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods: FUSEDChicago Beyond the Surface Exhibition Opening and Rivers Empyrean Strings Concert. Sun, May 15th, join us at Brushwood Center for this exciting exhibition opening, followed by a free outdoor strings performance of "Rivers Empyrean" by Fifth House Ensemble. The exhibition features work by members of FUSEDChicago, an organization of artists based in the Midwest who share an interest in encaustic, a method of making art using pigmented beeswax and damar resin (crystalized tree sap).  After enjoying the art, experience the concert! "Rivers Empyrean" traces the life cycle of water from its metaphorical descent from the heavens as rain to its long journey in streams and rivers informed by conservation experts and ecologists.
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County: Bird Walk. Wed, May 18th, walk with a naturalist. Learn to identify birds by field marks, behavior, sound and habitat. Binoculars available for loan. Registration required: Call Sagawau at 630-257-2045.
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County: Lunch & Learn - Climate Change: Local Governments Commitment to Future Generations. Wed, May 18th, come join local voices discuss sustainability and Chicago's recently released 2022 Climate Action Plan in the last meeting of this series. This event will host various local government agency senior sustainability officers, who will discuss what they are doing to achieve the IPCC’s recommendations, so that future generation will live in a world and county that is resilient and sustainable. Learn more about Chicago's Climate Action Plan here.
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County: Walk & Talk. Sat, May 21st, walk & Talk hikes are for the curious minds that want to know more about the Forest Preserves and natural areas. These hikes will be led at a slower pace with frequent stopping and interpretation. 2 miles.
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County: Spring Blooms Walk. Sun, May 22nd, delight in the beauty of spring wildflowers on a guided hike through the forest and prairie.
  • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Volunteer in the parks with the Chicago Parks District. Check out the newsletter for a list of links detailing information on the various volunteer opportunities available with the Parks District and the greater Chicago area. These can include clean-up, planting, special event support, coaching and sports instruction, tutoring/mentoring after school programs and camps. To learn more visit the Chicago Park District website here.​
    • In partnership with Cook County, the City of Markham and the Markham City Council, NGEF will plant the first public Miyawaki microforest in the Chicagoland area on May 20, 2022. The forest will be a pilot site and will lie adjacent to the Circuit Court of Cook County's Sixth Municipal District Courthouse in Markham, Illinois. Miyawaki Forests use principles and methodology developed by the late Akira Miyawaki, PhD, award-winning Japanese professor of botany. Dr. Miyawaki’s method incorporates extensive soil preparation and dense planting in order to encourage growth and survival of the fittest plants. Miyawaki forests are ideally suited for planting in small areas. They encourage biodiversity and increase tree canopy in urban areas more vulnerable to the effects of climate change and heat islands. The Markham Miyawaki forest will contain 315 native plants made up of 25 distinct native species. Native plants support soil health, mitigate flooding and attract pollinators. Through community engagement efforts, NGEF plans to create additional Miyawaki micro forests throughout the Chicagoland area in efforts to support the mission of tree equity. Research clearly shows the ability of trees to improve mental, physical and social health. For these health and environmental reasons, NGEF believes all communities deserve trees. Adult volunteers are needed to assist with forest planting at the Markham Courthouse on May 20th between 9AM and 3PM.
  • ​Faith in Place - Eco-Ambassador Youth Program. ​Faith in Place empowers environmental education to youth leaders (ages 14-18) from across Illinois to become environmental justice leaders. Eco Ambassadors learn about environmental justice and climate change in order to create environmental solutions through community action projects, educational site visits, urban farming, habitat restoration, and camping. The program brings leaders from diverse fields to connect and educate with youth. Youth also complete leadership project using their skills, from dance to architecture, to care for our shared lands. Paid opportunity. 
  • 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 Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods is seeking two student Fellows to support the development of a Health, Equity, and Nature Report for Lake County. It’s a very exciting project, and a great opportunity for on-the-ground learning. We are seeking an enthusiastic candidate with experience in data collection and evaluation as well as a passion for public health and the outdoors. The Fellow of Health, Equity, and Nature. Accelerator will work closely with the Director of Health Equity, and Nature Accelerator developing a Health and Nature Equity report for Lake County. Additionally, the Fellow will work on operationalizing a 3–6-month pilot program for nature-based healthcare solutions with Medicaid or Medicare partners. The ideal candidate for this role will be able to apply Brushwood Center’s commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion to all aspects of their role. Apply by May 22nd!
    • 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. 
  • In the News
    • https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/06/studies-on-natures-mental-health-benefits-show-massive-western-bias. “WEIRD” Studies Give Incomplete Picture. Studies linking positive mental health outcomes to time spent in nature appear to be solid but limited in coverage to western, educated, industrialized, rich and democratic (weird) populations. Writing for The Guardian earlier this month, Sofia Quaglia referred to research from the University of Vermont that recommended looking at how indigenous cultures look at interactions with nature, in order to form a more complete picture of the health benefits of nature. Distinguishing among various populations in the world and their interactions with nature can lead to solid policy changes. 
    • https://news.osu.edu/how-racialized-trauma-functions-as-a-barrier-to-enjoying-nature/#.YnbmiBKol4w.mailto. Racialized Trauma Can Be a Barrier to Enjoying Nature. Physical barriers to natural areas are often metaphoric barriers to historically marginalized populations, wrote Emily Caldwell recently in Ohio State News. Researchers at Ohio State University recently analyzed information from participants in focus groups surrounding the closing of a gate in wildlife refuge in Colorado several years ago. They found “historical trauma” among Black and Indigenous people. “The history of systemic racism in the United States casts a pall over marginalized people’s attempts to enjoy nature-based leisure activities,” she wrote. This history has shaped the way many Black and Indigenous people view public lands, seeing decades and sometimes centuries of barriers to access to parks, refuges, and other natural public areas. The inequalities have also shaped proposed solutions, the research found. 
    • www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2022/03/03/coal-mines-solar-farms-climate-change-video/.  Coal Mines to Solar Farms. The Nature Conservancy is hoping that the utility-scale solar farms it has wrought from abandoned coal mines will serve as a model for other groups. Each of the six former-mine sites in Virginia has sufficient flat areas to make solar farming feasible, according to a March 3 article by Zoeann Murphy in the Washington Post. An additional attraction for partners Dominion Energy and Sun Tribe is the proximity to transmission lines. Ms. Murphy quotes Lou Wallace, Board of Supervisors chairperson for Russell County, Va.: “We’re very proud to be an energy-producing community. This is helping us to reimagine how we produce the energy. So we’re still able to say we’re keeping the lights on somewhere.”
    • https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02695-0. Academia’s Ableist Culture
      ​      In October of last year four group leaders, each with a disability, spoke with Kendall Powell of Nature about how they see laboratories and fieldwork can be made more accessible and inclusive. Between 15% and 25% of the world’s population lives with a disability, and, although some progress has been made for rights for the disabled, many scientists with a disability find research spaces and career pathways “out of reach, both literally and figuratively,” she wrote. The pandemic has eased some of the problems, as people work remotely and many meetings and conferences are held virtually. She interviewed evolutionary chemical ecologist Kelsey Byers in the U.K., nuclear physicist Viviane Morcelle in Brazil, conservation scientist Hanna Mumby in Hong Kong, and Vivan Cheung in Michigan and Maryland. The interviews, edited for length and clarity, describe how people’s assumptions, poorly designed space and old buildings can exacerbate the problems of the disability itself. They each also describe how they overcame obstacles in academia.

​Have something to share?  
We are currently taking requests for our Coffee & Discussion Series - Please submit Coffee and Discussion suggestions here.
We are also taking requests for any upcoming events to be added to future newsletters and our events calendar which can be done here. ​
Date: 4/28/22
Key Points: 
  • ​Email us and follow us on social media.  Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. All can be found using handle @NCH2Network. 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 NCH2.Chicago@gmail.com​. 
  • ​​May is quickly approaching, which means so is NCH2's May is Mental Health Awareness Month Initiative! If your organization would like to partner with NCH2 for this initiative send an email to NCH2.Chicago@gmail.com​. We want to promote your events and activities.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​ Continue to visit this page throughout May for more events, resources,  and information about May as Mental Health Month and NCH2's Tools2ThriveOutside campaign.
  • ​Come Join Us - ​Discovering Mental Health in Nature: Big Marsh Park. On Tues, May 17th  from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm. Join the NCH2 Network on May 17th for our first in-person event in over two years, as we celebrate Mental Health Awareness month.  We will gather at Big Marsh Park, one of Chicago Park District's unique nature spaces, on the Southeast side of Chicago.  Our morning will begin at 8:00 a.m. for anyone who would like to bird the Marsh, an essential piece of the bird migration corridor and shoreland birds.  Coffee and networking will begin at 9:00 a.m. followed by presentations and group discussions centered around co-creation of community collaborations and identification of resources needed to foster them.  In the middle of our morning, Cassandra Powell, from Light of Loving Kindness will lead us in a nature-based walking meditation.  We will adjourn at 12:00, but attendees are invited to continue birding, walk or bike the bike trails (bikes are available).
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County: Conservation@Home - Homegrown National Park. Sun, May 1st from 11 am - 12 pm, let’s help the goal of establishing 20 million acres of native gardening on private land. It’s easy and we will show you how. Free plants!​
    • ​Homegrown National Park is a grassroots call-to-action to regenerate biodiversity and ecosystem function by planting native plants and creating new ecological networks. Their mission is to regenerate biodiversity and ecosystem function because every human being on this planet needs diverse highly productive ecosystems to survive. Want to get involved? Check out these local native plant sales with information on how and where to plant. In Evanston: Bird Buzz Native Plant Sale! In the wider Chicago area: Chicago Living Corridors Native Plant Sales! Sales are grouped by county, proceeding north to south, and were originally organized chronologically within county.   
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County: Spring Festival & Trailside’s 90th Anniversary Celebration​. Sun, May 1st from 11 am - 3 pm, celebrate 90 years of nature education and springtime at Trailside Museum! Enjoy an ice cream social and participate in family-friendly historical activities. Enjoy animal encounters, kids’ tree climb, guided wildflower walks, bird banding, dip netting, building a bird house to take home, and much more!
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County: National Space Day. Fri, May 6th at 8 pm, join us to celebrate National Space Day with a viewing of the night sky while we discuss all the space achievements and discoveries of the year.
  • The Conservation Foundation: Forest Therapy Walk. Sat, May 7th, from 9:30 am - 11:30 am. Immerse yourself in nature and experience the healing effects of forest therapy or Shinrin-Yoki (Japanese for forest bathing). The walk is not about the destination, but instead the awakening of your senses to the natural environment around you. Reconnect with nature during these mindful walks with a certified Forest Therapy guide. This year’s walks cost $20/person. The walk is held entirely outdoors. Be prepared to walk over uneven terrain. Wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes. Meets at the stone circle/ledge south of the parking lot and in front of the bridge. 
  • Brushwood Center’s Inaugural Mother Earth Market. Join us Saturday and Sunday, May 7 & 8 for a weekend of art, music and nature at Brushwood Center!  The Mother Earth Market will feature artists, artisans, businesses and organizations who are inspired my Mother Earth, and are working for a more sustainable future.  Shop for locally made art and goods, enjoy an outdoor yoga class, attend one of our outdoor art classes, and enjoy our free afternoon concerts - there's so much to do! Can't make it to the in-person market or want to make sure you don't miss out on something really special? No problem! Visit our website starting at 9am on April 30 for first pick of a large selection of items from our amazing collection of artists and artisans.  Items purchased online can be either shipped directly to you, or can be picked later up at Brushwood Center.
  • The Conservation Foundation: A River Flows Through It, Life in the Fox River Valley. Wed, May 11th, from 7:00 - 8:00 pm, join the A Fox River Program Series, in partnership with:The Conservation Foundation (St. Charles Park District) and sponsored by The River Corridor Foundation of St. Charles. This event will discuss:  Your Legacy on the Fox River, Actions for Today & Tomorrow, and have speaker Brook McDonald, President and CEO, The Conservation Foundation. All Programs are Free.​
  • Volunteer Opportunities. 
    • Volunteer in Evanston Parks with Citizens for Greener Evanston/Natural Habitat Evanston. (https://greenerevanston.org/community-habitat-certification-program) to pick up trash, remove invasive species, and do trail maintenance. Days and times vary with park. Each park has a steward who organizes workdays. You will also need to sign a waiver to participate in workdays. Bring your own gloves, mask, tools if you have them, and physically distance when working.  Here is a list of parks with regular workdays and stewards. Go to the newsletter webpage to see the parks and ways to contact them.
    • In partnership with Cook County, the City of Markham and the Markham City Council, NGEF will plant the first public Miyawaki microforest in the Chicagoland area on May 20, 2022. The forest will be a pilot site and will lie adjacent to the Circuit Court of Cook County's Sixth Municipal District Courthouse in Markham, Illinois. Miyawaki Forests use principles and methodology developed by the late Akira Miyawaki, PhD, award-winning Japanese professor of botany. Dr. Miyawaki’s method incorporates extensive soil preparation and dense planting in order to encourage growth and survival of the fittest plants. Miyawaki forests are ideally suited for planting in small areas. They encourage biodiversity and increase tree canopy in urban areas more vulnerable to the effects of climate change and heat islands. The Markham Miyawaki forest will contain 315 native plants made up of 25 distinct native species. Native plants support soil health, mitigate flooding and attract pollinators. Through community engagement efforts, NGEF plans to create additional Miyawaki micro forests throughout the Chicagoland area in efforts to support the mission of tree equity. Research clearly shows the ability of trees to improve mental, physical and social health. For these health and environmental reasons, NGEF believes all communities deserve trees. Adult volunteers are needed to assist with forest planting at the Markham Courthouse on May 20th between 9AM and 3PM.
  • Job Opportunity. Friends of the Forest Preserves: Forest Preserve Experience Program Crew Leader. Friends of the Forest Preserves is hiring Crew Leaders for the 2022 Forest Preserve Experience Program (FPE). We are looking for leaders in both the Chicago Heights and LaGrange areas. The FPE program is a summer high school program introducing youth to nature and the Forest Preserves of Cook County. We perform restoration work and provide environmental education, job readiness skills, and environmental enrichment activities to our youth. Program dates are July 5th - August 5th plus leader training from June 23rd - July 1st. Positions will be filled on a rolling basis. 
  • Chicago Wilderness: City Nature Challenge. Whether you hike at Illinois Beach State Park, prefer the Indiana Dunes, or bird in your backyard, your Chicago Metro area nature sightings can help this year’s City Nature Challenge! Join participants from over 350 cities around the world by sharing your observations of wild plants and animals in the Chicago Metro area from April 29 through May 2. Your nature sightings become data that helps scientists better understand and protect nature for all of us. Take part by sharing your photos of plants and animals on iNaturalist, joining an organized event, or helping other people with identification. All observations in these counties will count for the challenge: Illinois (Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, Will); Indiana (Jasper, Lake, Newton, Porter); and Wisconsin (Kenosha). We'll help promote the events and share your results. Want to do even more? After the City Nature Challenge is over, we need experts and community scientists to help with species identification. It's a great way to stay involved year round. 
  • Policy and Research Perspectives. In this perspective piece, officials from the Office of Climate Change and Health Equity, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality describe four policy areas to center the impact of climate change on health and equity. The development of these policies will be undertaken by the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) new Office of Climate Change and Health Equity (OCCHE). The first policy will promote transparent reporting on progress towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Second, OCCHE will develop programs to educate the health care sector about best practices in developing resilience and decarbonization and education about the health impacts of climate change. This includes raising awareness about the public health threats of local issues such as flooding, extreme heat, and fires. Third, relying on evidence-based practices, HHS will develop a series of incentives to encourage improvements in the health care sector. Finally, and of great importance to NCH2 members, HHS will work to update regulations to remove barriers and improve the ability of the health care sector to take actions that address the health threats of climate change. Check the newsletter to see local examples. Citation: Balbus, J. M., et al. (2022). "After COP26 — Putting Health and Equity at the Center of the Climate Movement." New England Journal of Medicine 386(14): 1295-1297.  https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMp2118259  This article is open access and available for all to rea
  • In the News. Nature is the byword as April wanes: Earth Day has come and gone, but Earth Week and Earth Month have a few remaining days. Arbor Day is April 29, and Dark Sky Week ends April 30.
    • www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/04/22/us/frederick- law-olmsted-american-parks.html and at ​www.architecture.org/learn/resources/architecture-dictionary/entry/ frederick-law-olmsted/. ​Olmstead’s Legacy. The New York Times observed the 200th anniversary of the birth of Frederick Law Olmstead with a photo essay by Ruth Fremson and an essay by Audra D.S. Burch. The piece documented spaces he had designed in New York, but Mr. Olmstead left his mark on Chicago as well. He designed the suburb of Riverside and, with Daniel Burnham, what is now Jackson Park, thereby launching the “City Beautiful” movement. That movement, according to architecture.org “promoted the introduction of beautiful green space in urban center nationwide to improve residents’ morale and quality of life.” The introduction to the New York Times article and essay noted, “In plots of earth and green, Olmstead saw something more: freedom, human connection, public health.”
    • history.nebraska.gov/blog/j-sterling-morton-creates- arbor-day#:~:text=Arbor%20Day%20originated%20in%20Nebraska, %2C%20cuttings%2C%20and%20seeds%20planted and  mortonarb.org/about-arboretum/history/. Arbor Day originated in Nebraska in 1872, when the State Board of Agriculture adopted J. Sterling Morton's resolution that April 10 of that year be set aside for tree planting. His diary entry of April 8 of that year reads: " Arbor Day, an invention of mine, now become a public holiday, destined to become a blessing to posterity as well as to ourselves. It is devoted to tree planting. ... On the Morton place, today, Two Hundred Elms, Ash & Linden trees are set out on East Line and East Avenue." Arbor Day is now celebrated nationally on the last Friday of April. Joy Morton, the oldest of J. Sterling Morton’s four sons, came to the Chicago area, where founded the Morton Salt Company. He built Thornhill, his estate, near Lisle. Following the family motto “Plant trees,” he created a museum of trees, the Morton Arboretum.​
    • www.idachicago.org/events/international-dark-sky-week-2022. Dark Sky, Healthier Earth. The International Dark Sky Association seeks to protect night from light pollution, which is increasing worldwide at twice the rate of global population growth. The group estimates that eight of 10 people live under a light-polluted night sky. On its website, the
      Chicago Chapter of IDA notes, “Artificial light at night has revolutionized the way we live and work outdoors, but it has come at a price. When used indiscriminately, outdoor lighting can disrupt wildlife, impact human health, waste money and energy, contribute
      to climate change, and block our view of the universe.” The group in 2019 developed a plan to slow the growth and begin to reverse light pollution.
    • ​zerowastememoirs.com/guide-to-sustainable-fabric/ Advisory: some of the links may be affiliated or compensated. Wearing Sustainably: Spider Silk and Fruit Leather
      Those Saturday clothes – jeans and a T-shirt used about 20,000 liters of water to be made. And when they are so worn as not to be wearable, they may join the piles of clothing that fill the size of a garbage truck that are sent to landfills or burned. Sustainable textiles can help address the problem, but to be really effective globally, they should be both environmentally and socially sustainable. A recent article in zerowastememoirs, The Eco-Conscious Closet: A Guide to Sustainable Fabrics, looks at recycled cotton, recycled nylon, linen, hemp, fruit leathers and other fabrics from whether they are produced with a “closed-loop or circular system, recycling waste and putting it back into production.” To be truly sustainable, the article states, clothes must be “durable, ethical, and affordable .”

​Have something to share?  
We are currently taking requests for our Coffee & Discussion Series - Please submit Coffee and Discussion suggestions here.
We are also taking requests for any upcoming events to be added to future newsletters and our events calendar which can be done here. ​
Date: 4/14/22
Key Points:
  • ​Earth day is coming up on April 22nd and there are many opportunities in the Chicago-land area to get outside, appreciate nature, and help clean up our shared green spaces. If you're out and about on Earth Day weekend send us pictures or a description of your interaction with nature and let us know if you would like to be featured in our next newsletter!  Also tag NCH2 (@NCH2Network) in your Earth Day social media posts.
  • ​Email us and follow us on social media.  Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. All can be found using handle @NCH2Network. 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 NCH2.Chicago@gmail.com​. 
  • ​Come Join Us - ​Discovering Mental Health in Nature: Big Marsh Park. On Tues, May 17th  from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm. Save the date for this community leaders engagement event at Big Marsh Park on Chicago’s South Side during Mental Health Awareness Month. Join us as we: discuss how time in nature can alleviate mental health challenges and the how barriers limit this opportunity, participate in a mindfulness activity hosted by Cassandra Powell of Light of Loving Kindness, learn about many new nature assets on the South Side of Chicago, learn about NCH2’s Catalyst program to foster resilient human and natural communities, and have fun in nature — options to bird or bike the Big Marsh Trails. We hope to see you there for this informative and fun in-person event highlighting nature and mental health in the Chicago area! 
  • Laura Derks named Director of NCH2.  Founder of Flybird Experience LLC, and current member of the NCH2 Steering Committee, has accepted the newly created position of Director of NCH2. As Director, Laura will implement the Health and Nature Catalyst program funded by the Walder Foundation and fully integrate the Catalyst with the activities of NCH2.  Laura brings over thirty years of experience in community health and health policy derived from her former positions such as the Director of Program Development for the Office of Community Affairs at the University of Chicago Medical Center and the Director of the South Side Healthcare Collaborative.  Laura also brings extensive connections with the environmental conservation community through her work as Chair of the Energy and Environment Commission for the Village of Oak Park, IL, the Sierra Club’s Inspiring Connections to the Outdoors, and many other activities.  Laura’s passion is promoting the role of nature as a social determinant of health and the need to focus efforts on the role that nature can play in preventive medicine. 
  • Chicago's Annual Citywide Clean & Green. On Saturday, April 23rd, you and your neighbors can make an immediate difference in your community by volunteering for Chicago's citywide Clean & Green Day of Service. 
    Clean & Green is a great opportunity for residents, school groups, and organizations to team up and beautify areas in their neighborhood. The city will provide the brooms, rakes, shovels, and bags needed for clean up. Deadline for registering your neighborhood event is Monday, April 18th.
  • Chicago Park District: Spring Early Birds at NPV​. The Nature Center is open early each Saturday in April and May at 8am for morning hikes and bird watching during the spring bird migration. Binoculars and field guides are available for free use upon request. Join a group of birders or enjoy a self-guided walk. Beginners are welcome. Co-sponsored with Chicago Audubon Society. No registration necessary, parking and entry are free!
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County: Wildflower Walk. On Sat, Apr 16th at 1:00 pm, enjoy a walk looking for wildflowers while learning how to identify these ephemeral beauties. Registration required: Call Sagawau at 630-257-2045.
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County: Forest Therapy Walk. On Tue, Apr 19th at 10:00 am, awaken your senses and renew your bond with the nature and the Preserves. Certified Forest Therapy guide. Ages 18 & up. Registration required: Call 224-456-8602.
  • Evanston Skokie School District 65’s Climate Action Teams: 10 Second Film Festival. On Fri, Apr 22nd at 6:30 pm, join D65 students for a showing of their 10+ second videos on how they're taking action or want to see others take action to fight the climate crisis. 
  • Brookfield Zoo: Earth Day - A Party for the Planet. On Sat, Apr 23rd, from 9:00 am - 2:00 pm, the zoo will be collecting electronics, textiles, and used books. There is no charge to drop off recycling; however, tickets or membership is required if you plan to visit the zoo. The process is easy. Drive into the north parking lot and representatives from the zoo and its partnering organizations will collect your items for recycling. THANK YOU FOR YOUR DONATIONS!
  • Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods: The Universe at an Exhibition. On Sat, Apr 23rd, audiences are guided through virtual galleries of art-like images and science visualizations of the cosmos, including producer Dr. Salgado’s own astrophotography. Patrons are taken beyond the frames, as they travel inside these works of art, immersed into space, as they fly past Earth, planets, stars, black holes, and entire galaxies. The film features images from NASA’s Great Observatories (Hubble, Spitzer, and Chandra) and major ground observatories (eg, European Southern Observatory) as well as visualizations from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and the National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University of Illinois.
  • Nature Rx: Social Emotional Learning for Students and Teachers. A graduate course for educators held at the Kendall County Outdoor Education Center in Yorkville June 6-10, 2022. This 5-day course focuses on SEL standards and how to use natural outdoor settings for implementation. Team building, field trips, activity and reflection fill the week as participants can earn three graduate credits. Visit kcoutdoored.org for more information.
  • Volunteer Opportunities. Volunteer in Evanston Parks with Citizens for Greener Evanston/Natural Habitat Evanston (https://greenerevanston.org/community-habitat-certification-program) to pick up trash, remove invasive species, and do trail maintenance. Days and times vary with park. Each park has a steward who organizes workdays. You will also need to sign a waiver to participate in workdays. Bring your own gloves, mask, tools if you have them, and physically distance when working.  Here is a list of parks with regular workdays and stewards. Go to the newsletter webpage to see the parks and ways to contact them.
  • Job Opportunity. Friends of the Forest Preserves: Forest Preserve Experience Program Crew Leader. Friends of the Forest Preserves is hiring Crew Leaders for the 2022 Forest Preserve Experience Program (FPE). We are looking for leaders in both the Chicago Heights and LaGrange areas. The FPE program is a summer high school program introducing youth to nature and the Forest Preserves of Cook County. We perform restoration work and provide environmental education, job readiness skills, and environmental enrichment activities to our youth. Program dates are July 5th - August 5th plus leader training from June 23rd - July 1st. Positions will be filled on a rolling basis. ​
  • Chicago Wilderness: ​Calling All Community Scientists and Conservation Organizations - Site Proposals Accepted until April 15th. We need your help organizing events to document the wildlife that calls our communities home. Together, we can break last year's amazing record! The City Nature Challenge, a global biodiversity competition, takes place from April 29 through May 2, 2022.
    It's a great opportunity for you to engage city residents and visitors in learning about their local nature. Your event also helps researchers and land managers better understand and protect urban nature. All observations in these counties will count for the challenge: Illinois (Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, Will); Indiana (Jasper, Lake, Newton, Porter); and Wisconsin (Kenosha). We'll help promote the events and share your results. Want to do even more? After the City Nature Challenge is over, we need experts and community scientists to help with species identification. It's a great way to stay involved year round.
  • In the News. Earth Day is April 22nd. This year’s theme is “Invest in Our Planet.” The Old Farmer’s Almanac, Harvard Business School and the Trust for Public Land offer an array of types of investing. The Chicago Field Museum also has resources on taking action against climate change which can be found here. On Earth Day the universe itself offers the early-morning bonus of the Lyrid Meteor Shower.
    • ​www.almanac.com/content/earth-day-date-activities-history. Earth Day Chronicle. The Almanac’s “10 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day” also includes a brief history of this annual holiday – which in some communities has expanded to Earth Week or Earth Month. In the yard and garden, support pollinators, use native plants, plant a tree, eliminate chemicals (inside as well), and conserve water. While Earth Day is relatively new, the poet Eben Eugene Rexford (1848-1916) penned these lines: "The “green things growing” whisper me, Of many an earth-old mystery." –Eben Eugene Rexford (1848–1916)​
    • www.tpl.org/our-work/chattahoochee-riverlands. Connecting a Million People to Nature by Transforming  an ‘Endangered’ River Corridor. Writing for Trust for Public Land in February of this year, Amy McCullough described the Chattahoochee RiverLands project and its impacts on health, equity, community, and inclusion. It will ensure cleaner drinking water, improve flood control, conserve wildlife habitats, and connect more than one million people to the river and its natural resources. In her introduction to the piece, for which she interviewed many participants in the projects, she wrote: “Spanning 100 miles from Buford Dam north of Atlanta to Chattahoochee Bend State Park, the Chattahoochee RiverLands is a network of greenways, a blueway (the river itself), tributary trails, and parks—all working together to connect people to the outdoors. When completed, it will link 19 cities and seven counties and include 42 water access points and eight proposed campsites. “
    • wwf.panda.org/projects/one_planet_cities/what_we_do/financing_sustainable_cities/. WWF Looks at Sustainable Cities. The World Wildlife Federation notes that to meet the needs of increasing urban populations, “In the next four decades humanity must create as much infrastructure as they've built so far throughout recorded history.” These projects must be resilient as well as low-carbon if they are to meet the Paris Agreement’s goal of keeping global warming to the safe limit of 1.5°C.
      WWF is focusing on five areas: supporting city leaders, testing innovative financing tools, developing infrastructure frameworks and patterning for cities’ climate financing. 
    • online.hbs.edu/blog/post/sustainable-investing. Thoughts on Investing Sustainably. Tim Stobierski is a marketing specialist and contributing writer for Harvard Business School Online, asked and answered this question in a recent issue of Business Insights: “What is sustainable investing?” Also called “socially responsible investing” or “ESG investing,” sustainable investing entails considering more than immediate profits. It looks instead at how a company will use its more to promote societal benefits and corporate responsibility as well as long-term financial profit – a triple bottom line.  

Have something to share?  
We are currently taking requests for our Coffee & Discussion Series - Please submit Coffee and Discussion suggestions here.
We are also taking requests for any upcoming events to be added to future newsletters and our events calendar which can be done here. ​
Date: 3/31/22
Key Points:
  • ​Follow us on social media.  Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. All can be found using handle @NCH2Network. 
  • Next NCH2 Coffee and Discussion. On April 7th, 2022, from 12 noon to 1:15 CST, join us on Zoom for Accelerating Health and Nature Collaboration. Presented by: The Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods. Catherine Game, Dani Abboud, and Natalia Ospin. Although research demonstrates the physical and mental health benefits of time spent in nature, historic and systemic injustices prevent equitable access to these benefits, particularly for individuals from low-income and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) communities. Like other social determinants of health, access to a clean and healthy environment is not incentivized through traditional fee-for-service models of healthcare. In contrast, value-based care, or VBC, (driven by quality of patient care, not quantity) presents opportunities for bridging healthcare and nature-based organizations to improve patient outcomes. This study explores the institutional and financial potential for this collaboration in the Chicagoland region, employing interviews with 27 leaders in healthcare and conservation, as well as breakout discussions with 60 community leaders in Lake County, IL. The results identify six key categories of themes, including both near term and long term opportunities and strategies for driving equitable nature-based healthcare solutions. This data has informed the development of an emerging Health, Equity, and Nature Accelerator at Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods in the northern Chicago region.
  • Save the Date: ​Discovering Mental Health in Nature: Big Marsh Park. On Tues, May 17th  from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm. Save the date for this community leaders engagement event at Big Marsh Park on Chicago’s South Side during Mental Health Awareness Month. Join us as we: discuss how time in nature can alleviate mental health challenges and the how barriers limit this opportunity, participate in a mindfulness activity, learn about many new nature assets on the South Side of Chicago, connect with the Nature, Culture and Human Health Network, have fun in nature — options to bird or bike the Big Marsh Trails. We hope to see you there for this informative and fun in-person event highlighting nature and mental health in the Chicago area! 
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County: Pond Dipping. On Sun, April 3rd, from 1 pm - 3 pm, net dip to investigate macroinvertebrates and learn what they can tell us about aquatic habitats. Ages 5 & up. Registration Required: Call 224-456-8602.
  • Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods Film Screening: The Power of Us - Confronting Our Climate Crisis. On Sun, April 3rd, from 2 pm - 3 pm, join Brushwood Center and Prairie Crossing Charter School for the screening of The Power of Us: Confronting our Climate Crisis.  The climate crisis is a problem affecting people of all ages — and it needs an intergenerational, collaborative movement to fight it. 82-year-old retired Chicagoland engineer Jim Goodman and his wife Annie are alarmed about the climate change crisis, and know their generation has failed to adequately address it. With the environmental clock ticking, the Goodmans enlist the aid of some equally concerned young people, from those directly impacted by climate change’s disastrous impacts to those that are coming up with their own innovative solutions. The Power of Us underscores the urgency of the crisis and shows the power of an intergenerational climate movement, with youth leading the charge into the future. Executive Producers Annie and Jim Goodman and one of the film’s youth activists, Tess Russell, will be present for pre-screening conversation and post-screening Q&A. Tickets are free, but registration preferred.
  • Northwestern One-Book Panel on Climate Change Education. On Tues, April 5th, from 5:00 - 6:30 pm, join One Book One Northwestern on April 5th from 5-6:30pm CT for a virtual panel discussion on Climate Change Education. During this conversation practitioners representing K-12 and collegiate spaces will discuss topics such as education methods, teaching philosophies, and classroom specific strategies for engaging students. This program is open to all, particularly those interested in education, science communication, and student learning. Registration required for virtual panel link.
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County: Conservation@Home - Go Native and Get Wild. On Sat, April 9th at 2 pm, learn about the best plant species and benefits to yourself, pollinators and birds of planting native flowers, grasses, shrubs and trees in your backyard. Ages 18 & up. Registration required for Zoom link: Call Trailside at 708-366-6530.
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County: Spring Stroll. On Sun, Apr 10th at 1:30 pm, join us for a walk to highlight the signs of spring. Registration required: Call River Trail at 847-824-8360.
  • Urban Forest Connections Webinar: Greenspace Preservation in Distressed Communities. On Wed, April 13th, from 1:00 – 2:15 pm ET, the Forest Service Urban Forest Connections webinar series brings experts together to discuss the latest science, practice, and policy on urban forestry and the environment. Dr. Cassandra Johnson, Research Social Scientist with the USDA Forest Service, will present research findings on the tension between distressed social conditions and environmental preservation in Atlanta’s South River watershed. Allen Doyle with the South River Forest Coalition will outline recent efforts the coalition has made to establish the “South River Forest,’ which could include 3,500 acres of both green and developed spaces. The presentation will also focus on historical underpinnings of greenspace emergence in Metro Atlanta, greenspace and urban forest preservation across municipal boundaries, how existing social inequities may detract from popular, civic environmentalism, and efforts to include neighborhoods and stakeholders that have sometimes been overlooked.
  • Volunteer Opportunities. Volunteer in Evanston Parks with Citizens for Greener Evanston/Natural Habitat Evanston (https://greenerevanston.org/community-habitat-certification-program) to pick up trash, remove invasive species, and do trail maintenance. Days and times vary with park. Each park has a steward who organizes workdays. You will also need to sign a waiver to participate in workdays. Bring your own gloves, mask, tools if you have them, and physically distance when working.  Here is a list of parks with regular workdays and stewards. Go to the newsletter webpage to see the parks and ways to contact them.
  • Job Opportunity: ​Study of Active Neighborhoods Detroit (STAND): Field Staff Member. The Study of Active Neighborhoods in Detroit, led by Dr. Amber Pearson is getting ready for the field season of 2022. We are currently hiring up to 15 Field Team Members as part of our Detroit -based data collection team, from May to October, applicants should live in or near Detroit. This is a research study about Detroit neighborhoods, and the physical activity levels and health of residents. The study aims to understand physical activity and neighborhood conditions that support healthy residents. We hope that this study can build Detroit as an example of healthy, active neighborhoods for other cities across the USA. You will be responsible for a variety of tasks including study material transportation, participant consent and enrollment at events, transporting participants to and from our office, and taking height, weight, blood pressure, a finger prick, and administering surveys using a tablet computer. You will be trained on all these techniques – no prior experience is necessary. You will be part of a Detroit-based team and will be assisted by a team at Michigan State University and supported by two Detroit-based coordinators and the overall Study Coordinator.​
  • Chicago Wilderness: ​Calling All Community Scientists and Conservation Organizations - The City Nature Challenge Is Almost Here. We need your help organizing events to document the wildlife that calls our communities home. Together, we can break last year's amazing record! The City Nature Challenge, a global biodiversity competition, takes place from April 29 through May 2, 2022.
    It's a great opportunity for you to engage city residents and visitors in learning about their local nature.
    Your event also helps researchers and land managers better understand and protect urban nature. All observations in these counties will count for the challenge: Illinois (Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, Will); Indiana (Jasper, Lake, Newton, Porter); and Wisconsin (Kenosha). We'll help promote the events and share your results. Want to do even more? After the City Nature Challenge is over, we need experts and community scientists to help with species identification. It's a great way to stay involved year round.
  • Current Research. HHe J, Li L, Li J. Generating Inclusive Health Benefits from Urban Green Spaces: An Empirical Study of Beijing Olympic Forest Park. Buildings. 2022;12(4):397. https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/12/4/397. Considerable and necessary discussion is taking place in the US about the need to increase the inclusivity of parks and natural areas to diverse communities. This open access paper documents that concerns about inclusivity are not limited to the US. This study, conducted in the Beijing Olympic Forest Park, identifies inequities of use. The authors found that for ever one-unit of increased knowledge about the health benefits of nature there was a 12.8% increase in visit frequency. Men and older individuals were more likely to visit, as were those who lived closer to the park even though the park is readily accessible by public transit. Individuals with higher incomes were also more likely to visit the park. The authors did not directly address the difference in the use of the park by men and women or the relationship to income. Contrary to many other studies, this study found that more frequent visitors tended to have less-than-ideal health status. The authors speculate that this may reflect a desire to improve health by engaging in outdoor walking and visiting the park. The authors emphasize the roll that education about the health benefits of nature through public education campaigns might increase the use of the park by those who are less frequent users.
  • ​In the News.

​​Have something to share?  
We are currently taking requests for our Coffee & Discussion Series - Please submit Coffee and Discussion suggestions here.
We are also taking requests for any upcoming events to be added to future newsletters and our events calendar which can be done here. 
Date: 3/17/22
​Key Points:
  • ​Follow us on social media.  Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. All can be found using handle @NCH2Network. 
  • Next NCH2 Coffee and Discussion. On April 7th, 2022, from 12 noon to 1:15 CST, join us on Zoom for Accelerating Health and Nature Collaboration. Presented by: The Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods. Catherine Game, Dani Abboud, and Natalia Ospin. Although research demonstrates the physical and mental health benefits of time spent in nature, historic and systemic injustices prevent equitable access to these benefits, particularly for individuals from low-income and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) communities. Like other social determinants of health, access to a clean and healthy environment is not incentivized through traditional fee-for-service models of healthcare. In contrast, value-based care, or VBC, (driven by quality of patient care, not quantity) presents opportunities for bridging healthcare and nature-based organizations to improve patient outcomes. This study explores the institutional and financial potential for this collaboration in the Chicagoland region, employing interviews with 27 leaders in healthcare and conservation, as well as breakout discussions with 60 community leaders in Lake County, IL. The results identify six key categories of themes, including both near term and long term opportunities and strategies for driving equitable nature-based healthcare solutions. This data has informed the development of an emerging Health, Equity, and Nature Accelerator at Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods in the northern Chicago region.
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County: Salamander Night Walk. On Thu, Mar 17th, from 7 pm - 9 pm, join a naturalist to discuss habitats of salamanders and search for these amazing amphibians, which are making a remarkable seasonal migration. Ages 10 & up. Registration Required: Call Little Red Schoolhouse at 708-839-6897.
  • ​Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods: Nature in Concert with KV 265. On Sat, Mar 19th, see and listen to "The Planets" by Gustav Holst. Audiences are taken on a journey through our solar system and beyond in this film that showcases Holst’s own two piano composition. It features visuals from NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), as well as historical illustrations from the Adler Planetarium. As Dr. Salgado explains: “The film is not intended to be seen as a documentary but rather as an art piece that aims to inspire audiences and encourage them to learn more about our solar system and the Universe. It serves as a synthesis of what humans have achieved as solar system explorers.” Admission is free but registration is required.
  • Edible Evanston: 9th Annual Seed Swap - Robert Crown. On Sat, Mar 19th from 12 pm - 2:30 pm, get free seeds and share your saved seeds. We're happy to announce an indoor, in-person seed swap for our 9th Annual Seed Swap. Come on out and get free seeds and share your saved seeds or seedlings you started (or seeds you did not use which were for growing season 2019 or more recent). Masks are REQUIRED and you will be asked to properly distance from others. Limits will be posted as to the number of packets each family may take.
  • Chicago Park District: Birding is for Everyone at Northerly Island. On Tue, Mar 22th, from 10 am - 11 am, join us for a guided bird hike at the Northerly Island Park. This gathering is for first-time birders, long-time birders and everyone in between. All you need is the ability to appreciate our feathered friends. Participants in this event will be introduced to basic birding techniques including how to use binoculars, common Chicago birds, different points of interest around Northerly Island and meet other birders. Binoculars will be available to borrow for this program. This is a free event.
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County: Community Science - Frog Monitoring. On Fri, Mar 25th at 7:15 pm, contribute to community science while learning about frogs. Learn to identify frogs from their calls, then listen for them on a 2-mile walk with stops. Ages 10 & up. Registration Required: Call Crabtree at 847-381-6592.​
  • 30 by 30 Task Force Session 3: Natural Areas. On Thurs, Mar 31st at 11:45 am, Illinois’ newly established 30 by 30 Conservation Task Force will host a series of virtual listening sessions over the next eight weeks to discuss the future of natural land and water in Illinois and set an ambitious goal for conservation. The task force, comprising stakeholders such as farmers, hunters and environmental scientists, will explore how Illinois can protect 30% of its land and water resources by 2030. It’s part of a larger national and multinational effort. Conserving 30% of land and water by the year 2030 is the amount scientists have argued is the minimum effort needed to mitigate the effects of climate change and save an estimated 1 million species currently at risk of extinction. A series of virtual listening sessions are scheduled to gather input from Illinois residents regarding the state’s conservation goals and strategies to get achieve them.
  • Save the Date - ​Discovering Mental Health in Nature: Big Marsh Park. On Tues, May 17th from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm. Save the date for this community leaders engagement event at Big Marsh Park on Chicago’s South Side during Mental Health Awareness Month. Join us as we: Discuss how time in nature can alleviate mental health challenges and the how barriers limit this opportunity, Participate in a mindfulness activity, Learn about many new nature assets on the South Side of Chicago, Connect with the Nature, Culture and Human Health Network, and Have fun in nature — options to bird or bike the Big Marsh Trails. We hope to see you there for this informative and fun in-person event highlighting nature and mental health in the Chicago area! 
  • Job Opportunities.
    • ​Study of Active Neighborhoods Detroit (STAND): Field Staff Member. The Study of Active Neighborhoods in Detroit, led by Dr. Amber Pearson is getting ready for the field season of 2022. We are currently hiring up to 15 Field Team Members as part of our Detroit -based data collection team, from May to October, applicants should live in or near Detroit. This is a research study about Detroit neighborhoods, and the physical activity levels and health of residents. The study aims to understand physical activity and neighborhood conditions that support healthy residents. We hope that this study can build Detroit as an example of healthy, active neighborhoods for other cities across the USA. You will be responsible for a variety of tasks including study material transportation, participant consent and enrollment at events, transporting participants to and from our office, and taking height, weight, blood pressure, a finger prick, and administering surveys using a tablet computer. You will be trained on all these techniques – no prior experience is necessary. You will be part of a Detroit-based team and will be assisted by a team at Michigan State University and supported by two Detroit-based coordinators and the overall Study Coordinator.​
    • The Field Museum: Environmental Social Scientist. ​The Field Museum’s Keller Science Action Center translates museum science and expertise into results for conservation and quality of life. The Environmental Social Scientist (ESS) works with the Chicago Region team to build and sustain community partnerships, using social scientific methods and findings that contribute to a Chicago region where all neighborhoods are connected to thriving, healthy nature. The ESS works with interdisciplinary Action Center colleagues to advance project goals for the Chicago Region program, and reports to the Environmental Social Science Manager. This position is responsible for project management, participatory action research, and communications to support Action Center collaborations that expand care for urban nature and well-being. The ESS designs and carries out qualitative research and evaluation, supports programs and events, and participates in strategic decision-making on project teams. The salary range is $55-60k based upon experience. We expect to close the search on March 27.  
  • In the News.
    • ​https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/24/climate/celtic-wisdom-trees-climate.html The Patron Saint of Trees - Diana Beresford-Kroeger. Just in time for St. Patrick's Day! Having learned the ways of druids in her youth, Diana Beresford-Kroeger is trying to save the boreal forest from the ravages of climate change. Climate reporter Cara Buckley writes about Dr. Beresford-Kroeger’s research and her accomplishments and includes Jane Fonda and Richard Powers as admirers of this independent botanist. Dr. Beresford-Kruger has saved several endangered native trees, growing them on her land and “repatriating” them by giving away saplings to anyone who promises to care for them. She has impressive academic and research credentials but maintains her independence from academia. Her “main focus for decades now,” Ms. Buckley writes, “has been to telegraph to the world, in prose that is scientifically exacting yet startlingly affecting, the wondrous capabilities of trees.” Dr. Beresford-Kroeger has “cultivated an arboreal Noah’s Ark of rare and hardy specimens that can best withstand a warming planet.” Trees, she says, are “the best and only thing we have right now to fight climate change and do it fast.” 
    • https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/history/irelands-spring-equinox-st-patricks-day Is St. Patrick’s Day Related to the Equinox? ​Staff of the Irish Central explored the pagan connection between the spring equinox and St. Patrick's Day. The Newgrange website (newgrange.com) explains: “The early Christian church in Ireland incorporated pre-Christian spirituality and festivals into the 'new religion', it is conceivable that the Spring Equinox festival became Christianised and rebranded as Saint Patrick's day. “The Spring Equinox is the beginning of the 'light' half of the year where the sun is strongest and the days are longer than the nights. Saint Patrick brought the 'light' of a different sun, the son of God to Ireland, the adaptable Irish Celts may have simply rebranded the Spring Equinox festival to Saint Patrick's Feast day.”
    • https://njaes.rutgers.edu/fs1208/ Being Able to Garden. Horticultural Therapy as a profession began in 1973. The American Horticultural Therapy Association defines horticultural therapy as "the engagement of a client in horticultural activities facilitated by a trained therapist to achieve specific and documented treatment goals." One important application of horticultural therapy treatment is the design and use of enabling gardens. The “practical side” of horticultural therapy involves choosing appropriate plants, tools and accessories, but initial focus should be on the site. It must be accessible and barrier free, safe, and welcoming; sun, shade, smell, texture and personal preference will determine the plants; and the tools and accessories should be tailored to the needs and goals of the gardeners. A Cooperative Extension Fact Sheet of Rutgers University was compiled by Madeline Flahive DiNardo, Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent, Union County; Laura DePrado, Horticultural Therapist, Branchburg; Nicholas Polanin, Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent, Somerset County; Joel Flagler, Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent, Bergen County (all in New Jersey). The authors offer an historical perspective, noting that the first designed gardens were in Mesopotamia in about 2000 BCE, and nearly 3,000 years later, in the 1100s (CE) “the therapeutic benefits of gardening were first described in a hospice garden located at a monastery in Clairvaux, France.” The article then gets down to the immediate considerations of creating a garden that will enable those with a disability to get close to the healing aspects of nature.
    • earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-vernal-or-spring-equinox/ The Vernal Equinox. ​The spring, or vernal, equinox rolls into the Chicago area this coming Sunday morning. Writing in Earthsky.org, Dr. Deborah Byrd offers “all you need to know” about this upcoming equinox. For one thing, although light and dark seem similar at the equinox – from the Latin words meaning “equal” and “night” – they are not in perfect balance even for that fraction of a minute that is the equinox itself. With charts, images and her own wealth of knowledge, Dr. Byrd guides the reader through the “Earth-centered view” and the “Space-centered view” of the equinox. The equinoxes and solstices are caused by Earth’s tilt on its axis and ceaseless motion in orbit, she writes, and adds that the fastest sunsets and sunrises of the year happen at the equinoxes. Except at the northern and southern tips of the planet, the sun will rise due east, set due west and be directly overhead at noon. 
      “In terms of daylight,” she writes, “the knowledge that spring is here – and summer is coming – permeates all of nature on the northern half of Earth’s globe. … Responding to the change in daylight, birds and butterflies are migrating back northward, too, along with the path of the sun.”
    • www.childrenandnature.org/resources/cities-take-the-lead-in-transforming-schoolyards-with-nature-to-help-kids-thrive/ Green Schoolyards Sustain Learning – and More. More than a year ago, 10 U.S. cities joined the Green Schoolyards Technical Assistance Cohort led by Cities Connecting Children to Nature (CCCN), an initiative of the National League of Cities and the Children & Nature Network. CCCN is a three-year peer-learning and technical assistance program based on research that outdoor spaces support children’s learning and well-being. Alejandra Pallais described the program in “Cities take the lead in transforming schoolyards with nature to help kids thrive.” The 10 cities – selected from an applicant pool of 27 –formed local partnership, recruiting leaders from the city, recreation, school and nonprofit sectors.  Their priorities will be schools in neighborhoods that lack access to parks and green space. While these new green school yards will be exclusive to the school communities during the school day, after-hours they will be open for use by children, families and local residents.
    • richardlouv.com, “A Challenge to Make Your City the Finest City in America for Children and Nature. ​In a speech given in Louisville, Ky., recently Richard Louv suggested cities create their own challenges to become the best city it can be for children, the best at connecting people to nature. As examples of success he said, cities can measure such things as how many more pediatricians prescribe nature for children, how many more parks and nature trails were added, and how many ponds were healed. A journalist and author, Mr. Louv coined the term “nature deficit disorder,” a problem he particularly for the children of this country.
    • imconsortium.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/3.15.22-Impact-Cirlces.pdf Integrative Medicine Can Help Offset the Toxicity of Urban Living. A recent posting on the website for the Academic Consortium for Integrative Health and Medicine describes the work of two NCH2 members, Drs. Teresa Horton and David Victorson. The posting reports that the World Health Organization (WHO) is predicting that by 2050, 70% of the world’s population will be living in towns and cities, taking up more space on the planet that was once left to nature. With well documented evidence of the benefits of nature on human health and well-being, plans on two different fronts are already addressing the problem. Integrative medicine is pointing the way for healthcare providers to include nature-based interventions in their care for patients, and WHO is calling on governments around the work to integrate elements of nature into their plans to accommodate the planet’s burgeoning population. Drs. Horton and Victorson, both Northwestern University professors, have conducted research and created programs that emphasize the importance of nature to the health and well-being of humans. Dr. Horton, who founded and leads the Nature, Culture and Human Health (NCH2) network, has recently unveiled the Health and Nature Catalyst program. The program, funded through the Walder Foundation, is designed to foster nature-based solutions that will incubate grass roots improvements in equity, the environment, and public health with help from a regional collaborative including healthcare/public health, environmental and equity communities. The work of Dr. Victorson, Professor of Medical Social Sciences in the Feinberg School of Medicine and Associate Director of the Cancer Survivorship Institute at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, melds his interest in nature and health with the implementation of evidence-informed, nature-based interventions in patient care and education. The two along with colleagues Drs. Linda Carlson (University of Calgary), Mats Jong (Mittuniversitetet, Sweden), Miek Jong (NAFKAM, Norway), and Anne Lown (UC San Francisco) will present “Eco-Wellness: Connection, Cancer, and Preservation of Mind, Body, and Soil” at the International Congress for Integrative Health and Medicine in May. 

​​Have something to share?  
We are currently taking requests for our Coffee & Discussion Series - Please submit Coffee and Discussion suggestions here.
We are also taking requests for any upcoming events to be added to future newsletters and our events calendar which can be done here. 
Date: 3/3/22
​Key Points:
  • ​Follow us on social media.  Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. All can be found using handle @NCH2Network. 
  • NCH2 is Hiring - Corrected Qualifications. Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s in Global Health, Environmental Policy, Parks and Recreation, or a related field of social science research, with 4+ years program administration or similar experience; or 6 years program administration or similar experience.  Demonstrated success at establishing multi-sector partnerships and long-term relationships with community-based organizations.  
  • NCH2 Coffee and Discussion Resumes. On March 10, 2022, from 12 noon to 1:15 CST, join us on Zoom for an introduction to “Nature, Culture, and Human Health (NCH2): Catalyzing Nature-based Solutions for Human and Public Health” the project recently funded by a Walder Foundation Resilient by Nature Award. What does the project entail? How can you contribute? Attendance is free and open to the public. ​Future Coffee Discussion Save the Date - April 7, 2022; 12:00-1:15 pm; Virtual Event: Accelerating Health and Nature Collaboration
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County Forest Therapy Walk. Tue, Mar 8th at 10:00 am, awaken your senses and renew your bond with the nature and the Preserves. Certified Forest Therapy guide. Ages 18 & up. REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Call 224-456-8602. 
  • Chicago Park District Yoga on the River at Park No. 571. Tue, Mar 8th at 10:00 am, celebrate International Women's Day with a free morning of yoga and enjoy the view of the Chicago River! Adults, 18 & up. 
  • Chicago Park District Birding is for Everyone at Northerly Island. Tue, Mar 8th at 10:00 am, join us for a guided bird hike at the Northerly Island Park. This gathering is for first-time birders, long-time birders and everyone in between. All you need is the ability to appreciate our feathered friends. Participants in this event will be introduced to basic birding techniques including how to use binoculars, common Chicago birds, different points of interest around Northerly Island and meet other birders. Binoculars will be available to borrow for this program. 
  • Friends of the Forest Preserves - The Preserves in Pixels: A virtual photo exhibit and panel discussion. Tue, Mar 8th from6:00 pm – 7:30 pm, celebrate the wonderous world of nature photography with the Friends community. “The Preserves in Pixels: A Virtual Photo Exhibit and Panel Discussion” is Thursday, March 10, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Join us in honoring the winners of the 12th Annual Photo Contest. You’ll enjoy a slideshow of all the winning photos followed by a panel discussion with the photographers themselves. Experience the wistful delight of a spring beauty, the serene charm of a great blue heron, the bold gaze of a buck – all discovered in our beloved forest preserves in Cook County. The virtual format provides a wonderful opportunity to learn about the stories behind the lens.  The panelists will also share what inspires them about nature photography and what they love most about photographing in the forest preserves.  
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County Women’s History Month Walk. Sat, Mar 12th at 10 am, join us on a hike where we highlight conservation leader Isabel Bassett Wasson and the work and discoveries she made at Thatcher Woods and beyond. REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Register at https://tinyurl.com/womanswalk. 
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County Conservation@Home: Kick Start your Garden! Sun, Mar 13th from 11 am - 1 pm, learn about sustainable gardening, at-home conservation practices, and talk to local organizations about native landscaping and gardening. Presentation at noon. ​
  • Planning Ahead.  
    • May is Mental Health Awareness Month. As we did last year, NCH2 will highlight the mental health benefits of engaging with nature to mental health. We invite your suggestions for “Tools 2 Thrive Outside” (see last year’s webpage for ideas). Send your suggestions to NCH2Chicago@gmail.com. In collaboration with Friends of Big Marsh we will also host an in-person event at Big Marsh Park. Details will be announced soon.
    • Network for Public Health Law - Climate Change and Health Equity. The Network for Public Health Law is currently inviting proposals for panels or individual presentations for the Climate Change and Health Equity Summit taking place in Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 12-14, 2022. Anyone working at the intersection of climate change, public health, health equity, and law and policy is encouraged to submit. We are interested in presentations from a wide variety of perspectives, including public health practitioners, community-based organizations, environmental organizations, attorneys, researchers, community members, and others. Submissions will be accepted until March 4, 2022. Click here to learn more. Please feel free to reach out by email (mkim@networkforphl.org) with any questions. 
    • Nature Rx: Social Emotional Learning for Students and Teachers. A graduate course for educators held at the Kendall County Outdoor Education Center in Yorkville June 6-10, 2022. This 5-day course focuses on SEL standards and how to use natural outdoor settings for implementation. Team building, field trips, activity and reflection fill the week as participants can earn three graduate credits. Visit kcoutdoored.org for more information. Flyer: https://www.kcoutdoored.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Flyer-Rx-2022.pdf 
  • ​Community Resources. Call for Participation: Join the ARCC Community-Academic Anti-Racism Learning Collaborative. The Alliance for Research in Chicagoland Communities (ARCC) at Northwestern University in collaboration with the Equity Institute-YWCA Evanston/NorthShore is opening up the ARCC Community-Academic Anti-Racism Learning Collaborative to more people. Launched in 2020, the Collaborative convenes a diverse mix of community and academic partners to engage together in a supportive space to question, learn, and address how racism operates in research institutions and policies and how community-academic research partnerships can apply an equity lens to their research and partnerships.
  • Job Opportunities. 
    • CDPH Hiring 7 Project Coordinators for Health Equity in All Policies and Healthy Chicago Equity Zones. The Chicago Department of Public Health is hiring 7 Project Coordinators focusing on Health Equity in All Policies (policy and systems change approach) and Healthy Chicago Equity Zones (community-led regional public health hubs). These positions are on teams working to advance our vision for integrating racial and health equity practices in government and we really want folks committed to the work to apply.  Posting closes March 11. Salary is $61,920. Details here: https://chicago.taleo.net/careersection/100/jobdetail.ftl?job=1912.2-CDPH-2022 
    • The Nature Conservancy in Illinois: Director of Policy and Government Relations. Policy will play an integral role helping TNC to achieve its 2030 goals. Accordingly, the Illinois Chapter is currently seeking to fill the role of Policy and Government Relations, which is currently vacant. 
    • Adventures Accessed: Chicago Based 2022 Instructor and Outreach Position. We have an opening for a paid, part-time opportunity starting in March 2022. Compensation is split by hourly front-country duties and by backcountry duties which are paid per night in the field. Front-country duties include day programs and outreach while backcountry work involves overnight experiences in national forests or local preserves. Hourly rate starts at $15-$20 (DOE) for front-country duties while overnights and backcountry are compensated on a per-night basis, plus expense reimbursement. The position is work from home unless a trip or program is running. Fun bonus and commission opportunities are available for those interested in helping expand our footprint. 
  • Recent Research. Ijaz N, Steinberg M, Flaherty T, Neubauer T, Thompson-Lastad A. Beyond Professional Licensure: A Statement of Principle on Culturally-Responsive Healthcare. Global Advances in Health and Medicine. 2021/01/01 2021; vol 11.  https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/21649561211043092 NCH2 Comments: Regulatory agencies rely on licensures and certifications to ensure effectiveness and safety of interventions of therapeutic practices. However, these practices can be exclusionary to alternative and complementary practices, especially those associated with indigenous or traditional therapies. This paper addresses the issue of exclusionary credentialing processes to ask if there is a way to develop community-based certification processes that are more inclusive, but also serve the need to ensure accountability, safety, and quality to clients and patients. 
  • In the News. 
    • https://www.almanac.com/5-signs-spring-birds-peepers-and-tree-buds Signs of Spring. Even though it was three weeks before the vernal equinox, the Feb. 24 almanac listed five signs of spring for nature lovers. The almanac republished a March 2021 article by Catherine Boeckmann, who suggested people listen as well as look for early signs that winter is turning. Backyard birds are one of the best predictors, she wrote. One hears the calls of cardinals and chickadees and the drilling of woodpeckers. Trees begin to bud, peepers and ducks become more apparent, and the air is softly scented with spring. 
    • https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/feb/21/i-forget-everything-the-benefits-of-nature-for-mental-health The Solace of Nature: ‘I Forget Everything’. The stress of caring for an elderly father with deteriorating health compounded with the social isolation caused by the pandemic opened the door to depression, anxiety and panic attacks for a woman in England. The woman, who had struggled for decades with a physical ailments and mental illness, felt that more pills were not the answer. Writing last month in The Guardian, Damien Gayle quoted the woman, “Medication can only do so much when you’re stuck in four walls.” She was put in touch with a social prescribing link worker at Bolton GP Federation; Bolton is about 10 miles from Manchester, England. “In response to a dramatic increase in mental health referrals around the pandemic,” Mr. Gayle writes, “Bolton GP Federation and the Woodland Trust worked together to create a programme of ‘tranquility walks’, focusing on woodland, water and relaxation as a space to deal with anxiety. After participating in the walks, the woman said, “I just forget everything” – worries and stresses – when she’s on a walk and “just lose track of time.” Walk leader Vicky Entwistle is quoted as saying the walks, show “the importance of getting more nature to people’s doorsteps to help boost our health every day, and the clear benefits of social prescribing with nature.” 
    • https://www.almanac.com/5-signs-spring-birds-peepers-and-tree-buds Signs of Spring. Even though it was three weeks before the vernal equinox, the Feb. 24 almanac listed five signs of spring for nature lovers. The almanac republished a March 2021 article by Catherine Boeckmann, who suggested people listen as well as look for early signs that winter is turning. Backyard birds are one of the best predictors, she wrote. One hears the calls of cardinals and chickadees and the drilling of woodpeckers. Trees begin to bud, peepers and ducks become more apparent, and the air is softly scented with spring.   ​

​Have something to share?  
We are currently taking requests for our Coffee & Discussion Series - Please submit Coffee and Discussion suggestions here.
We are also taking requests for any upcoming events to be added to future newsletters and our events calendar which can be done here. 
Date: 2/17/22
Key Points:
  • ​Follow us on social media.  Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. All can be found using handle @NCH2Network. 
  • NCH2 is Hiring. To support the work of the Health and Nature Catalyst, the project newly funded by the Walder Foundation, NCH2 is hiring a Program Administrator. The program will create strategic partnerships and projects that use nature-based solutions to simultaneously leverage improvements in equity, the environment, and public health to yield increased community resilience. The program will build a regional network through which members of the healthcare/public health, environmental conservation/sustainability, and environmental justice/equity communities can collaborate. The job involves fostering relationships among stakeholders through working groups, educational opportunities and one-to-one outreach, co-education of stakeholders from diverse communities, identifying and prioritizing opportunities for pilot projects and creation and review of requests for proposals (with consultation from a Steering Committee).
  • NCH2 Coffee and Discussion Resumes. On March 10, 2022, from 12 noon to 1:15 CST, join us on Zoom for an introduction to “Nature, Culture, and Human Health (NCH2): Catalyzing Nature-based Solutions for Human and Public Health” the project recently funded by a Walder Foundation Resilient by Nature Award. What does the project entail? How can you contribute? Attendance is free and open to the public.
  • Chicago Park District: Snowtrekking at Northerly Island. On Sat, Feb 19th from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm, discover Northerly Island by snowshoe this winter during Snowtrekking on select Saturdays from 10 a.m. to Noon p.m. weather permitting. Explore the lakefront prairie for winter birds and various wildlife while enjoying incredible views of Chicago. The cost is $5 to check out a pair of snowshoes with a valid I.D. There must be at least three inches of snow for us to host Snowtrekking. 
  • Stanford Earth Celebrates: Gail Myers and the Rhythms of the Land. On Wed, February 23rd from 12:00-1:00 pm (PST), join us in a virtual conversation with Prof. Gail Myers to discuss her new documentary film “Rhythms of the Land," where she engages with over 30 Black farmer families across 10 southern states who share their stories and cultural traditions of Black farming philosophy. A trailer of this documentary will be screened during the event. This event is a collaboration between the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Stanford Earth, the O'Donohue Family Stanford Educational Farm, and the Environmental Justice Working Group, in celebration of Black History/Liberation Month. 
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County: Walk and Talk - Black Environmentalists. On Wed, Feb 23rd at 3:30 pm, join us for a walk in nature as we highlight the work of black environmentalists—locally and abroad. All visitors over 2 years of age must wear a mask indoors at all times. Unvaccinated visitors should also wear a mask outdoors when physical distancing (six feet from other people) is not possible. 
    Registration Required: Call 224-456-8602 
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County: Black History Month - Underground Railroad Walks. On Sat, Feb 26th from 10 am - 3 pm, join us on a self-guided journey that follows the Underground Railroad route connected to the Calumet Region during the mid-1800s.All visitors over 2 years of age must wear a mask indoors at all times. Unvaccinated visitors should also wear a mask outdoors when physical distancing (six feet from other people) is not possible. 
  • Winter Wonderland at Canal Shores! Join us for Winter Wonderland this February! Canal Shores, Downtown Evanston + Evanston Made invite the public to create an immersive art experience at Canal Shores Golf Course with a Nature Art Exhibit! Feb. 1-28, the community is invited to create visual treasures throughout the golf course to surprise and delight visitors. Projects can range from the simplest activities that children can produce to thought provoking dioramas created by professional artists. Saturdays, 3-5p,  at the fire pit and enjoy art, community and a gorgeous sunset at Canal Shores Golf Course.
  • Planning Ahead.  
    • May is Mental Health Awareness Month. As we did last year, NCH2 will highlight the mental health benefits of engaging with nature to mental health. We invite your suggestions for “Tools 2 Thrive Outside” (see last year’s webpage for ideas). Send your suggestions to NCH2Chicago@gmail.com. 
    • Network for Public Health Law - Climate Change and Health Equity. The Network for Public Health Law is currently inviting proposals for panels or individual presentations for the Climate Change and Health Equity Summit taking place in Minneapolis, Minnesota, October 12-14, 2022. Anyone working at the intersection of climate change, public health, health equity, and law and policy is encouraged to submit. We are interested in presentations from a wide variety of perspectives, including public health practitioners, community-based organizations, environmental organizations, attorneys, researchers, community members, and others. Submissions will be accepted until March 4, 2022. Click here to learn more. Please feel free to reach out by email (mkim@networkforphl.org) with any questions. 
  • Find the "New You" in the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Like many people, you may have resolved to be a better version of yourself in the new year. Whether you've set goals for personal growth or improving your physical health, you can reach them in the Forest Preserves of Cook County. Here are a few ideas: I would like get my steps in each day: How about joining our Trail Watch program? Trail Watch volunteers are ambassadors on the hundreds of miles of trails all across the preserves. They welcome other trail users on routes of their choice, and report any troubling conditions to FPCC police. It's a great way to get more familiar with our trail systems while putting some miles on your sneakers.  I want to learn new skills: Look no further than our many offerings on the Training page! Learn to identify frog calls, get to know native plants, become a brushpile Burn Boss, or gain the skills and confidence to act in an emergency situation through or First Aid & CPR course. The possibilities are endless. I want to meet new people: Make new friends at an ecological stewardship day. With over 70 sites to choose from, you're sure to find a group that you connect with. Our established groups welcome new volunteers, and volunteer leaders will educate you on the work, show you how to use tools and provide guidance.  
  • Job Opportunities.  
    • Forest Preserve District of Cook County: CEP Aide Position. The Forest Preserves is looking for candidates for year round (29 hours/week) CEP Aide position. We have openings with our Campground and Outreach teams and at Little Red School House. 
    • The Nature Conservancy in Illinois: Director of Policy and Government Relations. Policy will play an integral role helping TNC to achieve its 2030 goals. Accordingly, the Illinois Chapter is currently seeking to fill the role of Policy and Government Relations, which is currently vacant. 
    • Adventures Accessed: Chicago Based 2022 Instructor and Outreach Position. We have an opening for a paid, part-time opportunity starting in March 2022. Compensation is split by hourly front-country duties and by backcountry duties which are paid per night in the field. Front-country duties include day programs and outreach while backcountry work involves overnight experiences in national forests or local preserves. Hourly rate starts at $15-$20 (DOE) for front-country duties while overnights and backcountry are compensated on a per-night basis, plus expense reimbursement. The position is work from home unless a trip or program is running. Fun bonus and commission opportunities are available for those interested in helping expand our footprint. 
  • Have data? Need Analysis?  Data science students and experts from multiple Chicago-area universities have joined forces to offer assistance with statistical analysis and interpretation to aid non-profit organizations transform their data into actionable knowledge, and much more.  To find out more, please visit  The Metropolitan Chicago Data-science corps website at https://sites.northwestern.edu/mcdc/. 
  • In the News. 
    • www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2022/02/07/national-park-prescriptions-mental-health/ & www.npr.org/2022/02/09/1079356799/a-new-program-in-canada-gives-doctors-the-option-of-prescribing-national-park-vi Canadian Rx: Park Passes Give a Boost to Nature Prescriptions. 
       While doctors in Canada have long known that being in nature can improve physical and mental health, they are now helping patients access the outside. With the PaRx Initiative, a partnership between the BC Parks Foundation and Parks Canada, doctors in four Canadian provinces received 100 passes to  national parks, which they can give to their patients, along with a prescription to spend time outside.  Writing earlier this month in the Washington Post, Tik Root interviewed  Melissa Lem, a family physician and director of the PaRx initiative, who said her standard recommendation is two hours of nature time per week, at least 20 minutes each time. He wrote, “The goal is to provide health-care professionals with tools that encourage their patients to spend more time in nature — whether that’s a hike, gardening or just sitting outside.” The passes help eliminate the barriers some patients to nature.  
      “Studies have shown,” Mr. Root wrote, “that time in nature can lead to a range of benefits, from lower stress hormones and heart rate variability to higher self esteem among children. One found that nature or pleasant urban settings helped amplify the effects of exercise alone.” The Canadian initiative is part of a larger movement that was inspired by ParkRx, an initiative in the U.S. With mounting anxiety over several global threats, including the climate crisis, Dr. Lem said, “There’s almost no medical condition that nature doesn’t make better." 
    • www.doi.gov/pressreleases/interior-department-announces-over-15-billion-support-state-wildlife-conservation-and#:~:text=WASHINGTON%20%E2%80%94%20The%20U.S.%20Fish%20and,wildlife%20and%20habitat%20conservation%20efforts. Funding for Nature: Wildlife Conservation and Outdoor Recreation. 
      The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will receive $1.5 billion in annual funding through the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) Program to support state and local outdoor recreational opportunities, and wildlife and habitat conservation efforts. The WSFR program has supported wildlife and habitat conservation, along with outdoor recreation, for 85 years, by apportioning to all 50 states excise taxes on hunting, shooting and fishing equipment, and boat fuel. A press release from the U.S. Department of the Interior states, “These goals are consistent with President Biden’s America the Beautiful initiative to support locally led efforts to conserve and restore our nation’s lands, waters, and wildlife. The initiative’s inclusive approach recognizes that hunters, fishers, private landowners, ranchers, farmers, Tribes, traditional land users, and everyone has a role to play in conservation to conserve America’s lands and waters for future generations. ”The release quotes Fish and Wildlife Service Principal Deputy Director Martha Williams, “Many Americans are unaware of the remarkable conservation impact of the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program. State wildlife agencies dedicate WSFR funds to a variety of conservation projects and programs such as hunting and fishing education, fish and wildlife management, scientific research, habitat restoration and protection, land and water rights acquisition, and hunting and boating access. Everyone benefits from these investments, which have ensured a legacy of wildlife and outdoor opportunities for all.”  State-by-state listing of the Service’s final apportionment of Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration program funds for Fiscal Year 2022 can be found on the WSFR webpage. 
    • https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/08/travel/winter-wildlife-florida-hawaii.html A Tour of Winter Wildlife. Earlier this month, a group of writers offered readers a sampling of fauna in winter, with the tantalizing headline. “In the Heart of Winter, an Abundance of Wildlife.” Elaine Glusac, Colleen Creamer, Gustave Axelson, and Finn-Olav Jones. 
      Great gray owls in Minnesota, wolves in  Yellowstone National Park, bison and cranes in Florida, and whales in Hawaii are all pictured and described against the backdrop of winter. Readers will learn: Wolves are “clever team players.” A common reaction to seeing a great gray owl: “Typically it’s a hushed silence for minutes on end, punctuated by an occasional whisper of ‘Oh, my God,’ said a Minnesota birding guide. An estimated 10,000 to 12,000 humpbacks migrate annually to Hawaii during the November-to-May season, but other than mothers with their calves, most travel solo. Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park is 21,000 acres of diverse habitat for snakes, river otters, white-tailed deer, wild turkey, bobcats, hawks, bison, wild horses and, of course, American alligators, as well as a wintering ground for waterfowl.  Some call sea lions “ocean puppies … because they’re playful and get around.” 
    • https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/can-winter-make-you-sick The Ills of Winter: Is Inside or Outside Better? The human body in cold weather is less effective at fighting viruses; more people come down with colds, flu, and other viruses. Behaving like it’s really spring – going outside with in shorts, without a jacket, or with wet hair, for example – can make a person more likely to pick up a virus. Avoiding the effects of cold weather, though, is not the same as avoiding the outside. A post on the website of Northwestern Medicine, “Can Winter Make You Sick?” quotes primary care physician Winston D. Rajendram, MD, who says wearing layers of clothing in cold weather “can help prevent physiological conditions that can make you more susceptible to contracting viruses."  Inside, dry air promotes greater circulation of the flu virus. Wearing a mask, washing hands, and keeping the humidity relatively high can help prevent the spread. 
​
Have something to share?  
We are currently taking requests for our Coffee & Discussion Series - Please submit Coffee and Discussion requests here.
We are also taking requests for any upcoming events to be added to future newsletters and our events calendar which can be done here. 
Date: 2/3/22
Key Points:
  • ​Follow us on social media.  Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. All can be found using handle @NCH2Network. 
  • NCH2 is Hiring. To support the work of the Health and Nature Catalyst, the project newly funded by the Walder Foundation, NCH2 is hiring a Program Administrator. The program will create strategic partnerships and projects that use nature-based solutions to simultaneously leverage improvements in equity, the environment, and public health to yield increased community resilience. The program will build a regional network through which members of the healthcare/public health, environmental conservation/sustainability, and environmental justice/equity communities can collaborate. The job involves fostering relationships among stakeholders through working groups, educational opportunities and one-to-one outreach, co-education of stakeholders from diverse communities, identifying and prioritizing opportunities for pilot projects and creation and review of requests for proposals (with consultation from a Steering Committee).
  • NCH2 Coffee and Discussion Resumes. On March 10, 2022, from 12 noon to 1:15 CST, join us on Zoom for an introduction to “Nature, Culture, and Human Health (NCH2): Catalyzing Nature-based Solutions for Human and Public Health” the project recently funded by a Walder Foundation Resilient by Nature Award. What does the project entail? How can you contribute? Attendance is free and open to the public.
  • ​Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods: 7th Annual Exhibition - Enriching Life.  January 9 - April 24, 2022, with both an online exhibition and dozens of pieces gracing the Brushwood Center gallery, you won’t want to miss this extraordinary display of talent and celebration of nature and art. Heeyoung leads the Heeyoung Kim Botanical Art Academy at Brushwood Center, and her work is known all over the world. ​
  • Chicago Winter Plant Fair. Fri, 2/4, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm & Sat, 2/5, from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm, come by this free plant fair with 20+ vendors, swap & social, plant contests, charity auctions, and more! Showcasing vendors like Phylla, Plant Zaddy Therapy, Plant Shop Chicago, Plants and Greens, Botanophilia, Masiramon Chicago, Rosie's Plant Care, Second City Tropicals, and more!
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County: Walk & Talk. On Wed, Feb 9th at 1:00 pm, Walk & Talk Hikes are for the curious minds that want to know more about the Forest Preserves and natural areas. These hikes will be led at a slower pace with frequent stopping and interpretation. 2 miles.
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County: Evening Valentine’s Walk. On Fri, Feb 11th from 6 pm - 8:30 pm, enjoy Sand Ridge at night during a relaxing candlelit walk through the woods. While you walk, learn about native wildlife’s mating habits, from a short fling to a bond that lasts a lifetime. Multiple time slots available. 
  • Chicago Botanic Garden: The Orchid Show - Untamed. February 12 - March 27, 2022, nature finds a way. The Orchid Show is back, celebrating the unexpected verve of wild orchids—in an old secret garden, a forgotten forest, and the whimsical spaces of our imagination (say, atop a 1900s-era piano and reflected in an infinity mirror, for starters). Soak up the radiance of 10,000 blooming orchids in the quiet of winter. Buy tickets starting in early February 2022.​
  • Winter Wonderland at Canal Shores! Join us for Winter Wonderland this February! 
    Canal Shores, Downtown Evanston + Evanston Made invite the public to create an immersive art experience at Canal Shores Golf Course with a Nature Art Exhibit! Feb. 1-28, the community is invited to create visual treasures throughout the golf course to surprise and delight visitors. Projects can range from the simplest activities that children can produce to thought provoking dioramas created by professional artists. Saturdays, 3-5p,  at the fire pit and enjoy art, community and a gorgeous sunset at Canal Shores Golf Course.
  • Planning Ahead. As we did last year, NCH2 will highlight the mental health benefits of engaging with nature to mental health. We invite your suggestions for “Tools 2 Thrive Outside” (see last year’s webpage for ideas). Send your suggestions to NCH2Chicago@gmail.com.​
  • Volunteer Opportunity. Forest Preserves of Cook County’s: Volunteer Opportunities. With nearly 70,000 acres of woodlands, prairies and wetlands provide endless, year-round opportunities to get outside, get exercise and make a meaningful difference in your community. No matter if you’re deeply familiar with your local preserve or want to start getting out in nature, we have a volunteer opportunity for you or your group. Everyone is welcome in the Forest Preserves! 
  • Evanston, IL Tree Ordinance Survey. ​The City of Evanston, IL anticipates discussing a private tree ordinance soon. The ordinance has yet to be drafted, but the intent is to regulate the removal of trees on private property. Natural Habitat Evanston is looking for your input through THIS SURVEY by February 21. Evanston residents are encouraged to respond. ​The survey responses will be used to inform drafting of the ordinance. Please share out the survey widely. If the embedded link does not work, copy and paste this URL into your browser https://forms.gle/UChr77qwdoZsrLTe6
  • Have data? Need Analysis?  Data science students and experts from multiple Chicago-area universities have joined forces to offer assistance with statistical analysis and interpretation to aid non-profit organizations transform their data into actionable knowledge, and much more.  To find out more, please visit  The Metropolitan Chicago Data-science corps website at https://sites.northwestern.edu/mcdc/. 
  • In the News. 
    • ​https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2021JG006275. River Ice Can Shape Watershed Ecology.
      Rivers are freezing later and melting earlier. In her October 2021 article “River Ice Can Shape Watershed Ecology,” science writer Sarah Derouin writes about “The Ecology of River Ice,” a study published last year by Audrey Thellman, Kathi Jo Jankowski, Brian Hayden, Xiao Yang, Wayana Dolan, Adrianne P. Smits, Antóin M. Sullivan in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Biosciences.
      The researchers looked at “how ice cover and duration affect ecosystems. The breakup of ice is primarily temperature driven, with big swings of temperature leading to mechanical breakup and slow temperature changes leading to gradual melting.”
      The ecosystem can be affected in at least two ways: Earlier breakups of river ice can increase productivity, but frequent breakups during the winter can have “a disruptive effect on the streambed ecosystem.” The authors also suggest areas for future research.
    • https://nsidc.org/cryosphere/snow/plants.html. Information From the Cryosphere: Winter Struggles of Trees and Plants.
      Among the winter challenges for flora is the lack of usable water. Trees and plants are stationary and rooted. They cannot absorb precipitation such as sleet and snow, and nearby streams, rivers and ponds are likely to be frozen.
      Deciduous trees and plants adapt by shedding leaves and becoming dormant. Evergreens keep their waxy foliage to conserve moisture. Some of these adaptations – the shape, size or location of trees, as examples – are visible to the casual observer. In a forest ribbon, a narrow band of trees growing near tundra, snow drifts that piled up around a tree provide moisture as they melt.
    • http://www.wpnr.org/news/top-10-winter-ecology​. Ten Things to Know About Winter Ecology.
      Snow can create its own habitat. Layers of ice, snow and moisture allow small animals to create tunnels or winter hideouts and larger animals to get down to eat. Snow provides a highway into nature for walkers, snow-shoers and skiers. In “Winter Ecology Top 10,” Jean H. Keene lists nine other aspects of the blanket of cold known as winter, such as “During the average snowstorm, approximately 20 trillion snowflakes will fall at about 3 mph (on average)” and “Insect life cycles are often timed in sync with the seasons so that they can survive winter.”
    • https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-groundhog-day, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/01/science/groundhogs-animal-behavior.html. Furry Forecaster or Fun Fad? Gobbler’s Knob was the place to be yesterday, as hundreds of people gathered to see whether Punxsutawney Phil would see his shadow when he came out of his burrow. He did, thus “predicting” six more weeks of winter, but his track record is about 40%. The tradition of a “rodent meteorologist” dates to Feb. 2, 1887. Tradition has it that if a groundhog saw its shadow in this day, being frightened of it, it would run back to its home to wait out the remaining six weeks of winter. On a cloudy day, when no shadow would be visible, the groundhog would roam around as a harbinger of an early spring.
      In 1887, a newspaper editor belonging to a group of groundhog hunters from Punxsutawney called the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club declared that Phil, the Punxsutawney groundhog, was America’s only true weather-forecasting groundhog. But now other towns have official groundhogs.
​
​Have something to share?  
We are currently taking requests for our Coffee & Discussion Series - Please submit Coffee and Discussion requests here. 
We are also taking requests for any upcoming events to be added to future newsletters and our events calendar which can be done here. 
Date: 1/20/22
Key Points:
  • ​Follow us on social media.  Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. All can be found using handle @NCH2Network. 
  • NCH2 Receives Grant from the Walder Foundation’s Resilient by Nature Project (RxN). NCH2 has been awarded funding from the Walder Foundation for the project titled “Nature, Culture, and Human Health (NCH2): Catalyzing Nature-based Solutions for Human and Public Health” (Health and Nature Catalyst, for short). A list of all projects funded can be found at this link. Building on the concept of the “Triple Aim” from the health care literature, the funding will support creation of strategic partnerships and projects that guide improvement in equity, the environment, and public health simultaneously to evoke systematic change based on nature-based solutions as articulated by the Walder Foundation’s Resilient by Nature Project.
  • Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods: 7th Annual Exhibition - Enriching Life. Virtual Opening January 20th 7-8pm. Exhibition Open: January 9 - April 24, 2022. Join Heeyoung Kim, internationally renowned artist, and Brushwood Center’s botanical artists for the opening of Enriching Life, a culminating exhibition of their stunning work throughout the year. With both an online exhibition and dozens of pieces gracing the Brushwood Center gallery, you won’t want to miss this extraordinary display of talent and celebration of nature and art. Heeyoung leads the Heeyoung Kim Botanical Art Academy at Brushwood Center, and her work is known all over the world. Registration required for Virtual Opening.  
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County: Feeder Watch. On Sat, Jan 22nd at 10am. What birds are visiting the feeding station? Watch the feeders while learning how to identify resident birds and winter migrants. This program will only take place if Sagawau’s ski trails are closed. Call 630-257-2045 or visit Sagawau’s Facebook page for ski trail status. Registration Required. 
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County: Winter's Wild Walk. On Sun, Jan 23rd at 1pm, learn about our wildlife in winter while on a guided walk. The program will start at 1 pm and use snowshoes if there is a 4″ base of snow. The program will start at 1:30 pm if there isn’t enough snow. Call 847-824-8360 for snow conditions and program start time. Limited number of snowshoes available, registration required to reserve snowshoes. 
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County: Native Landscape Design Workshop Series. On Wed, Jan 26th from 6 – 8pm, join University of Illinois Extension for a two-part workshop series. Part I is an introduction to landscape design focusing on incorporating native plants. Part II consists of breakout rooms in which staff and volunteers will coach individuals on their specific landscape conditions and layout. Participants will register for one Part II date: February 9 from 6 to 8 pm or February 16 from 6 to 8 pm. Workshop series is free, but registration is required, and space is limited. 
  • ​Chicago Botanic Garden: BIPOC in Science and Nature Books. On Sat, Jan 29th from 9 am – 3:30 pm, cozy up to some good books as we explore culturally inclusive science and nature picture books. We will sample a variety of fiction and nonfiction science books depicting people of color and pair these books with science activities to investigate patterns in nature, ecosystems, plants and animals, and environmental justice. Registration required and fee of $36.00 for Members and $45.00 for Non Members.
  • Environmental Education Association of Illinois 50th Annual Conference. The Environmental Education Association of Illinois is excited to announce our 50th Anniversary Annual Conference will be held on April 8th and 9th at Hoover Forest Preserve in Yorkville, Illinois. This annual event has provided professional development for thousands of Illinois educators over the course of those 50 years, impacting millions of students. This year will be no different, with an excellent keynote, dozens of current sessions, workshop and field experiences there will be extensive learning opportunities for IL educators and organizations.  
    This event will also be in partnership with IL Green Alliance and the IL Green Ribbon School Program bringing together educators and administrators focused on advancing sustainability and green initiatives for their institutions. We are excited to learn more about their projects and help build partnerships between formal and non-formal organizations. This year's theme of "Building Connections" is an excellent opportunity to really examine and demonstrate the wide variety of fields that are involved with environmental literacy, environmental health and the protection of our natural spaces. We would be honored if you could join the event in some way.  
  • ​Job Opportunity. Chicago Park Department - Project Coordinator – Natural Areas.Under supervision, assists with the development of policy and planning priorities. Assists with project planning and management.  Creates project assessments including inventories, logs, list and more. Serves as a representative in project meetings. Assists site managers and with identifying operational inefficiencies and opportunities including ways to implement improvement plans. All of this work will happen within the context of our natural areas program, working mostly with our Natural Areas Manager and crews.     
  • Grant Opportunity. Burroughs Wellcome Fund Climate Change and Human Health Seed Grants The Burroughs Wellcome Fund aims to stimulate the growth of new connections between scholars working in largely disconnected fields who might together change the course of climate change’s impact on human health. This  call  focuses  on  developing  partnerships.  Proposals from single institutions must develop partnerships that do not already occur naturally: for example, proposals from departments that draw students from the same shared graduate program are not responsive to this call. Award Range: Over the next two years, the Fund will dedicate $1M to supporting small, early-stage grants of $2,500 - $50,000 toward achieving this goal. Deadline: Rolling through August 30, 2023.
  • Volunteer Opportunity. Forest Preserves of Cook County’s: Volunteer Opportunities. With nearly 70,000 acres of woodlands, prairies and wetlands provide endless, year-round opportunities to get outside, get exercise and make a meaningful difference in your community. No matter if you’re deeply familiar with your local preserve or want to start getting out in nature, we have a volunteer opportunity for you or your group. Everyone is welcome in the Forest Preserves! 
  • IJERPH Special Issue: Consider submitting your research papers. The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is preparing a Special Issue titled “Evidence for the Salutary Effects of Nature-based Interventions for Clinical and Public Health Practice” for publication in November 2022. This Special Issue solicits reports of studies that use empirical methods or provide other high-quality evidence that tests hypotheses about nature-based interventions and their impact on health outcomes. The purpose of this Special Issue is to facilitate the transfer of information from basic researchers to practitioners who wish to incorporate NBIs into their practice to improve the health outcomes of individuals and populations. ​
  • Have data? Need Analysis?  Data science students and experts from multiple Chicago-area universities have joined forces to offer assistance with statistical analysis and interpretation to aid non-profit organizations transform their data into actionable knowledge, and much more.  To find out more, please visit  The Metropolitan Chicago Data-science corps website at https://sites.northwestern.edu/mcdc/. 
  • In the News.
    • ​Winter wildlife tracking. Snow Tracks | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (fws.gov) Clues in Snow - Animal Tracks. Aside from the easily recognizable tracks of boots and snowshoes, prints in the snow offer clues to what’s up with birds and animals in winter. Susan Morse compiled photos of animal tracks and wing imprints in snowy areas across the country for the federal Fish and Wildlife Service. The snow, she wrote in February 2019, “tells secrets about the natural world,” even when the animals remain out of sight. A close look at these tracks can “reveal clues to an animal’s size, diet, gait and habits. Some prints even tell stories of resourcefulness and struggle,” she wrote. The Prairie Wetlands Learning Center in Fergus Falls, Minn., provides some common tracking terms: Trail: a path or the series of track patterns, Straddle: the total width of the trail, all tracks included, Register: when a back foot lands in the print of a front foot, Dragline: a print left by a foot or tail dragging over the surface. 
    • Understanding Chionophobia or the Fear of Snow (verywellmind.com). Panic and Fear From Even the Threat of Snow. An article written by Lisa Fritscher and medically reviewed by David Susman, Ph.D., describes chionophobia, an intense fear of snow– not just a dislike or rational fear of severe weather – but a strong fear of bodily harm. Chionophobics fear becoming snowbound or being stranded in snow. The article describes some of the physiological symptoms of chionophobia, which can be brough on by even a forecast of snow or a winter storm. Many environmental phobias involve fears about weather – of severe weather, injury, cold, and illness. 
    • www.chicagobotanic.org/walk/winter. Celebrating Winter at the Chicago Botanic Gardens. With enough layers and determination – and windchills above zero – nature-lovers will find the stillness and beauty of winter in the Chicago Botanic Gardens. In the Dwarf Conifer Garden, “prostrate, ground-hugging conifers as well as the tall cascading evergreens make the most of the protective quality of snow, and create secret caves where birds and wildlife can weather the storms.” Visitors may hear the calls of chickadees, juncos, goldfinches, woodpeckers, and nuthatches as they forage for food or see owls and hawks in search of prey. 
​​
Have something to share?  
We are currently taking requests for our Coffee & Discussion Series - Please submit Coffee and Discussion requests here. 
We are also taking requests for any upcoming events to be added to future newsletters and our events calendar which can be done here. 
Date: 1/6/22
Key Points:
  • ​Follow us on social media.  Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. All can be found using handle @NCH2Network. 
  • Chicago Park District: Snowtrekking in the Nature Sanctuary at Burnham. On Sat, Jan 8th from 10:00 - 11:30 am, discover the Burnham Nature Sanctuary on snowshoes this winter! Explore for winter birds and wildlife on the prairie and woodland trail on snowshoes. Snowshoes are provided for all participants. All participants must be registered; all children participants must be accompanied by an adult caretaker who must also register for the program. $5 fee. Please note that there must be at least three inches of snow on the ground to host the program. Please call us for more information and to verify weather conditions at (312) 745.2910. 
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County: Winter Watercolors. On Sat, Jan 8th from 10 am - 1 pm, join us for a winter art workshop as we explore the beauty of nature through watercolor painting.  Materials provided. All ages. Must register for demos. Drop in available for additional watercolor activities. Registration Required: Call 224-456-8602. 
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County: Winter Tree ID. On Sun, Jan 9th at 1 pm, discover tips and clues to help identify trees when there are no leaves on them on this 1-mile adventure. REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Call Little Red Schoolhouse at 708-839-6897. 
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County: Wellness in the Woods - “Solitude” in Nature. On Fri, Jan 14th at 6 pm, discover the peacefulness of solitude in nature without being alone. REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Email Sand Ridge at sandridge.naturecenter@cookcountyil.gov. 
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County: Photography Walk. On Tue, Jan 18th at 9 am, we’ll hike around Thatcher Woods and down to the Des Plaines River in hopes of capturing some magical winter photography. REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Call 312-533-5751. 
  • ​Ongoing Events: 
    - For Healthcare Providers:  Join the ParkRx America network of providers who write prescriptions for time outdoors.  
    - For members of the ParkRx America Provider Network: Virtual Forest Bathing sessions lead by certified ANFT (Association of Nature and Forest Therapy) Guides. The ANFT Certified Guide Team is excited to share the gift of an array of remote Forest Bathing sessions to support the wellbeing and resiliency of the Park Rx America (PRA) healthcare provider network. Each session is limited to 10 participants, so please register soon to lock in your session. 
  • Environmental Education Association of Illinois 50th Annual Conference. The Environmental Education Association of Illinois is excited to announce our 50th Anniversary Annual Conference will be held on April 8th and 9th at Hoover Forest Preserve in Yorkville, Illinois. This annual event has provided professional development for thousands of Illinois educators over the course of those 50 years, impacting millions of students. This year will be no different, with an excellent keynote, dozens of current sessions, workshop and field experiences there will be extensive learning opportunities for IL educators and organizations.  
    This event will also be in partnership with IL Green Alliance and the IL Green Ribbon School Program bringing together educators and administrators focused on advancing sustainability and green initiatives for their institutions. We are excited to learn more about their projects and help build partnerships between formal and non-formal organizations. This year's theme of "Building Connections" is an excellent opportunity to really examine and demonstrate the wide variety of fields that are involved with environmental literacy, environmental health and the protection of our natural spaces. We would be honored if you could join the event in some way.  
  • Grant Opportunity. Burroughs Wellcome Fund Climate Change and Human Health Seed Grants The Burroughs Wellcome Fund aims to stimulate the growth of new connections between scholars working in largely disconnected fields who might together change the course of climate change’s impact on human health. This  call  focuses  on  developing  partnerships.  Proposals from single institutions must develop partnerships that do not already occur naturally: for example, proposals from departments that draw students from the same shared graduate program are not responsive to this call. Award Range: Over the next two years, the Fund will dedicate $1M to supporting small, early-stage grants of $2,500 - $50,000 toward achieving this goal. Deadline: Rolling through August 30, 2023.
  • Recent Research.  Nature-Based Citizen Science as a Mechanism to Improve Human Health in Urban Areas. Williams, C. R., Burnell, S. M., Rogers, M., Flies, E. J., & Baldock, K. L. (2022). Int J Environ Res Public Health, 19(1), 68. https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/1/68 NCH2 Comments: Many members of NCH2 lead environmental and ecological restoration projects and many engage in citizen science projects.  The article by Williams et al. (2022) discusses the important role that citizen science project may play in improving public health by increasing people’s engagement with nature. The paper contains a review of the physiological and psychological pathways by which engaging with nature can improve health, then links these pathways with citizen science (see Figure 1 in the paper). The paper suggests that as we conduct citizen science programs to learn more about biodiversity and nature in the greater Chicago region, we partner to investigate the impact of these projects on the health and well-being of the Citizen Scientists.   
  • In the News. 
    • Skiers might be at lower risk for anxiety, study finds. By Kristen Rogers: https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/15/health/skiing-benefits-anxiety-study-wellness/index.html A recent study that explored the relationship between skiing and anxiety focused on men and women who trained to participate in Vasaloppet, the world’s largest long-distance ski race – 90 kilometers or 56 miles long. Kristin Rogers wrote in September for CNN about a then-just-released study of skiers in Sweden. Martina Svensson, one of the authors of the study, said her group compared nearly 200,000 Swedish people who participated in the Vasaloppet bettern 1989 and 2010. When compared to non-skiers, skiers had an approximately 60% lower risk of getting diagnosed with anxiety disorders, she said. This held true regardless of differences in education level, age and gender.  The authors selected as a measure of physical performance how much time it took to finish the race. Among the men studied, the researchers found no impact on the risk of anxiety disorders. The risk was almost doubled among high-performing women by this measure, they found. Still, the risk was lower than that for “lower-performing women.” They authors suggest the difference may be due to  “different physiological responses to exercise” between men and women or do psychological or other factors.  
    • www.thewoodee.com/blog/beingoutside Fire Escape - Campfire, Firepit and Even a Hearth Will Offer Health Benefits. A fire, inside or outside, can help relieve some of the stress from spending too much time indoors. Outside is preferable, writes Louise Wright, Founder of The Woodee, in “Why Being Outside Around a Fire is Good for Your Physical and Mental Health.” “As a species, we love fire,” she writes.She cites research by Dr. Christopher Lynn, a medical and psychological anthropologist, which “showed that people who were subjected to both the sight and sounds of a hearth fire or campfire experienced a significant drop in blood pressure, which was greater the longer they were exposed to it.” 
    • https://www.renown.org/blog/the-health-benefits-of-snowshoeing/ Bigger Shoes to Fill - Snowshoeing Around. In 2020, when most people had accepted the pandemic and were searching for ways to cope, Caroline Ackerman wrote of the benefits of snowshoeing. “Snowshoeing can burn more calories than walking and makes it easy to maintain a six-foot physical distance during the pandemic.” Snowshoeing builds muscles, helps with endurance and balance, and provides an immediate connection with nature. Ms. Ackerman gives advice for beginners, such as renting snowshoes to see if the activity is a good fit, picking the right kind of footwear, and putting on lots of layers before heading out. She also suggests checking out REI’s Beginner’s Guide to Snowshoeing and also How to Put on Snowshoes for reference. Writing for Renown Health in Nevada, she lists several local places for snowshoeing.   
    • www.northshore.org/healthy-you/cold-air-benefits-for-kids/ Why should summer have all the fun? Northshore University Health System recognizes the importance of physical activity and getting outdoors.  Their recent advertisements (“Why should summer have all the fun?”) are accompanied by advice for preparing children (and adults) to spend time outdoors on their “Healthy You” webpage (“Cold Air Can be Beneficial to Your Health, Especially for Children”.) 
​
​Have something to share?  
We are currently taking requests for our Coffee & Discussion Series - Please submit Coffee and Discussion requests here. 
We are also taking requests for any upcoming events to be added to future newsletters and our events calendar which can be done here. 
Date: 12/9/21
Key Points:
  • ​Follow us on social media.  Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. All can be found using handle @NCH2Network. 
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County: Bird Painting Workshop Step-by-Step - Northern Cardinal. Fri, Dec 10th from 1:00 - 3:45 pm. Sketch and paint a local bird using a 9” x 12” canvas and acrylic paints. For both beginners and more experienced artists. All materials provided for $5. Ages 15 & up. REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Call Trailside at 708-366-6530. 
  • CRTI "Invasion of the Nature Snatchers!" A Stewardship Festival. Sat. Dec. 11th from 12:00 - 3:00 pm. Drop in to our fun and interactive invasive species stewardship festival! Bring your family, staff,  garden club, HOA, local green drinks chapter, and anyone else you can think of! We will have demonstrations on desirable plant replacements, strategies for invasives removal, inspiration on how to engage your constituents and neighbors, furniture made from buckthorn, and other fun demonstrations. Take a hike, roast some s’mores, and enjoy being outside! Registration required. 
  • Resilient by Nature Project Webinar: How Might We Employ Nature-Based Solutions to Repurpose Vacant Lots? Tues, December 14 from11:00 am-12:15 pm. There are an estimated 32,000 vacant lots in the City of Chicago. Once viewed as a symbol of disinvestment, such properties are increasingly being reclaimed and converted into creative community assets in cities around the country and world. Approaches to this work can range from simple improvements by immediate neighbors to professionally designed and constructed spaces that incorporate a diversity of functions. What best practices can we amplify and scale in Chicago, and how? This session features speakers focused on transforming blocks, neighborhoods, and cities into more responsive, resilient, and vibrant landscapes that can supply food, reduce crime, mitigate flooding, and improve physical and psychological health. Hosted by Jack Westwood, Senior Program Officer, Sustainability, at Walder Foundation and Foresight’s Founding Principal Peter Nicholson. 
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County: Wellness in the Woods - Self-Guided Meditation. Sat, Dec. 18th from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm. Walk our Redwing Trail all weekend and discover this technique of meditation at your own pace while finding a practice that meets your needs and complements your personality. 
  • Chicago Botanic Garden: Winter Solstice Woods Walk. Sun, Dec. 19th starting at 1:00 pm. Celebrate the season with a peaceful, guided walk in the McDonald Woods. Take a guided nature walk in celebration of the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. Meet at the McDonald Woods Shelter to learn more about winter woodland flora and fauna from our staff. Before or after the walk, warm up by the fire at the McDonald Woods Shelter. Don't forget to dress for the weather. If the weather forecast predicts bitter cold temperatures, a wind speed exceeding 20 miles per hour, or heavy rain, the program will be canceled. Free; regular parking fees apply. If there is deep snow, we'll walk in areas near the Woods. 
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County: Winter Solstice Night of Lights Walk. Tue, Dec. 21st from 6:30 - 9:00 pm. Join us for a relaxing candlelit walk through our woods to celebrate the equinox. REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Call Little Red Schoolhouse at 708-839-6897. 
  • Ongoing Events: 
    - For Healthcare Providers:  Join the ParkRx America network of providers who write prescriptions for time outdoors.  
    - For members of the ParkRx America Provider Network: Virtual Forest Bathing sessions lead by certified ANFT (Association of Nature and Forest Therapy) Guides. The ANFT Certified Guide Team is excited to share the gift of an array of remote Forest Bathing sessions to support the wellbeing and resiliency of the Park Rx America (PRA) healthcare provider network. Each session is limited to 10 participants, so please register soon to lock in your session. ​
  • Environmental Education Association of Illinois 50th Annual Conference. The Environmental Education Association of Illinois is excited to announce our 50th Anniversary Annual Conference will be held on April 8th and 9th at Hoover Forest Preserve in Yorkville, Illinois. This annual event has provided professional development for thousands of Illinois educators over the course of those 50 years, impacting millions of students. This year will be no different, with an excellent keynote, dozens of current sessions, workshop and field experiences there will be extensive learning opportunities for IL educators and organizations.  
    This event will also be in partnership with IL Green Alliance and the IL Green Ribbon School Program bringing together educators and administrators focused on advancing sustainability and green initiatives for their institutions. We are excited to learn more about their projects and help build partnerships between formal and non-formal organizations. This year's theme of "Building Connections" is an excellent opportunity to really examine and demonstrate the wide variety of fields that are involved with environmental literacy, environmental health and the protection of our natural spaces. We would be honored if you could join the event in some way.  
  • Job Opportunity. The University of Illinois Extension is accepting applications for a State Master Naturalist and Climate Change Specialist, NREE. Through learning partnerships that extend knowledge and change lives, University of Illinois Extension provides educational programs aimed at making life better, healthier, safer, and more profitable for individuals and their communities. Illinois Extension has operated continuously for more than 100 years connecting the citizens of Illinois to their land-grant university by providing educational programming around the state. University of Illinois Extension is based in the College of ACES and works with all colleges and units of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The Extension State Master Naturalist and Climate Change Specialist serves as a regular, full time, 12 month academic professional with primary responsibility for providing leadership in planning, teaching, development and statewide leadership of the Illinois Master Naturalist and Climate Stewards Programs. The position will be located on the Urbana-Champaign campus or a negotiable Extension Unit location. The position will have statewide responsibilities. One full time position is available and applications close January 6th, 2022.  
  • Grant Opportunity. Burroughs Wellcome Fund Climate Change and Human Health Seed Grants The Burroughs Wellcome Fund aims to stimulate the growth of new connections between scholars working in largely disconnected fields who might together change the course of climate change’s impact on human health. This  call  focuses  on  developing  partnerships.  Proposals from single institutions must develop partnerships that do not already occur naturally: for example, proposals from departments that draw students from the same shared graduate program are not responsive to this call. Award Range: Over the next two years, the Fund will dedicate $1M to supporting small, early-stage grants of $2,500 - $50,000 toward achieving this goal. Deadline: Rolling through August 30, 2023.
  • Recent Research. 
    • Citation: Triebner, K., et al. (2021). "Lifelong exposure to residential greenspace and the premenstrual syndrome: A population-based study of Northern European women." Environ Int 158: 106975. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34781209. NCH2 Comments: This study of 1069 Scandinavian women found the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (e.g. anxiety, depression, difficulty sleeping, breast tenderness and abdominal bloating) were less frequent among women who had lived near greenspace their entire lives than women who had not. The effects of living near greenspace were not associated with body mass index (BMI), physical activity, or air pollution. 
    • Citation: Victorson, D, Doninger, G, Victorson, S, Victorson, G, Hall, L, Maletich, C, Corr, BR, Scortino, K, Burns, Z, Allen, L, Rosa, I, Quirk, K, Adegbemi, A, Strokoff, J, Zuidema, K, Sajdak, K, Mckibben, T, Roberts, A, McDade, TW, Boes, A, McAlinden, K, Arredondo, K, Sauer, C, Smith, K, Salsman, JM. Psychosocial and Biological Outcomes of Immersive, Mindfulness-Based Treks in Nature for Groups of Young Adults and Caregivers Affected by Cancer: Results from a Single Arm Program Evaluation from 2016-2021. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021, 18(23), 12622. Link: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/23/12622/htm. NCH2 Comments: Northwestern University Psychologist and NCH2 Steering Committee member David Victorson and his colleagues at True North Treks have just published this evaluation of wilderness treks and their impact on young adult cancer survivors. Being diagnosed and treated for cancer as a young adult (ages 18-39 years) can significantly disrupt engagement in important educational, career, social, and reproductive pursuits, and contribute to increased stress, anxiety, depression, and other negative outcomes. This analysis of data collected before and after multi-day, immersive treks taken between 2016 and 2021 shows significant self-reported improvements in connectedness to nature, to peers, and oneself.  There were also reductions in anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances. There were also significant reductions in pro-inflammatory biomarkers. ​
  • In the News. 
    • www.forbes.com/sites/sarahwatts/2019/02/12/another-winter-storm-is-coming-heres-how-it-can-affect-your-mental-health/?sh=518d039466bc. Unexpected Weather Extremes Can Be Harmful. Weather that is extreme and unexpected can have a negative effect on mental health, wrote Sarah Watts in Forbes Magazine in 2019. While many may be familiar with the connection between heat waves and aggressive, anti-social and destructive behaviors, Dr. John Forsyth, psychology professor at University of Albany, SUNY, says extreme cold can be just as harmful. People tend isolate inside, and with less sunshine, the body generally produces less serotonin, and either or both of these can exacerbate depression. Studies have shown that cold can also affect such things as memory, one's sense of trustworthiness, and even creativity, Ms. Watts wrote. “Human beings are resilient, but we do not like uncertainty or unexpected events, generally speaking. We're very sensitive to change,” Dr. Forsyth said. 
    • https://littlethings.com/lifestyle/benefits-of-a-snow-day. Benefits of a Snowy Day. Writing for Little Things a few years ago, Laura Caseley came up with 10 benefits of being outside on a winter day. Walk in the middle of the street, when it’s safe, she writes – climb, explore, and slide. Take a mental vacation by reading a book or cooking a healthier meal. “Winter might be cold and wet, but it also has unique benefits that can help lead to a healthier you. Of course, there is one requirement: you have to go outside!” 
    • www.rd.com/list/winter-solstice-traditions/. Celebrating the Longest Night or the Shortest Day? Twice each year the sun seems to stand still then reverse its seemingly northward or southward journey. The word “solstice” reflects two Latin words: sol, meaning “sun” and sistere, “to stand still.” The winter solstice for the northern hemisphere will come at 9:59 central time on Dec. 21. Twice each year the sun seems to stand still. Many cultures observe this time as the beginning of the return of light. Tina Donvito recently recounted several solstice traditions from around the world. Dongzhi has been celebrated in China for thousands of years, as the darkness begins to wane, eventually to be balanced by the light of the sun. Celebration of the ancient Persian festival Shab-e Yalda includes poetry readings, lighted candles, and “a feast to get through the longest night of the year.” There are also festivals of Santo Tomas (Guatemala), Santa Lucia (Scandanavia), and Soyal (Hopi Tribe).  

​Have something to share?  
We are currently taking requests for our Coffee & Discussion Series - Please submit Coffee and Discussion requests here. 
We are also taking requests for any upcoming events to be added to future newsletters and our events calendar which can be done here. 
Date: 11/23/21
Key Points:
  • ​Follow us on social media.  Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. All can be found using handle @NCH2Network. 
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County: Gratitude Nature Night Hike. On Fri, Nov. 26th at 7 p.m. Hike with a naturalist as we share what we are thankful for in nature. Gratitude improves our health, helps people feel positive emotions, and is strongly associated with greater happiness.   
  • ​Forest Preserves of Cook County: Fossil Hike. On Sat, Nov. 27th at 1 p.m. Find out why dinosaur fossils aren’t found in the Chicago region, but ancient marine fossils are. Be sure to bring sturdy shoes and bottled water to head out on a 2-mile hike to visit a fossil bed and learn how these fossils formed. 
  • CRTI Eradication Innovation Virtual Panel. On Wed, Dec. 1st from11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Participate in our free virtual panel of speakers presenting on innovative approaches to inspiring invasive species removal. 45% of our region’s tree canopy is invasive species! You’ll learn about a callery pear buy back program, inspiring neighbors to join the Conservation@Home program, using the Miyawaki method to prevent growth of invasives, and more. 
  • Chicago Wilderness Cafe Discussion: Leading a Network. On Thurs, Dec. 2nd from 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. Facilitated by the Institute for Conservation Leadership, this skill-building session is open to anyone in Chicago Wilderness Alliance, with a high priority for recruiting goal group leaders and emerging Chicago Wilderness leaders. Learn to foster engagement, including for new members; facilitate effective and participatory meetings; and build decision-making capabilities. Facilitators: Peter Lane - Institute for Conservation Leadership & Dianne Russell - Institute for Conservation Leadership. 
  • Center for Health & Nature Symposium. On Wed, Dec. 8th from10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. The Health & Nature Symposium convenes friends of the center, researchers, potential funders, and donors to explore ways to advance the science of the interplay between exposure to natural environments, health and healing. The Center for Health & Nature has identified academic leaders, conservation leaders, and physician-scientists from around the country and world who are engaged in research related to the intersection of nature and health. The 2021 Symposium’s theme is “The Nature of Change”.​​​
  • Environmental Education Association of Illinois 50th Annual Conference. The Environmental Education Association of Illinois is excited to announce our 50th Anniversary Annual Conference will be held on April 8th and 9th at Hoover Forest Preserve in Yorkville, Illinois. This annual event has provided professional development for thousands of Illinois educators over the course of those 50 years, impacting millions of students. This year will be no different, with an excellent keynote, dozens of current sessions, workshop and field experiences there will be extensive learning opportunities for IL educators and organizations.  
    This event will also be in partnership with IL Green Alliance and the IL Green Ribbon School Program bringing together educators and administrators focused on advancing sustainability and green initiatives for their institutions. We are excited to learn more about their projects and help build partnerships between formal and non-formal organizations. This year's theme of "Building Connections" is an excellent opportunity to really examine and demonstrate the wide variety of fields that are involved with environmental literacy, environmental health and the protection of our natural spaces. We would be honored if you could join the event in some way.  
  • Job Opportunities.  
    • The Forest Preserves of Cook County is seeking applications for a Program Specialist to work with our Outreach Team. See job posting below. This is a full time position focusing on key projects including community engagement strategies for the department and with our Nature Centers and programming teams that work in geographic regions around the county and the Youth Outdoor Ambassador program  as well as a variety of ongoing community engagement and outreach efforts. Applications close December 9th. 
    • The Study of Active Neighborhoods in Detroit (StAND) at Michigan State University is seeking a full-time Project Administrator to oversee projects funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS).  The primary research examines geospatial exposures of greenspaces on health.  Responsibilities include (1) liaising with the field team in Detroit and the MSU-based team and tracking participants through the data collection process, (2) ensuring that the Project's Institutional Review Board (IRB) and other protocols are followed and up to date, and (3) conducting general Project administration tasks including travel, arranging meetings, purchasing, reimbursements, timesheets, and budget management.  The position will begin as early as December 1, 2021 and will continue until 2024, depending on performance and funding availability.  The position includes a competitive salary and benefits. (Salary starting at $53,000.) 
  • Grant Opportunity. Burroughs Wellcome Fund Climate Change and Human Health Seed Grants The Burroughs Wellcome Fund aims to stimulate the growth of new connections between scholars working in largely disconnected fields who might together change the course of climate change’s impact on human health. This  call  focuses  on  developing  partnerships.  Proposals from single institutions must develop partnerships that do not already occur naturally: for example, proposals from departments that draw students from the same shared graduate program are not responsive to this call. Award Range: Over the next two years, the Fund will dedicate $1M to supporting small, early-stage grants of $2,500 - $50,000 toward achieving this goal. Deadline: Rolling through August 30, 2023.​
  • Thinking about a Career in Parks and Recreation? Parks and Recreation Emerging Professionals Program (PREPP).  
    GP RED and University of Colorado Denver, School of Public Affairs Institute. Online certification program for people who want to move ahead into upper levels of Parks and Recreation administration. Individuals across the United States and Colorado are eligible. https://publicaffairs.ucdenver.edu/programs/professional-development/leadership-training/parks-and-recreation-emerging-professionals-program 
  • In the News. 
    • “The Key Role of Ceremony,” “The Medicine Wheel and the Four Directions,” and “Healing Plants”: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/nativevoices/exhibition/healing-ways/medicine-ways/introduction.html Since November is Native American Heritage Month, readers may find intriguing information on Native American healing at the National Library of Medicine of the National Institutes of health. As an example, one learns that the relationship between the healer and the patient is a “lifelong responsibility.” Traditional healers, moreover, consider not only the present patient but also the family, community and future generations. These healers use stories, humor, music, tobacco and smudging “to bring healing energies into the healing space and focus their effects.” The ceremonies can include prayer, chants, drumming, songs, and the use of sacred objects – all reflecting the Native concepts of Spirit, Creator and the Universe. 
    • "Studies debunk ‘nature is healing’ narrative from 2020 lockdowns" by Janson Baier. Mongabay News. Sept. 1st, 2021.  https://news.mongabay.com/2021/09/studies-debunk-nature-is-healing-narrative-from-2020-lockdowns/ With humans hunkered down in their pods, venturing out cautiously with much hand-washing and wearing of masks, it would seem that nature had a break from the intensity of the global carbon footprint. There is some evidence to that effect: wild animals “encroaching” on the urban landscape, dolphins swimming in the Hudson River, and a temporarily “smog-free” Los Angeles. But author Jansen Baier headlined his September article in Mongabay “Studies debunk ‘nature is healing’ narrative from 2020 lockdowns.” He cited studies that indicate that while emissions of indirect greenhouse gases did decrease significantly, that effect will not be long-lasting. More wildlife sightings may reflect the fact that people stayed home, slowed down, and looked around.  ​The answer to the question whether nature experienced a reprieve during the lockdown, he acknowledged, “is complicated.” He looked at reports from all over the globe, noting that In India, “researchers concluded there were “more negatives than positives for the environment, including a surge in the use of plastic packaging and PPE, as people shopped online and masked up.” He also quoted Phil Yang, a geospatial scientist and professor of geographic information science at George Mason University that the lockdown offered the opportunity to observe how humans have impacted the earth and contributed to climate change. 
    • "Living Near Green Spaces Can Help You Live Longer" by Mary Jo DiLonardo. Treehugger News. Feb. 5th, 2021. www.treehugger.com/living-near-green-spaces-can-help-you-live-longer-4864352 Being among trees appears to boost longevity, Mary Jo DiLonardo wrote early last year in treehugger.com, citing findings published in Lancet Planetary Health. In “Living Near Green Spaces Can Help You Live Longer” she reports that researchers analyzed the results of nine studies that tracked more than 8.3 million people from seven countries and “found that no matter where on Earth people lived or what type of green space they were near, there were health benefits by the proximity of greenery. … Specifically, they found that a 10% increase in greenery led to about an average 4% drop in premature mortality.” Some local governments are recognizing the importance of public green spaces: New York has turned 27% of its land into public green spaces, she writes. Paris has promised to turn a significant amount of its public green space to sustainable urban farms. 
    • "4 Scientific Reasons Why a Walk in Nature Changes Your Brain" by Shivendra Misra. Medium. Oct. 31st, 2021. medium.com/publishous/4-scientific-reasons-why-a-walk-in-nature-changes-your-brain-c2c0a015ea94 Shivendra Misra gets right down to it: Her article “Scientific Reasons Why a Walk in Nature Changes Your Brain” describes the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual effects of even a brief stay in nature.  Moving away from nature, she says, is a move away from one’s self and from the living relationship to earth that each person has. She quotes David Strayer of the University of Utah, “People have been discussing their profound experiences in nature for the last several 100 years — from Thoreau to John Muir to many other writers. … Now we are seeing changes in the brain and changes in the body that suggest we are physically and mentally more healthy when we are interacting with nature.” Studies conducted in Japan and Finland showed that participants who walk among trees had lower heart rates and less anxiety than those who walked the same speed and distance in urban settings. Being in nature boosts creativity by way of “attention restoration”- relief from the bombardment of daily life. 
​
Have something to share?  
We are currently taking requests for our Coffee & Discussion Series - Please submit Coffee and Discussion requests here. 
We are also taking requests for any upcoming events to be added to future newsletters and our events calendar which can be done here. ​
Date: 11/11/21
Key Points:
  • ​Follow us on social media.  Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. All can be found using handle @NCH2Network. 
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County: Stars, Stories & S’mores. On Friday, November 12th Join us for s’mores by the fire, storytelling, astronomy and more. All visitors over 2 years of age must wear a  mask indoors at all times. Unvaccinated visitors should also wear a mask outdoors when physical distancing (six feet from other people) is not possible. 
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County: Wellness Walk. Sun, Nov. 14th, enjoy a mindful and mediative guided nature walk with Roberta Jannsen, University of Illinois Extension volunteer, to feel refreshed in body and soul. Ages 18 & up.  
    REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Call Trailside at 708-366-6530. 
  • Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods Nature Platoon: Veteran Art and Photography. Opening Reception and Gallery Talk: Sunday, November 14, 1-3pm; Exhibition open through January 22, 2021. Experience nature through the lens of these Veteran photographers and artists who participated in Brushwood Center's At Ease program. Enjoy live music, explore the artwork, and join the Gallery Talk with featured artists during this opening reception. Spending time in nature is a powerful practice for mental and physical well-being. This art and photography exhibition documents the beauty of Chicagoland, including Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, Waukegan Dunes, the Cook County Forest Preserves, Montrose Bird Sanctuary in the Chicago Park District and Lake County Forest Preserves as experienced and captured by U.S. Military Veterans and their families during the Summer and Fall of 2021. This program is free of charge, but registration is required.   
  • Walder Foundation Resilient by Nature Project Webinar: How Might We Better Understand and Act on The Health Benefits of Nature? On Wed, Nov. 17th. The connection between nature and human health is increasingly being researched and asserted. The positive benefits to both physical and mental well-being of regular exposure to trees, green spaces and the outdoors are indisputable, as well as better documented and understood by researchers from diverse fields. With this quickly growing body of evidence in hand, how might this knowledge more significantly inflect the design and function of urban areas like Chicago? This fourth session in RxN's webinar series features two leading national researchers on the health benefits of nature-based solutions, as well as a local spotlight highlighting a regional network for those interested in this topic. Hosted by Jack Westwood, Senior Program Officer, Sustainability, at Walder Foundation and Foresight’s Founding Principal Peter Nicholson, with guest speakers Dr. Gregory Bratman of the University of Washington and Dr. Michelle Kondo, Research Scientist with the National Forest Service.  
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County: Moon Walk. Fri, Nov 19th, let the Beaver Full Moon be our guide as we hike our 1-mile White Oak Trail and warm up by a fire under the night sky afterwards. All ages. Please bring binoculars; limited pairs to lend.  
    REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Call Little Red Schoolhouse at 708-839-6897. 
  • The Conservation Foundation: Forest Therapy Walk. Sat, Nov. 20th, immerse yourself in nature and experience the healing effects of forest therapy or Shinrin-Yoku (Japanese for forest bathing). The walk is not about the destination, but instead the awakening of your senses to the natural environment around you. Reconnect with nature during these mindful walks with a certified Forest Therapy guide (Jeanne Iovenelli). The walk is entirely outdoors. Be prepared to walk over uneven terrain. Wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes. We will follow CDC guidelines and practice social distancing. 
  • Walk with a Future Doc Chicago. Saturdays at 9 AM at the Iowa Building and Thursdays at 5:30 PM in Lincoln Park. Brought to you by the Chicago Parks Foundation. Take a 45-minute walk with local medical students and enjoy a short talk on a health related topic. This is a free, low-pressure way to get moving, connect with your neighbors, and learn more about your own health! Presented by Chicago Parks Foundation in partnership with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.  
  • International Conference. October 31st through November 12th, 2021 in Glasgow Scotland, the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) will be hosted by the UK. The COP26 summit will bring parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. "As countries begin to recover from the Coronavirus pandemic, we must take the historic opportunity to tackle climate change at the same time – to build back better, and greener. We can deliver green recoveries across the globe that bring in good jobs, trillions in investment and ground-breaking new technology. And we must. To keep the temperature of the planet under control – limiting its increase to 1.5 degrees - the science dictates that by the second half of the century, we should be producing less carbon than we take out of the atmosphere. This is what reaching ‘net zero’ means." - Alok Sharma COP President-Designate. 
  • Environmental Education Association of Illinois 50th Annual Conference. The Environmental Education Association of Illinois is excited to announce our 50th Anniversary Annual Conference will be held on April 8th and 9th at Hoover Forest Preserve in Yorkville, Illinois. This annual event has provided professional development for thousands of Illinois educators over the course of those 50 years, impacting millions of students. This year will be no different, with an excellent keynote, dozens of current sessions, workshop and field experiences there will be extensive learning opportunities for IL educators and organizations.  
    This event will also be in partnership with IL Green Alliance and the IL Green Ribbon School Program bringing together educators and administrators focused on advancing sustainability and green initiatives for their institutions. We are excited to learn more about their projects and help build partnerships between formal and non-formal organizations. This year's theme of "Building Connections" is an excellent opportunity to really examine and demonstrate the wide variety of fields that are involved with environmental literacy, environmental health and the protection of our natural spaces. We would be honored if you could join the event in some way.  
  • Job Opportunities.  
    • The Forest Preserves of Cook County are looking to fill a few more Conservation & Experiential Programming (CEP) Aide positions. The position is 29 hours a week at one of our Nature Centers or with one of our programming teams. CEP Aides play an important role on our team with many duties including providing environmental education, outdoor recreation and interpretation to connect people to nature and to the Forest Preserves. The pay is $15.73 per hours. All applications must be submitted online by Nov 12, 2021. 
    • ​The Study of Active Neighborhoods in Detroit (StAND) at Michigan State University is seeking a full-time Project Administrator to oversee projects funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). The primary research examines geospatial exposures of greenspaces on health.  Responsibilities include (1) liaising with the field team in Detroit and the MSU-based team and tracking participants through the data collection process, (2) ensuring that the Project's Institutional Review Board (IRB) and other protocols are followed and up to date, and (3) conducting general Project administration tasks including travel, arranging meetings, purchasing, reimbursements, timesheets, and budget management.  The position will begin as early as December 1, 2021 and will continue until 2024, depending on performance and funding availability.  The position includes a competitive salary and benefits. (Salary starting at $53,000.) 
  • Thinking about a Career in Parks and Recreation? Parks and Recreation Emerging Professionals Program (PREPP).  
    GP RED and University of Colorado Denver, School of Public Affairs Institute. Online certification program for people who want to move ahead into upper levels of Parks and Recreation administration. Individuals across the United States and Colorado are eligible. https://publicaffairs.ucdenver.edu/programs/professional-development/leadership-training/parks-and-recreation-emerging-professionals-program 
  • In the News.   
    • "10,000-Year-Old Rare Prairie Land and Rusty Patched Bumblebee Threatened by Airport Construction in Illinois" by Elizabeth Gamillo. Smithsonian Magaizine. Oct. 28th, 2021  https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ancient-remnant-bell-bowl-prairie-threatened-by-airport-development-180978951/ The Bell Bowl Prairie in Rockford is safe for at least the next few months. This late-October article by Elizabeth Gamillo in the Smithsonian Magazine contains this update at the beginning: “’The FAA is reinitiating consultation under the Endangered Species Act with the USFWS to evaluate impacts to the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee, so planned construction initially scheduled to continue on November 1 will be suspended until further consultation is completed. We anticipate the resumption of the project in the spring of 2022,’ said Zack Oakley, the airport's deputy director of operations and planning.” The article is valuable because of its description of the prairie and its critical importance to the environment. 
    • "When Nature is Nurture: Structured Outdoor Learning" Autism Parenting Magazine. October 7, 2021. https://www.autismparentingmagazine.com/nurture-structured-outdoor-learning/. The fullness of nature can provide sensory overload to some children on the autism spectrum, but introduced in appropriate measures, nature can reveal its patterns that intrigue and stimulate young minds.  David, the author of “When Nature is Nurture, which appeared in Autism Parenting Magazine on Oct. 7, describes the benefits of “structured exploration and supported risk” that underpin the Forest School concept. This outdoor-school movement, which began in Sweden in the 1950s, promotes regular learning in a wooded or other natural area. Curiosity and exploration take precedence over academic knowledge, but the number of trees in an area, their names and the intricate patterns of the can unlock creativity as well as lead to improvements in language and numeracy. Photography brings nature to the eye – a benefit for those less mobile or in wheelchairs. Where woodlands are not nearby, parks and gardens can be the classroom. Research has shown benefits of outdoor learning in three areas for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): sensory-motor; social-emotional; and physical. David concludes, “It’s about exploring the world safely and in a magical way.” 
    • "Reflections from a Solo" Huts For Vets Alumni. October 5, 2021. hutsforvets.org/reflections-from-a-solo/. Wilderness therapy for veterans is designed to help them “adjust to and enjoy civilian life by gaining tools for enhancing mental, physical, spiritual and emotional health. While this is a summer-only program, Jimmy Strange posted “Reflections from a Solo” on Oct. 5. ​His meditation describes the hopefulness he discovered while looking at the mountains in Colorado: “There is the spirit of hope, even in the midst of darkness.  This drives us to survive in the wilderness, in the woods, in the parks, in the suburban setting. We must not be driven by uncertainty or fear, but through the resilience now for a better tomorrow.” 
    • “How 'Black Folks Camp Too' is Making the Outdoors More Diverse" by Meredith O'Connor. August, 23rd, 2021. https://magazine.avocadogreenmattress.com/black-folks-camp-too/. In 2017, Earl Hunter, then a marketing executive for SylvanSport, took his son on a part-business, part-adventure trip. In three months, they visited 49 campgrounds in 20 states and provinces – and met only one other Black family. He saw the need for reciprocity – the camping industry needed to learn how to attract Black clientele and Black people needed to enjoy camping and an outdoor lifestyle. The company he founded, Black Folks Camp Too, has succeeded in both areas, connecting about 400 people to the outdoors and partnering with companies and organizations to help create spaces that are more welcoming to all Black people and everyone else. Ms. O’Connor quotes Mr. Hunter’s description of his work “to remove generational fear, add knowledge, and invite more Black people to camp and enjoy the outdoor lifestyle — with any- and everyone. “And while we do that, we promote unity in the outdoors,” The Unity Blaze campfire logo, which he created is a symbol that everyone should be accorded equal treatment. ​
​
Have something to share?  
We are currently taking requests for our Coffee & Discussion Series - Please submit Coffee and Discussion requests here. 
We are also taking requests for any upcoming events to be added to future newsletters and our events calendar which can be done here. 
Date: 10/28/21
Key Points:
  • Welcome! We would like to announce some personnel changes in the NCH2 organization! Our wonderful web designer and editor Kiersa Berg has graduated and has moved on to new exciting opportunities and the wonderful Emma Crumpton has taken over the editing and deigning work for the NCH2 website and newsletter. We also welcome Mary Gavin, our new "In the News" correspondent, who is recently retired from the position of Executive Editor of the Evanston Roundtable newspaper. 
  • Follow us on social media.  Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. All can be found using handle @NCH2Network.  
  • Congratulations! NCH2 partners, two of our partner organizations have been nominated for awards from the recent SHIFT conference in Bolder, CO.  The Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods and True North Treks were nominated on the basis of three criteria: Impact, Innovation and Replicability . Winners will be highlighted in an article written by Todd Wilkinson and published in the Mountain Journal. Information about their programs will be distributed to over 15,000 outdoor recreation, environmental, and health organizations nation wide. Recipients also receive complementary registration at next year's SHIFT Summit which will be held in Fort Collins, CO. Congrats again to our partners! 
  • ​One Book One Northwestern Keynote Address. On Thursday, Oct 28, join Professor Hope Jahren, author of “The Story or More” and “Lab Girl” will be in conversation with Professor William Miller, the One Book faculty chair and NCH2 member, about her book The Story of More: How We Got to Climate Change and Where to Go from Here on Thursday, October 28th. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.   
  • NBS RxN Webinar Series: How Might NBS Center Equity and Justice in Chicago? On Thursday, Oct 28. Environmental injustices have pervaded Chicago for decades, and continue to do so. While NBS can provide a multitude of benefits to neighborhoods, they must be planned and pursued in ways that respect the agency of local residents and avoid unintended consequences. This session's guests have extensive experience working with communities and possess deep understanding of the complex issues involved in truly equitable engagement and implementation of nature-based changes that are desired by a neighborhood. We look forward to an engaging discussion with these advocates about key principles and practices essential to equitable NBS. 
  • Chicago Botanic Garden Fall Woods Walk. On Sunday, October 31 from 11am – 2pm, celebrate fall and get out in nature in the McDonald Woods. Get involved with our community science program, Budburst, by observing plants changing color and setting seed. Find out how to be part of our new EcoQuest monthly challenges and how to submit observations with our mobile app. Then set out on a self-guided walk in McDonald Woods. (A short trail loop is about 1/3 mile; the longer trail loop is about 2/3 mile.) We’ll have one guided woods walk, lasting approximately 45 minutes, at 1 p.m. 
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County Forest Therapy Walk. On Tuesday, November 2nd at 10 a.m. Treat yourself to an encounter with nature that will awaken your senses and renew your bonds with the preserves. Led by certified Forest Therapy Guide. Ages 18 & up. 
  • One Book One Northwestern Webinar by Dr. Louise Chawla. On Tuesday November 9th at 5:30 p.m. This talk reviews research about experiences that encourage constructive hope and effective action, including taking time to recharge in nature, building social trust, and working together in community. About the speaker: Louise Chawla is Professor Emerita in the Program in Environmental Design at the University of Colorado Boulder. She holds a current position as a fellow in the Community Engagement, Design and Research Center in the Program in Environmental Design, and serves on the Executive Committee of Growing Up Boulder, a program that involves children and youth in urban design and planning. She publishes on the subjects of participatory planning and design with young people, benefits of access to nature for wellbeing, and the development of active care for the natural world. 
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County: Stars, Stories & S’mores. On Friday, November 12th Join us for s’mores by the fire, storytelling, astronomy and more. All visitors over 2 years of age must wear a  mask indoors at all times. Unvaccinated visitors should also wear a mask outdoors when physical distancing (six feet from other people) is not possible. 
  • Walk with a Future Doc Chicago. Saturdays at 9 AM in Jackson Park and Thursdays at 6 PM in Lincoln Park. Brought to you by the Chicago Parks Foundation. Take a 45-minute walk with local medical students and enjoy a short talk on a health related topic. This is a free, low-pressure way to get moving, connect with your neighbors, and learn more about your own health! Presented by Chicago Parks Foundation in partnership with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.  
  • International Conference: UN Climate Change Conference 2021. October 31st through November 12th, 2021 in Glasgow Scotland, the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) will be hosted by the UK. The COP26 summit will bring parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. "As countries begin to recover from the Coronavirus pandemic, we must take the historic opportunity to tackle climate change at the same time – to build back better, and greener. We can deliver green recoveries across the globe that bring in good jobs, trillions in investment and ground-breaking new technology. And we must. To keep the temperature of the planet under control – limiting its increase to 1.5 degrees - the science dictates that by the second half of the century, we should be producing less carbon than we take out of the atmosphere. This is what reaching ‘net zero’ means." - Alok Sharma COP President-Designate.
  • Funding Opportunities. The Forest Preserves of Cook County has two funding initiatives available. Please, see the linked PDFs for a description of each funding request. One is for a visioning/strategic planning initiative for the Conservation and Experiential Programming department, the other is for community engagement work around FPCC sites.   
  • Job Opportunity. The Forest Preserves of Cook County are looking to fill a few more Conservation & Experiential Programming (CEP) Aide positions. The position is 29 hours a week at one of our Nature Centers or with one of our programming teams. CEP Aides play an important role on our team with many duties including providing environmental education, outdoor recreation and interpretation to connect people to nature and to the Forest Preserves. The pay is $15.73 per hours. All applications must be submitted online by Nov 12, 2021. 
  • Thinking about a Career in Parks and Recreation? Parks and Recreation Emerging Professionals Program (PREPP).  GP RED and University of Colorado Denver, School of Public Affairs Institute. Online certification program for people who want to move ahead into upper levels of Parks and Recreation administration. Individuals across the United States and Colorado are eligible. 
  • In the News.  
    • ​​"Learning the ropes" by Philip Oltermann. The Guardian. October 24, 2021 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/24/why-germany-is-building-risk-into-its-playgrounds The Triitopia, a climbing tower for children in Berlin-Frohnau’s Ludwig Lesser Park, is designed to keep children a bit on edge – and that is the point. The playground, built by Berliner Seilfabrik, is one of several in Germany that are designed to develop “risk competence.” The company’s co-director, David Köhler, claims that children are more careful when the feel insecure. 
      Over the past five years in Germany, the trend has been to abandon the quest for “absolute safety” and “instead create challenging microcosms that teach children to navigate difficult situations even if the consequence is the odd broken bone,” the author writes. He cites a study that found that “children who had improved their motor skills in playgrounds at an early age were less likely to suffer accidents as they got older.”
    • ​“How Park Prescriptions Improve Health" By Erin Berger. Oct. 22, 2021.  https://magazine.avocadogreenmattress.com/park-prescriptions-mental-health/ Gina Besenyi, an Assistant Professor at Kansas State University, researches the relationship between the built environment and physical activity/nutrition behaviors. Erin Berger, a freelance writer based in Santa Fe, N. M., recently interviewed Dr. Bensenyi about “park prescriptions.” Looking at the relationship between nature and health, Dr. Bensenyi suggests that physicians should consider writing “park prescriptions,” telling their patients to spend time in nature. The idea, Ms. Berger writes, “is that a primary care physician or secondary provider like a physical therapist or mental health counselor could write a prescription for activity in nature, with specific directions that could be filled by patients much like any other prescription. Ideally, a prescription offered information on the frequency, intensity, duration, and type of activity, in addition to giving a specific location like a park where the activity could take place.”Dr. Bensenyi and her colleagues are developing an app for that. The Electronic Community Park Audit Tool consolidates information from park visitors about parks, trails and public exercise amenities such as soccer fields and basketball courts. The ability to “crowd source” information about parks is an advantage over similar tools which have relied on parks and recreation departments to provide that information. 
    • "Healthcare & Therapeutic Gardens Interview Series: Dr. Garuth Chalfont" by Afrouz Rahmati, Assoc. ASLA. October 14, 2021.
      https://thefield.asla.org/2021/10/14/healthcare-therapeutic-gardens-interview-series-dr-garuth-chalfont/​ The interview with Dr. Chalfont covers his career of incorporating elements of nature into gardens for healing the mind. At present his concentration is on designing and building outdoor spaces for institutions that care for people with dementia. He involves residents, staff, and families in creating the concept for the spaces, designing them for holistic health – mind, body, and soul. In his research, he explores “how nature contributes to prevention of (and healing from) dementia.”
      When he designs a space, he says, “The resident is my client; I don’t design for the owners—they only hire me and give me access to their residents. I also insist on being involved in training the care staff during the development of the design concept, so they are on-board with how the gardens will be used.

​Have something to share?  
We are currently taking requests for our Coffee & Discussion Series - Please submit Coffee and Discussion requests here. 
We are also taking requests for any upcoming events to be added to future newsletters and our events calendar which can be done here. 
​
Date: 10/14/21
Key Points:
  • Follow us on social media.  Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. All can be found using handle @NCH2Network.  
  • Brushwood Center Climate Justice & Healing Story Circle. On Saturday, October 16th from 10 am - 12 pm, join Faith in Place and Brushwood Center for a Story Circle exploring our connection to the environment, our migration stories, and our experience of climate change.  This program will begin with a 30-minute guided tour of Brushwood Center’s current youth art exhibition: “Our Future: Youth Perspectives on the Environment,'' followed by the Story Circle outside led by Princess Harris.  Build community and connection outdoors as we enjoy the gorgeous fall colors at Ryerson, and explore what it means to heal in nature. The Story Circle will also be live streamed via Zoom for those who prefer to join virtually. 
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County Fall Color Walk: Oaktober. On Saturday, October 16th at 10 am, travel with us through two magnificent preserves—Palos Park Woods and McClaughrey Springs Woods—as we look for the beautiful changing colors of the fall season. This area is among the largest contiguous tract of Forest Preserves in Cook County and the highest priority for restoration. We will have color scavenger hunts for the little ones, as well. Perfect for families. 3.4 miles. 
  • Chicago Botanic Garden Fall Woods Walk. On Sundays, October 17, 24, and 31 from 11am – 2pm, celebrate fall and get out in nature in the McDonald Woods. Get involved with our community science program, Budburst, by observing plants changing color and setting seed. Find out how to be part of our new EcoQuest monthly challenges and how to submit observations with our mobile app. Then set out on a self-guided walk in McDonald Woods. (A short trail loop is about 1/3 mile; the longer trail loop is about 2/3 mile.) We’ll have one guided woods walk, lasting approximately 45 minutes, at 1 p.m. 
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County Forest Therapy Walk. On Tuesday, Oct 26 at 10 am, treat yourself to an encounter with nature that will awaken your senses and renew your bonds with the preserves. Led by certified Forest Therapy Guide. Ages 18 & up. 
  • One Book One Northwestern Keynote Address. On Thursday, Oct 28, join Professor Hope Jahren, author of “The Story or More” and “Lab Girl” will be in conversation with Professor William Miller, the One Book faculty chair and NCH2 member, about her book The Story of More: How We Got to Climate Change and Where to Go from Here on Thursday, October 28th. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.   ​
  • Take a Hike Challenge. This fall, we invite you to join the Healthy Driven Take a Hike! Challenge. For eight weeks, from Sept. 1 to Oct. 27, rediscover the healthy benefits of being active and spending time outdoors. It’s a great opportunity for all ages — from kids to seniors — to exercise in the fresh air and learn cool stuff about nature while bonding with family and friends.  We are partnering with local community sponsors to bring you hiking insights and expertise, special programming and ideas to Elevate Your Hike each week! The Take a Hike! Tracker can be printed or picked up at one of our sponsor locations. When you complete and track 6 hikes during the 8-week Challenge period, you’ll earn the Take a Hike! Trail Blaze Award. 
  • Walk with a Future Doc Chicago. Saturdays at 9 AM in Jackson Park and Thursdays at 6 PM in Lincoln Park. Brought to you by the Chicago Parks Foundation. Take a 45-minute walk with local medical students and enjoy a short talk on a health related topic. This is a free, low-pressure way to get moving, connect with your neighbors, and learn more about your own health! Presented by Chicago Parks Foundation in partnership with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.  
  • 2021 SHIFT Summit: Ensuring Access to Nature – For Human Health and the Environment.  October 18-20 in Grand Junction, Colorado. The SHIFT Summit is a national gathering of hundreds of land managers, researchers, funders, educators, retailers, and conservationists, along with outdoor recreation, health, military, and nature therapy professionals who share experiences, evidence, and ideas for better linking of both humans and nature. The Summit is based on sound science combined with experiential, health, stewardship, and land management aspects to balance equitable reciprocity and access to the places, flora, and fauna that we all need to exist and thrive. SHIFT Awards will also be presented for organizations and individuals who are excelling in our collective work.  The Summit will include a variety of research, practice, and experiential aspects, including workshops, lightning talks, panel discussions, nature and forest therapy practices, and plenty of opportunities for active outdoor recreation so we can deepen our connections to place and story. Keynote Speaker: Melody Mobley, the first African-American woman in the U.S. Forest Service will talk about her experiences and views of the future. Read more about Melody Mobley, click here. Remote options are now available. Please, see the SHIFT website (https://www.gpred.org/shift/) for updated information as it becomes available. 
  • Funding Opportunities. The Forest Preserves of Cook County has two funding initiatives available. Please, see the linked PDFs for a description of each funding request. One is for a visioning/strategic planning initiative for the Conservation and Experiential Programming department, the other is for community engagement work around FPCC sites.   Click here for the Community Engagement RFP. Click here for the Vision Strategic Plan RFP. Click here for information about proposals, bids, registering as a vendor etc.   
  • Job Opportunity. The Forest Preserves of Cook County are looking to fill a few more Conservation & Experiential Programming (CEP) Aide positions.  The position is 29 hours a week at one of our Nature Centers or with one of our programming teams. CEP Aides play an important role on our team with many duties including providing environmental education, outdoor recreation and interpretation to connect people to nature and to the Forest Preserves. The pay is $15.73 per hours. All applications must be submitted online by Nov 12, 2021. 
  • Thinking about a Career in Parks and Recreation? Parks and Recreation Emerging Professionals Program (PREPP).  
    GP RED and University of Colorado Denver, School of Public Affairs Institute. Online certification program for people who want to move ahead into upper levels of Parks and Recreation administration. Individuals across the United States and Colorado are eligible. https://publicaffairs.ucdenver.edu/programs/professional-development/leadership-training/parks-and-recreation-emerging-professionals-program 
  • Current Research. “A Scoping Review of the Health Benefits of Nature-Based Physical Activity.” Christiana, Richard W., et al.  Journal of Healthy Eating and Active Living, 23 Sept. 2021, http://profpubs.com/index.php/jheal/article/view/25. Author's Abstract: The health benefits of physical activity and spending time in nature are well established. However, children and adults in the United States are not participating in sufficient levels of physical activity and are not spending much time outdoors. Recently, increased access to nature for the health and wellness of all populations has seen growing public health attention, though a specific focus on nature-based physical activity has been limited. The purpose of this scoping review is to operationalize the health benefits of nature-based physical activity to provide guidance to program administrators, advocates, and researchers for nature-based physical activity to facilitate collaborations. This review supports and encourages multiple strategies to increase nature-based physical activity as this provides even greater benefit to health and wellness than exposure to nature or physical activity alone. Although many of the physical and mental health benefits of nature and physical activity are well established, additional research is needed to better understand the relationship between exposure to nature and nature-based physical activity. However, the existing information justifies the promotion of nature-based physical activities in public health initiatives.  
  • In the News.  “UN Says Access to a 'Clean, Healthy' Environment Is a Human Right.” Dewan, Angela, and Lauren Said-Moorhouse. CNN, Cable News Network, 8 Oct. 2021, https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/08/world/un-clean-environment-human-right-climate-intl/index.html.  This CNN article discusses how last Friday, the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHCR) acknowledged that access to a "safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment" is a basic human right for the first time. We felt that this was an important article to highlight the recognition that "environmental degradation and climate change as interconnected human rights crises." Yolande Wright, Global Director of Child Poverty, Climate and Urban at Save the Children, hailed the "landmark" resolution in a statement, noting it could have "huge implications for children's rights to a safe and sustainable future."
Have something to share?  
We are currently taking requests for our Coffee & Discussion Series - Please submit Coffee and Discussion requests here. 
We are also taking requests for any upcoming events to be added to future newsletters and our events calendar which can be done here. 
Date: 9/30/21
Key Points:
  • Follow us on social media.  Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. All can be found using handle @NCH2Network.  
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County: Live Healthy, Discover Nature! Hike. Saturday, Oct. 2nd at 2p.m., venture out on our scenic trails for a 3- to 4-mile hike led by our nature education staff. All visitors over 2 years of age must wear a mask indoors at all times. Unvaccinated visitors should also wear a mask outdoors when physical distancing (six feet from other people) is not possible. 
  • Chicago Botanic Garden: Illinois Orchid Society Fall Show & Sale. Saturday and Sunday, October 9th-10th from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., tabletop displays, from the rarest of species to cultivated hybrids, will be artistically arranged. The Illinois Orchid Society presents this show, in which individual orchids in 128 classes will vie for red, white, and blue ribbons. The Society will provide an orchid sales area and repotting services. 
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County: Meet Our Birds. Sunday, Oct. 10th at 1:30 p.m., Come take a closer look at Sand Ridge Nature Center’s birds. Learn more about our animal ambassadors on display and discover some of their unique adaptations. All visitors over 2 years of age must wear a mask indoors at all times. Unvaccinated visitors should also wear a mask outdoors when physical distancing (six feet from other people) is not possible. REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Call Sand Ridge at 708-868-0606 or email at sandridge.naturecenter@cookcountyil.gov 
  • Take a Hike Challenge. This fall, we invite you to join the Healthy Driven Take a Hike! Challenge. For eight weeks, from Sept. 1 to Oct. 27, rediscover the healthy benefits of being active and spending time outdoors. It’s a great opportunity for all ages — from kids to seniors — to exercise in the fresh air and learn cool stuff about nature while bonding with family and friends.  We are partnering with local community sponsors to bring you hiking insights and expertise, special programming and ideas to Elevate Your Hike each week! The Take a Hike! Tracker can be printed or picked up at one of our sponsor locations. When you complete and track 6 hikes during the 8-week Challenge period, you’ll earn the Take a Hike! Trail Blaze Award. 
  • Walk with a Future Doc Chicago. Saturdays at 9 AM in Jackson Park and Thursdays at 6 PM in Lincoln Park. Brought to you by the Chicago Parks Foundation. Take a 45-minute walk with local medical students and enjoy a short talk on a health related topic. This is a free, low-pressure way to get moving, connect with your neighbors, and learn more about your own health! Presented by Chicago Parks Foundation in partnership with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.  
  • The Walder Foundation: Resilient by Nature Project. Instead of resuming NCH2 Virtual Coffees and Discussions in September, we encourage you to register for and attend these events hosted by the Walder Foundation. RxN (Resilient by Nature Project) is an initiative that aims to expand the role of nature in our neighborhoods to improve health and quality of life, provide economic opportunities, and build resilience to the impacts of climate change. 
    • How might we…  
                                                …Align and Scale Green Infrastructure Efforts? 
                                                Wednesday Oct 6, 2021, 11:00 AM-12:15 PM CT. 
  • University of Washington, Nature & Health Virtual Conference: Generating Understanding Across Communities and Disciplines.  October 12-14 via Zoom. Nature and Health seeks to understand the connections between nature and human health and well-being. We work to translate that understanding into programs, practices, policies, and the design of healthcare, educational, and community settings that benefit all people and nature. Speakers include Michelle Johnson-Jennings, Ph.D., Ed.M. (Choctaw Nation); Eugenia C. South, M.D., M.S.; Hilary Franz, Commissioner of Public Lands; and Howard Frumkin, M.D., Dr.P.H. 
  • 2021 SHIFT Summit: Ensuring Access to Nature – For Human Health and the Environment.  October 18-20 in Grand Junction, Colorado. The SHIFT Summit is a national gathering of hundreds of land managers, researchers, funders, educators, retailers, and conservationists, along with outdoor recreation, health, military, and nature therapy professionals who share experiences, evidence, and ideas for better linking of both humans and nature. The Summit is based on sound science combined with experiential, health, stewardship, and land management aspects to balance equitable reciprocity and access to the places, flora, and fauna that we all need to exist and thrive. SHIFT Awards will also be presented for organizations and individuals who are excelling in our collective work.  The Summit will include a variety of research, practice, and experiential aspects, including workshops, lightning talks, panel discussions, nature and forest therapy practices, and plenty of opportunities for active outdoor recreation so we can deepen our connections to place and story. Remote options are now available. Please, see the SHIFT website (https://www.gpred.org/shift/) for updated information as it becomes available. 
    • ​​​Keynote Speaker: Melody Mobley, the first African-American woman in the U.S. Forest Service will talk about her experiences and views of the future. Read more about Melody Mobley, click here.
  • Grant Opportunity. The National Park Trust has grants for getting kids outdoors. Deadline is October 6th. ​National Park Trust, in partnership with the USDA Forest Service, is thrilled to announce the launch of the Every Kid Outdoors Transportation Grants Program, supporting the transportation and activity needs of non-profits and schools that are connecting elementary school-aged youth to public lands. This grant program supports the national Every Kid Outdoors initiative with the goal to ensure every child in the United States has the opportunity to visit public lands and waters by the time they are 11 years old, thereby establishing a lifelong connection to enjoy and protect our American outdoor heritage. 
  • Thinking about a Career in Parks and Recreation? Parks and Recreation Emerging Professionals Program (PREPP). GP RED and University of Colorado Denver, School of Public Affairs Institute. Online certification program for people who want to move ahead into upper levels of Parks and Recreation administration. Individuals across the United States and Colorado are eligible. https://publicaffairs.ucdenver.edu/programs/professional-development/leadership-training/parks-and-recreation-emerging-professionals-program 
  • Current Research. The affective benefits of nature exposure. Bratman, G. N., Olvera-Alvarez, H. A., & Gross, J. J. (2021, June 30). Wiley Online Library. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/spc3.12630. Author's Abstract: Mounting evidence demonstrates that nature exposure can have affective benefits. These include behavioral and psychophysiological responses consistent with (a) decreases in stress and negative affect; and (b) increases in subjective well-being and positive affect. What is less clear, however, is what mechanisms are responsible for these effects. In this article, we examine the evidence for affective impacts of nature exposure, consider underlying mechanisms (with a focus on affect regulation), and discuss what might moderate these effects at the individual and population level. 
  • In the News. Trevor Hancock: Measures to tackle climate change bring health benefits, too. Trevor Hancock. September 2021. www.timescolonist.com/islander/trevor-hancock-measures-to-tackle-climate-change-bring-health-benefits-too-1.24360418 This Times Colonist article discusses an editorial titled “Call for emergency action to limit global temperature increases, restore biodiversity, and protect health,” published in 231 medical journals around the world. This editorial lists some of the health impacts that are already apparent as a result of these changes, as well as the link between ­unsustainable development and inequality. The good news, the editorial points out, is that the dramatic changes we must make bring with them “huge positive health and economic outcomes.” Trevor Hancock focuses on these benefits towards the later half of his article, as he echoes the calls made in the editorial to,  “do all we can to aid the transition to a sustainable, fairer, resilient and healthier world.” 

Have something to share?  
We are currently taking requests for our Coffee & Discussion Series - Please submit Coffee and Discussion requests here. 
We are also taking requests for any upcoming events to be added to future newsletters and our events calendar which can be done here. ​
Date: 9/16/21
Key Points:
  • Follow us on social media.  Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. All can be found using handle @NCH2Network.  
  • Students Reading Recent Research.  This past quarter the Horton Research Group has started having students read current research papers and present the findings and methods to lab meetings, including creating a blog post about the papers to make them more accessible to those who may not have the time or resources to read the entire papers in their free time. We invite others who might want to try their hand at blogging to submit potential posts. Submit items of 500 words or less to NCH2.Chicago@gmail.com. This week's blog post is written by Emma Crumpton. To read the full blog post by Emma click  here. 
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County: Fall Nature Fest. Saturday, September 18th from 12:00-3:00pm at LaBagh Woods, celebrate the fall season with fun and educational entertainment for all ages in this second annual event! Enjoy food, drinks, games, Jesse White Tumblers, animal ambassadors, native plant give-a-ways, and much more.  In partnership with the Forest Preserves of Cook County and others. For group registration or info, email district12@cookcountyil.gov. Meet at Grove #1. This event is presented with Cook County Commissioner Bridget Degnen. All visitors over 2 years of age must wear a mask indoors at all times.  
  • Chicago Botanic Garden: Central States Dahlia Society Show. Sunday, September 19th from 10:00am – 4:30 pm, hundreds of dahlia blooms ranging in size from a silver dollar to a dinner plate will be on display. Dahlias are known for their unique features, vibrant colors, perfect petal arrangements, and overall "wow" factor. More than 2,000 flowers in the dahlia family will be judged and on display in a wide variety of colors, sizes, and forms, with floral designs and photography completing the show. Society members will be on hand to provide written information and to answer questions about dahlias. 
  • Take a Hike Challenge.  This fall, we invite you to join the Healthy Driven Take a Hike! Challenge. For eight weeks, from Sept. 1 to Oct. 27, rediscover the healthy benefits of being active and spending time outdoors. It’s a great opportunity for all ages — from kids to seniors — to exercise in the fresh air and learn cool stuff about nature while bonding with family and friends.  We are partnering with local community sponsors to bring you hiking insights and expertise, special programming and ideas to Elevate Your Hike each week! The Take a Hike! Tracker can be printed or picked up at one of our sponsor locations. When you complete and track 6 hikes during the 8-week Challenge period, you’ll earn the Take a Hike! Trail Blaze Award. 
  • Walk with a Future Doc Chicago. Saturdays at 9 AM in Jackson Park and Thursdays at 6 PM in Lincoln Park. Brought to you by the Chicago Parks Foundation. Take a 45-minute walk with local medical students and enjoy a short talk on a health related topic. This is a free, low-pressure way to get moving, connect with your neighbors, and learn more about your own health! Presented by Chicago Parks Foundation in partnership with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.  
  • The Walder Foundation: Resilient by Nature Project. Instead of resuming NCH2 Virtual Coffees and Discussions in September, we encourage you to register for and attend these events hosted by the Walder Foundation. RxN (Resilient by Nature Project) is an initiative that aims to expand the role of nature in our neighborhoods to improve health and quality of life, provide economic opportunities, and build resilience to the impacts of climate change. 
    • How might we…  
                                                …Align and Scale Green Infrastructure Efforts? 
                                                Wednesday Oct 6, 2021, 11:00 AM-12:15 PM CT. 
  • University of Washington, Nature & Health Virtual Conference: Generating Understanding Across Communities and Disciplines.  October 12-14 via Zoom. Nature and Health seeks to understand the connections between nature and human health and well-being. We work to translate that understanding into programs, practices, policies, and the design of healthcare, educational, and community settings that benefit all people and nature. Speakers include Michelle Johnson-Jennings, Ph.D., Ed.M. (Choctaw Nation); Eugenia C. South, M.D., M.S.; Hilary Franz, Commissioner of Public Lands; and Howard Frumkin, M.D., Dr.P.H. 
  • 2021 SHIFT Summit: Ensuring Access to Nature – For Human Health and the Environment.  October 18-20 in Grand Junction, Colorado. The SHIFT Summit is a national gathering of hundreds of land managers, researchers, funders, educators, retailers, and conservationists, along with outdoor recreation, health, military, and nature therapy professionals who share experiences, evidence, and ideas for better linking of both humans and nature. The Summit is based on sound science combined with experiential, health, stewardship, and land management aspects to balance equitable reciprocity and access to the places, flora, and fauna that we all need to exist and thrive. SHIFT Awards will also be presented for organizations and individuals who are excelling in our collective work.  The Summit will include a variety of research, practice, and experiential aspects, including workshops, lightning talks, panel discussions, nature and forest therapy practices, and plenty of opportunities for active outdoor recreation so we can deepen our connections to place and story. Remote options are now available. Please, see the SHIFT website (https://www.gpred.org/shift/) for updated information as it becomes available. 
    • ​​​Keynote Speaker: Melody Mobley, the first African-American woman in the U.S. Forest Service will talk about her experiences and views of the future. Read more about Melody Mobley, click here.
  • Notes from Past Events. In our past newsletter we mentioned that instead of holding an NCH2 Discussion Session this month, we encouraged you to attend the Walder Foundation’s Resilient by Nature (RxN) webinar “How Might We...Develop a Vibrant NBS Eco-System in Chicago?” on 9/14/2021. 
    • The webinar featured Harriet Bulkeley from the University of Durham who led the Naturvation Project and Lisa Beyer of the World Resources Institute who is leading the development of a Joint Benefits Authority which is a tool to allow multiple city agencies to work collaboratively with local communities. Both speakers discussed their programs and how they provide exciting examples that could be used as models to expand nature-based solutions to improve the resilience of Chicago and do so in an equitable manner. Of interest to the NCH2 community was the comment that many of the organizations addressing climate change are just beginning to include public health in their discussions. 
  • Grant Opportunity. The National Park Trust has grants for getting kids outdoors. Deadline is October 6th.  National Park Trust, in partnership with the USDA Forest Service, is thrilled to announce the launch of the Every Kid Outdoors Transportation Grants Program, supporting the transportation and activity needs of non-profits and schools that are connecting elementary school-aged youth to public lands. This grant program supports the national Every Kid Outdoors initiative with the goal to ensure every child in the United States has the opportunity to visit public lands and waters by the time they are 11 years old, thereby establishing a lifelong connection to enjoy and protect our American outdoor heritage. 
  • Thinking about a Career in Parks and Recreation? Parks and Recreation Emerging Professionals Program (PREPP). GP RED and University of Colorado Denver, School of Public Affairs Institute. Online certification program for people who want to move ahead into upper levels of Parks and Recreation administration. Individuals across the United States and Colorado are eligible. https://publicaffairs.ucdenver.edu/programs/professional-development/leadership-training/parks-and-recreation-emerging-professionals-program 
  • In the News. 
    • One’s connection to nature examined in public health research. Karen Rowan. September 2, 2021. University of Hawai’I News. Manoa. https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2021/09/02/connection-to-nature-study/ This University of Hawai’I News article discusses a paper is published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, which examines how feelings of nature connection can be measured for public health research. Scales deigned to measure people's nature connectedness, environmental attitudes and values, cultural or spiritual connectedness provided validated measurements of relatedness to nature. These types of scales can help to reconstruct the way health is thought about by, "quantifying people’s health needs and could lend support to policies and programs that promote health equity."
    • Youth report feeling physically, mentally better after spending time in nature. Nardy Baeza Bickel. University of Michigan Health. September 13, 2021. https://healthblog.uofmhealth.org/wellness-prevention/youth-report-feeling-physically-mentally-better-after-spending-time-nature​ ​This University of Michigan Health article discusses a recent survey conducted by the university aiming to assess perceptions regarding nature. Using a text messaging poll they found that of the 994 respondents, many felt that spending time in nature positively impacted their mental health, with 88% of respondents waning to spend more time in nature and 22% mentioning barriers impeding them from doing so. This information can inform community-level policies and interventions that aim to support youth mental and physical health.
 
Have something to share?  
We are currently taking requests for our Coffee & Discussion Series - Please submit Coffee and Discussion requests here. 
We are also taking requests for any upcoming events to be added to future newsletters and our events calendar which can be done here. 
Date: 9/2/21
Key Points:
  • ​Follow us on social media.  Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. All can be found using handle @NCH2Network.  
  • Take a Hike Challenge.  This fall, we invite you to join the Healthy Driven Take a Hike! Challenge. For eight weeks, from Sept. 1 to Oct. 27, rediscover the healthy benefits of being active and spending time outdoors. It’s a great opportunity for all ages — from kids to seniors — to exercise in the fresh air and learn cool stuff about nature while bonding with family and friends.  We are partnering with local community sponsors to bring you hiking insights and expertise, special programming and ideas to Elevate Your Hike each week! The Take a Hike! Tracker can be printed or picked up at one of our sponsor locations. When you complete and track 6 hikes during the 8-week Challenge period, you’ll earn the Take a Hike! Trail Blaze Award. 
  • Faith in Place's Green Team Summit. September 12-14 via a virtual platform. We believe our environmental and social crises are rooted in disconnection. During this summit, we will explore ways to heal our connection with our land, body, mind, spirit, and community. From walking through vividly green wetlands in Shawnee National Forest, to touring a farm, and gathering in a racial healing circle, this virtual Summit will honor our interconnectedness and inspire our environmental work through healing. 
  • Walk with a Future Doc Chicago. Saturdays at 9 AM in Jackson Park and Thursdays at 6 PM in Lincoln Park. Brought to you by the Chicago Parks Foundation. Take a 45-minute walk with local medical students and enjoy a short talk on a health related topic. This is a free, low-pressure way to get moving, connect with your neighbors, and learn more about your own health! Presented by Chicago Parks Foundation in partnership with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.  
  • The Walder Foundation: Resilient by Nature Project. Instead of resuming NCH2 Virtual Coffees and Discussions in September, we encourage you to register for and attend these events hosted by the Walder Foundation.   
    • How might we…  
                                               …Develop a Vibrant NBS Ecosystem in Chicago?  
                                               Tuesday Sept. 14, 2021, 11:00 AM-12:15 PM CT. 
                                               …Align and Scale Green Infrastructure Efforts? 
                                               Wednesday Oct 6, 2021, 11:00 AM-12:15 PM CT. 
  • Natural Capital Project Virtual Event: “Bringing the Value of Nature into the Economic Mainstream”. On Sept. 7th from 10:00am-11:30am PT. Nature provides numerous benefits to people and essential life support, but the values of nature are often largely invisible in market economies (“nature works for free”). The ongoing partnership between the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP), a global network of researchers and policy makers conducting quantitative analysis of international trade and environmental policies, and the Natural Capital Project is working to change this. The integration of global economic models with ecosystem service models can quantify how nature contributes to the economic bottom-line including income, employment, and international trade that are central to government and corporate decision-making. 
  • University of Washington, Nature & Health Virtual Conference: Generating Understanding Across Communities and Disciplines.  October 12-14 via Zoom. Nature and Health seeks to understand the connections between nature and human health and well-being. We work to translate that understanding into programs, practices, policies, and the design of healthcare, educational, and community settings that benefit all people and nature. Speakers include Michelle Johnson-Jennings, Ph.D., Ed.M. (Choctaw Nation); Eugenia C. South, M.D., M.S.; Hilary Franz, Commissioner of Public Lands; and Howard Frumkin, M.D., Dr.P.H. 
  • 2021 SHIFT Summit: Ensuring Access to Nature – For Human Health and the Environment.  October 18-20 in Grand Junction, Colorado. The SHIFT Summit is a national gathering of hundreds of land managers, researchers, funders, educators, retailers, and conservationists, along with outdoor recreation, health, military, and nature therapy professionals who share experiences, evidence, and ideas for better linking of both humans and nature. The Summit is based on sound science combined with experiential, health, stewardship, and land management aspects to balance equitable reciprocity and access to the places, flora, and fauna that we all need to exist and thrive. SHIFT Awards will also be presented for organizations and individuals who are excelling in our collective work.  The Summit will include a variety of research, practice, and experiential aspects, including workshops, lightning talks, panel discussions, nature and forest therapy practices, and plenty of opportunities for active outdoor recreation so we can deepen our connections to place and story. Remote options are now available. Please, see the SHIFT website (https://www.gpred.org/shift/) for updated information as it becomes available. 
  • Thinking about a Career in Parks and Recreation? Parks and Recreation Emerging Professionals Program (PREPP).  GP RED and University of Colorado Denver, School of Public Affairs Institute. Online certification program for people who want to move ahead into upper levels of Parks and Recreation administration. Individuals across the United States and Colorado are eligible. https://publicaffairs.ucdenver.edu/programs/professional-development/leadership-training/parks-and-recreation-emerging-professionals-program 
  • Current Research. Nature and Psychology : Biological, Cognitive, Developmental, and Social Pathways to Well-being. Sullivan, W. C. and D. Li (2021). Nature and Attention. A. R. Schutte, J. C. Torquati and J. R. Stevens. Cham, Springer International Publishing: 7-30. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-69020-5_2 NCH2 Comments: This is the second chapter in an edited book that is part of the Nebraska Symposium on Motivation.  The 67th Symposium was titled “Nature and Psychology. Biological, Cognitive, Developmental, and Social Pathways to Well-being”. This chapter provides an introduction to one of the central theories of ecopsychology –Attention Restoration Theory. The other seven chapters are equally informative and written by leaders in the field. The URL takes you to a webpage from which you can download the entire book for free. 
  • In the News. 
    • Growing numbers of doctors are prescribing calibrated doses of time outside to treat ailments including obesity and anxiety. Carey L. Biron. Thomson Reuters Foundation. August 2021.  https://news.trust.org/item/20210831100001-qppwk. This Thomson Reuters Foundation News article discusses the growing faction of the U.S. medical community is prescribing time outside the same way they would traditional medication. While obesity and anxiety have spiked during the pandemic, the pandemic has also highlighted the health benefits of spending more time outdoors. Nature prescriptions are new but may have substantial benefits. Databases of parks and public land, as well as park prescription programs can help doctors and their patients find fitting outdoor prescriptions. 
    • Madrid Will Plant a Massive Urban Forest to Combat CO2 Emissions in City. Rain Jordan. Nature World News. July 2021. https://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/46850/20210726/madrid-will-plant-massive-urban-forest-combat-co2-emissions-city.htm. This Nature World News article discusses Madrid's move to counteract the city's island of heat by surrounding itself with a sea of green. Their urban forest project will entail planting almost 500,000 trees within a 46-mile (75-kilometer) ring surrounding the city. The trees should be able to absorb about 175,000 tons of CO2 each year once they reach maturity. It also touches on the increasing need and benefits of urban forests. Filtering air and water, controlling storm water, conserving energy, and providing animal habitat and shade are all benefits of urban woods. 
 
Have something to share?  
We are currently taking requests for our Coffee & Discussion Series - Please submit Coffee and Discussion requests here. 
We are also taking requests for any upcoming events to be added to future newsletters and our events calendar which can be done here. ​
​Date: 8/19/2021 
Key Points: 
  • Follow us on social media. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. All can be found using handle @NCH2Network. 
  • Students Reading Recent Research. This past quarter the Horton Research Group has started having students read current research papers and present the findings and methods to lab meetings, including creating a blog post about the papers to make them more accessible to those who may not have the time or resources to read the entire papers in their free time. We invite others who might want to try their hand at blogging to submit potential posts. Submit items of 500 words or less to NCH2.Chicago@gmail.com. Our second blog post is written by Arseniy Minasov. To read the full blog post by Arseniy click  here.
  • Take a Hike Challenge. This fall, we invite you to join the Healthy Driven Take a Hike! Challenge. For eight weeks, from Sept. 1 to Oct. 27, rediscover the healthy benefits of being active and spending time outdoors. It’s a great opportunity for all ages — from kids to seniors — to exercise in the fresh air and learn cool stuff about nature while bonding with family and friends. We are partnering with local community sponsors to bring you hiking insights and expertise, special programming and ideas to Elevate Your Hike each week! The Take a Hike! Tracker can be printed or picked up at one of our sponsor locations. When you complete and track 6 hikes during the 8-week Challenge period, you’ll earn the Take a Hike! Trail Blaze Award.
  • Chicago Park District - Astronomy in the Parks at Park No. 579. On Friday, Aug. 20th from 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM, the Chicago Astronomer (Joe Guzman) and enthusiastic astro-crew connects park visitors of all ages and cultures with the cosmos via telescopic viewing, instruction and guidance across urban skies. Stargazing begins at 8:00 pm. In accordance with Be Safe Chicago Guidelines for Parks and Recreation Activities, participants in this activity will be required to wear a mask and practice social distancing at all times while participating. Patrons who are exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19 are asked to stay home and join us for an event when symptoms subside. 
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County - Wellness in the Woods: Introduction to Forest Bathing. On Saturday, Aug. 21st at 1:30 PM, discover this Japanese physiological and psychological exercise practice and learn how to adapt it to your own life. All visitors over 2 years of age must wear a mask indoors at all times. Unvaccinated visitors should also wear a mask outdoors when physical distancing (six feet from other people) is not possible. 
          REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Call Sand Ridge at 708-868-0606 or email at sandridge.naturecenter@cookcountyil.gov. 
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County - Sunset Watercolors. On Friday, Aug. 27th at 7:30 PM, join for a peaceful evening as we gain inspiration from the sunset and paint outdoors. Paintbrushes, watercolors, and paper will be provided. All visitors over 2 years of age must wear a mask indoors at all times. Unvaccinated visitors should also wear a mask outdoors when physical distancing (six feet from other people) is not possible. 
          REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Call Sand Ridge at 708-868-0606 or email at sandridge.naturecenter@cookcountyil.gov. 
  • Betty Swan Arboretum Partner Tree Walk. On Saturday, Aug. 28th from 10:00 AM to 11:15 PM, join TreeKeepers Program Manager Al De Reu and CRTI Stewardship Manager Trinity Pierce for an in-person tour of the Betty Swan Arboretum in West Garfield Park. We’ll focus on tree identification and appreciation, environmental justice initiatives, and learn more about efforts to increase the local tree canopy. This walk is in person only and will be capped at 25 people, so please register early.  Following CDC guidelines is required, as is mask wearing and social distancing. 
  • Faith in Place's Green Team Summit. September 12-14 via a virtual platform. We believe our environmental and social crises are rooted in disconnection. During this summit, we will explore ways to heal our connection with our land, body, mind, spirit, and community. From walking through vividly green wetlands in Shawnee National Forest, to touring a farm, and gathering in a racial healing circle, this virtual Summit will honor our interconnectedness and inspire our environmental work through healing. 
  • Natural Capital Project Virtual Event: “Bringing the Value of Nature into the Economic Mainstream”. On Sept. 7th from 10:00am-11:30am PT. Nature provides numerous benefits to people and essential life support, but the values of nature are often largely invisible in market economies (“nature works for free”). The ongoing partnership between the Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP), a global network of researchers and policy makers conducting quantitative analysis of international trade and environmental policies, and the Natural Capital Project is working to change this. The integration of global economic models with ecosystem service models can quantify how nature contributes to the economic bottom-line including income, employment, and international trade that are central to government and corporate decision-making. 
  • University of Washington, Nature & Health Virtual Conference: Generating Understanding Across Communities and Disciplines.  October 12-14 via Zoom. Nature and Health seeks to understand the connections between nature and human health and well-being. We work to translate that understanding into programs, practices, policies, and the design of healthcare, educational, and community settings that benefit all people and nature. Speakers include Michelle Johnson-Jennings, Ph.D., Ed.M. (Choctaw Nation); Eugenia C. South, M.D., M.S.; Hilary Franz, Commissioner of Public Lands; and Howard Frumkin, M.D., Dr.P.H. 
  • 2021 SHIFT Summit: Ensuring Access to Nature – For Human Health and the Environment.  October 18-20 in Grand Junction, Colorado. The SHIFT Summit is a national gathering of hundreds of land managers, researchers, funders, educators, retailers, and conservationists, along with outdoor recreation, health, military, and nature therapy professionals who share experiences, evidence, and ideas for better linking of both humans and nature. The Summit is based on sound science combined with experiential, health, stewardship, and land management aspects to balance equitable reciprocity and access to the places, flora, and fauna that we all need to exist and thrive. SHIFT Awards will also be presented for organizations and individuals who are excelling in our collective work. The Summit will include a variety of research, practice, and experiential aspects, including workshops, lightning talks, panel discussions, nature and forest therapy practices, and plenty of opportunities for active outdoor recreation so we can deepen our connections to place and story. Remote options are now available.
  • Thinking about a Career in Parks and Recreation? GP RED, is a non-profit organization whose goal is to fully recognize and expand research, education, and resource development activities for community “quality of life” agencies.  Their research team has recently issued a research report documenting the shortage of Parks, Recreation and Related professionals. The report delves into the state of education programs for P&R professionals, and the requirements for employment. 
  • Grant Opportunity. John Z. Duling Grant Program.  The goal of this program is to provide start-up or seed funding to support innovative research and technology transfer projects that have the potential of benefiting the everyday work of arborists. John Z. Duling Grants may be used to support exploratory work in the early stages of untested, but potentially transformative, research ideas and approaches. Examples may include application of new approaches to research questions, or application of new expertise involving novel disciplinary or interdisciplinary perspectives. 
  • In the News. 
    • How 'Guerrilla Gardening' Can Change Your City. Leslie Nemo. Discover Magazine. August 2021.  https://www.discovermagazine.com/environment/how-guerrilla-gardening-can-change-your-city This Discover article discusses the concept of guerilla gardening and guerilla gardeners, who discreetly garden in places where they don’t have the legal rights to do so. This article touches on the positives of guerilla gardens like influencing city policy faster than petitioning for greener spaces and the creativity and expression for those gardening. 
    • 1 in 2 primary-aged kids have strong connections to nature, but this drops off in teenage years. Here’s how to reverse the trend. R. Keith, D. Hochuli, J. M. Martin, L. M. Given. The Conversation. August 2021. https://theconversation.com/1-in-2-primary-aged-kids-have-strong-connections-to-nature-but-this-drops-off-in-teenage-years-heres-how-to-reverse-the-trend-165660 This Conversation article discusses a recent research project focusing on Australian children in urban areas and their connection to nature. Their findings showed that younger children, especially girls, said they have a strong connection to nature. While 1 in 2 primary aged kids reported a strong connection with nature only 1 in 5 teenagers reported this strong connection, leading to the suggestion that to preserve a connection with nature, parents and educators should focus on the transition between childhood and the teenage years. 
    • LeadingAge Florida, Eldergrow awarded $1M to launch therapeutic gardening program for dozens of facilities. Danielle Brown. McKnight’s Long-Term Care News. June 2021. www.mcknights.com/news/the-brighter-side/leadingage-florida-eldergrow-awarded-1m-to-launch-therapeutic-gardening-program-for-dozens-of-facilities/ This article discusses  a $1 million Civil Monetary Penalty grant that will give two dozen Florida nursing homes access to a national indoor gardening program designed for residents to combat isolation and loneliness during the ongoing public health crisis. This program will focus on indoor sensory gardens and six therapeutic wellness goals: socialization, cognitive stimulation, sensory stimulation, spatial awareness, motor skills and creative expression. 

Have something to share? 
We are currently taking requests for our Coffee & Discussion Series - Please submit Coffee and Discussion requests here.
We are also taking requests for any upcoming events to be added to future newsletters and our events calendar which can be done here. ​
Date: 8/5/21
Key Points:
  • Follow us on social media. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. All can be found using handle @NCH2Network. 
  • Students Reading Recent Research. This past quarter the Horton Research Group has started having students read current research papers and present the findings and methods to lab meetings, including creating a blog post about the papers to make them more accessible to those who may not have the time or resources to read the entire papers in their free time. We invite others who might want to try their hand at blogging to submit potential posts. Submit items of 500 words or less to NCH2.Chicago@gmail.com. Our second blog post is written by Arseniy Minasov. To read the full blog post by Arseniy click  here.
  • Take a Hike Challenge. This fall, we invite you to join the Healthy Driven Take a Hike! Challenge. For eight weeks, from Sept. 1 to Oct. 27, rediscover the healthy benefits of being active and spending time outdoors. It’s a great opportunity for all ages — from kids to seniors — to exercise in the fresh air and learn cool stuff about nature while bonding with family and friends. We are partnering with local community sponsors to bring you hiking insights and expertise, special programming and ideas to Elevate Your Hike each week! The Take a Hike! Tracker can be printed or picked up at one of our sponsor locations. When you complete and track 6 hikes during the 8-week Challenge period, you’ll earn the Take a Hike! Trail Blaze Award.
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County Falling Star Watch. On Wednesday, August 11th from 10pm-11pm we will be watching for falling stars tonight, which is part of the Perseid Meteor Showers. This is the night which should provide a maximum number of sightings right after the moon sets.  Bring a chair to sit in. All visitors over 2 years of age must wear a mask indoors at all times. Unvaccinated visitors should also wear a mask outdoors when physical distancing (six feet from other people) is not possible.
    REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Call Little Red Schoolhouse at 708-839-6897.
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County Songs of Summer Nights. On Thursday, August 12th from 7pm-9pm enjoy the chorus of insects as the sun sets. Learn about how and why crickets, katydids, cicadas and grasshoppers sing.
    Unvaccinated visitors must wear a mask indoors at all times; and they must wear a mask outdoors when physical distancing (six feet from other people) is not possible.
    REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Call Sagawau at 630-257-2045.
  • University of Washington, Nature & Health Virtual Conference: Generating Understanding Across Communities and Disciplines. October 12-14 via Zoom. Nature and Health seeks to understand the connections between nature and human health and well-being. We work to translate that understanding into programs, practices, policies, and the design of healthcare, educational, and community settings that benefit all people and nature. Speakers include Michelle Johnson-Jennings, Ph.D., Ed.M. (Choctaw Nation); Eugenia C. South, M.D., M.S.; Hilary Franz, Commissioner of Public Lands; and Howard Frumkin, M.D., Dr.P.H.
  • 2021 SHIFT Summit: Ensuring Access to Nature – For Human Health and the Environment. October 18-20 in Grand Junction, Colorado. The SHIFT Summit is a national gathering of hundreds of land managers, researchers, funders, educators, retailers, and conservationists, along with outdoor recreation, health, military, and nature therapy professionals who share experiences, evidence, and ideas for better linking of both humans and nature. The Summit is based on sound science combined with experiential, health, stewardship, and land management aspects to balance equitable reciprocity and access to the places, flora, and fauna that we all need to exist and thrive. SHIFT Awards will also be presented for organizations and individuals who are excelling in our collective work.  The Summit will include a variety of research, practice, and experiential aspects, including workshops, lightning talks, panel discussions, nature and forest therapy practices, and plenty of opportunities for active outdoor recreation so we can deepen our connections to place and story. Early Bird Registration ends August 20th. Proposal/Abstract submissions are due August 13th. 
    Due to the changing status of COVID-19 SHIFT will be accepting a limited number of remote presentations. Some sessions will be live -streamed. Please, see the SHIFT website (https://www.gpred.org/shift/) for updated information as it becomes available. 
  • Save the Date: Children and Nature Network: Inside Out International Conference. May 9-12 2022 at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta, GA. The Inside-Out International Conference is the largest gathering of nature connection advocates in the world. We will bring together children and nature movement leaders (like you!) in the vibrant city of Atlanta, Georgia. The conference will feature inspiring keynotes, plenaries, workshops, exhibit hall, poster session, field trips, networking, and more.
    A call for proposals will open in Summer 2021. The Inside-Out International Conference and year-round Leadership Series events bring children and nature leaders together for networking, workshops, special events and our world-class conference. Let’s turn the trend of an indoor childhood back out to the benefits of nature!
  • ​Local Job Opening. The Nature Conservancy, Trinity United Church of Christ, and a team of partners behind the Imani Green Health Advocates Program are recruiting paid, 12 week career training positions based out of Imani Village near 95th and Cottage Grove in Chicago. The Imani Green Health Advocates Program trains young people aged 18-25 in community health and urban forestry job skillsets, while  engaging community members in conservation and health-promoting programs in Washington Heights, Cottage Grove Heights, Chatham, Pullman, West Pullman and adjacent areas. We are seeking candidates from South Side communities with interest and a strong learning and work ethic - no or limited experience is ok! More info and application here:  https://bit.ly/3ALyAEJ.  For more information contact Forrest Cortes forrest.cortes@TNC.ORG. 
  • Recent Research.
    • Browning, M., K. J. Mimnaugh, C. J. van Riper, H. K. Laurent and S. M. LaValle (2019). "Can Simulated Nature Support Mental Health? Comparing Short, Single-Doses of 360-Degree Nature Videos in Virtual Reality With the Outdoors." Frontiers in Psychology 10: 2667. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32010003. Nature exposure in virtual reality (VR) can provide emotional well-being benefits for people who cannot access the outdoors. Little is known about how these simulated experiences compare with real outdoor experiences. We conduct an experiment with healthy undergraduate students that tests the effects of 6 min of outdoor nature exposure with 6 min of exposure to a 360-degree VR nature video, which is recorded at the outdoor nature exposure location. Skin conductivity, restorativeness, and mood before and after exposure are measured. We find that both types of nature exposure increase physiological arousal, benefit positive mood levels, and are restorative compared to an indoor setting without nature; however, for outdoor exposure, positive mood levels increase and for virtual nature, they stay the same. The nature-based experience shows benefits above and beyond the variance explained by participants' preferences, nature and VR experiences, and demographic characteristics. Settings where people have limited access to nature might consider using VR nature experiences to promote mental health.
    • McIntosh, J., B. Marques, J. Cornwall, C. Kershaw and R. Mwipiko (2021). "Therapeutic Environments and the Role of Physiological Factors in Creating Inclusive Psychological and Socio-Cultural Landscapes." Ageing International. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-021-09452-8. The outdoor environment offers an important platform for engaging older adults from a variety of social, cultural and ethnic orientations for the purpose of improving or maintaining their physical and mental health as well as facilitating their social and cultural connections. Using a multidisciplinary lens, this study looks at the requirements and potential of a more inclusive landscape design that acknowledges different modes of health, recovery and rehabilitation, drawing from both the past and the future and providing suggestions on how more efficient and culturally appropriate ways of maintaining health and social connectivity can be achieved in later life. 
    • ​Marques, P., A. S. Silva, Y. Quaresma, L. R. Manna, N. de Magalhães Neto and R. Mazzoni (2021). "Home gardens can be more important than other urban green infrastructure for mental well-being during COVID-19 pandemics." Urban Forestry & Urban Greening: 127268. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1618866721002958. The current COVID-19 pandemics is a major threat to human populations. The disease has rapidly spread, causing mass hospitalization and the loss of millions of people mainly in urban areas which are hubs for contagion. At the same time, the social distancing practices required for containing the outbreak have caused an eruption of mental illnesses that include symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress. The severity of such mental distress is modulated by the context of media coverage and the information and guidelines from local health authorities. Different urban green infrastructures, such as gardens, parks, and green views can be important for mitigating mental distress during the pandemics. However, it is unclear whether some urban green infrastructures are more efficient than others in reducing mental distress or whether their effectiveness changes with the context. Here we assess the relative importance of different urban green infrastructures on the mental distress of residents of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. We show that although urban parks and green views are important, home gardens are the most efficient in mitigating mental distress. This is likely related to the practice of self-isolation seen for the residents of Rio de Janeiro. Information on the efficiency of different urban green infrastructures in mitigating mental distress can be important to help guide programs to inform the public about the best practices for maintaining mental health during the current outbreak. This can also help planning cities that are more resilient to future pandemics.  
  • In the News. Spending more time in nature crucial to children's mental health and development, study say. Gabriela Miranda. USA Today. July 2021. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2021/07/20/time-nature-benefits-childs-mental-health-cognitive-development/8025064002/ This USA Today article discusses a recent study conducted over four years to see the affect access to green spaces has on children's' cognitive development and mental health. "The more children were exposed to green spaces such as woods and parks, the higher they scored for cognitive development, according to the study. And the participants accessing more green spaces were 17% less likely to experience emotional and behavioral risks." This article also discusses the affect the pandemic might have on children's health since the start of online schooling, as well as links tips for children's mental health as they return to the classroom. 

Have something to share? 
We are currently taking requests for our Coffee & Discussion Series - Please submit Coffee and Discussion requests here.
We are also taking requests for any upcoming events to be added to future newsletters and our events calendar which can be done here. 
Date: 7/22/21
Key Points: 
  • Follow us on social media. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. All can be found using handle @NCH2Network. 
  • Students Reading Recent Research. This past quarter the Horton Research Group has started having students read current research papers and present the findings and methods to lab meetings, including creating a blog post about the papers to make them more accessible to those who may not have the time or resources to read the entire papers in their free time. We invite others who might want to try their hand at blogging to submit potential posts. Submit items of 500 words or less to NCH2.Chicago@gmail.com. Our first blog post is written by student Peyton Meyer. To read the full blog post by Peyton click  here.
  • Take a Hike Challenge. This fall, we invite you to join the Healthy Driven Take a Hike! Challenge. For eight weeks, from Sept. 1 to Oct. 27, rediscover the healthy benefits of being active and spending time outdoors. It’s a great opportunity for all ages — from kids to seniors — to exercise in the fresh air and learn cool stuff about nature while bonding with family and friends. We are partnering with local community sponsors to bring you hiking insights and expertise, special programming and ideas to Elevate Your Hike each week! The Take a Hike! Tracker can be printed or picked up at one of our sponsor locations. When you complete and track 6 hikes during the 8-week Challenge period, you’ll earn the Take a Hike! Trail Blaze Award.
  • 2021 SHIFT Summit: Ensuring Access to Nature – For Human Health and the Environment. October 18-20 in Grand Junction, Colorado. The SHIFT Summit is a national gathering of hundreds of land managers, researchers, funders, educators, retailers, and conservationists, along with outdoor recreation, health, military, and nature therapy professionals who share experiences, evidence, and ideas for better linking of both humans and nature. The Summit is based on sound science combined with experiential, health, stewardship, and land management aspects to balance equitable reciprocity and access to the places, flora, and fauna that we all need to exist and thrive. SHIFT Awards will also be presented for organizations and individuals who are excelling in our collective work.  The Summit will include a variety of research, practice, and experiential aspects, including workshops, lightning talks, panel discussions, nature and forest therapy practices, and plenty of opportunities for active outdoor recreation so we can deepen our connections to place and story.
  • Chicago Park District: Astronomy in the Parks at Park No. 579 (Ridgeway Trailhead). Fri, Jul 23, 2021 from 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM. Join us at the Exelon Observatory on the Bloomingdale Trail, 1800 N. Ridgeway Ave, as the Chicago Astronomer (Joe Guzman) and enthusiastic astro crew connects park visitors of all ages and cultures with the cosmos via telescopic viewing, instruction and guidance across urban skies. In accordance with Be Safe Chicago Guidelines for Parks and Recreation Activities, participants in this activity will be required to wear a mask and practice social distancing at all times while participating. Patrons who are exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19 are asked to stay home and join us for an event when symptoms subside.
  • Forest Preserves of Cook County Summer Hike. Sat, Jul 24, 2021 at 10AM. Enjoy a morning hike with a naturalist. Unvaccinated visitors must wear a mask indoors at all times; and they must wear a mask outdoors when physical distancing (six feet from other people) is not possible. REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Call Sagawau at 630-257-2045.
  • Smith Nature Symposium Collaborative Conversations: Anti-Racism & the Environment. July 29th 2021 at 5:30PM. Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods believes in the power of nature and art to heal and nourish communities. However, natural areas, parks and preserves are often not safe or accessible places for BIPOC (black, indigenous, and people of color) communities, due to over-policing, racial profiling within green spaces, institutional bias, and other systemic injustices. Join this six-part virtual workshop series, hosted via Zoom, exploring environmental inequity in Lake County and surrounding areas through connection, empathy, and anti-racist action.  Our next session will discuss a podcast series by Connor Kennedy, created four years ago for Libertyville High School's student newspaper, Drops of Ink.  This three-part series explores the history of redlining, white flight, and its impact on Lake County.  You can listen to the episodes here. We ask that all of our participants arrive open to learn and ready to listen.  Anti-racism work asks us to go beyond what is convenient; it is a daily practice that must be cultivated carefully and intentionally.
  • Tuesday Morning Music at the Chicago Botanic Gardens -  Arcomusical, Afro-Brazilian Berimbau Trio. Tuesday, August 31, 2021 from 10AM-11AM. Projeto Arcomusical is a world music trio reimagining the Afro-Brazilian berimbau through unique and powerful chamber music. The ensemble formed in 2013 specifically to interpret MeiaMeia, the composition cycle co-composed by ensemble co-founders Gregory Beyer and Alexis C. Lamb. Arcomusical released MeiaMeia as its first album in 2016 on Innova Recordings. That same year, Arcomusical received a Chamber Music America Classical Commissioning Grant that produced “Roda,” the kaleidoscopic, 20-minute, four-movement work by Elliot Cole. “Roda” is featured on Arcomusical’s second album, Spinning in the Wheel, which is now available on National Sawdust Tracks.The Garden View Café will be open for breakfast or lunch, and the Garden Grille will be open for lunch. This event is free and open to the public, regular parking fees apply. Chairs will be provided. There is no picnicking allowed at this event.
  • Local Job Openings. Forest Preserves of Cook County is looking for more Conservation and Experiential Programming (CEP) Aides to work at our Nature Centers, with our Zone teams or our Outreach Team. Please pass on the attached job announcement link to anyone you think might be interested. This is a year round part time job. 29 hours/week $15.73 per hour. The position accrues some benefit time. More info and application here: https://cookcountyil.taleo.net/careersection/jobdetail.ftl?job=00125957&lang=en#.YPH0pwCmZlw.mailto  
          The Nature Conservancy, Trinity United Church of Christ, and a team of partners behind the Imani Green Health Advocates                      Program are recruiting paid, 12 week career training positions based out of Imani Village near 95th and Cottage Grove in Chicago. The                  Imani Green Health Advocates Program trains young people aged 18-25 in community health and urban forestry job skillsets, while                        engaging community members in conservation and health-promoting programs in Washington Heights, Cottage Grove Heights, Chatham,            Pullman, West Pullman and adjacent areas. We are seeking candidates from South Side communities with interest and a strong learning              and work ethic - no or limited experience is ok! More info and application here:  https://bit.ly/3ALyAEJ.  For more information                        contact Forrest Cortes forrest.cortes@TNC.ORG. 
  • Recent Research.​ Santos, O., A. Virgolino, A. V. Carneiro and M. G. d. Matos (2021). "Health Behavior and Planetary Health." European Psychologist 26(3): 212-218. https://econtent.hogrefe.com/doi/abs/10.1027/1016-9040/a000437  Health and environmental psychology have long been walking side by side. These two disciplines of psychology have imported and applied common psychological frameworks and each of them developed specific theories and methodologies. At a time when humankind faces tremendous challenges ahead (climate change, global warming, ocean sickness, the reemergence of infections pandemics), environmental health is more and more a crucial domain of research. Both environmental psychology and health psychology need to be engaged in environmental health issues in order to enhance planetary health.
  • In the News. 5 Tips for Improving Health and Happiness by Basking in Nature. Bija Bennett. Rolling Stone. July 2021.  https://www.rollingstone.com/culture-council/articles/5-tips-for-improving-health-and-happiness-by-basking-in-nature-1194615/  This rolling stone article touches on how past research has made clear many physical and mental health benefits to engaging with nature in whatever way one can. The author, a wellness consultant, gives five ways to bring nature into one's everyday lives as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted and  people start to re-engage with the world

Have something to share? 
We are currently taking requests for our Coffee & Discussion Series - Please submit Coffee and Discussion requests here.
We are also taking requests for any upcoming events to be added to future newsletters and our events calendar which can be done here. 
Date: 5/13/21
Key Points:
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and we’re celebrating! Here are some upcoming events and things to be on the lookout for:
  • Follow us on social media. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. All can be found using handle @NCH2Network. Throughout the month of May, we will be posting daily tips for ways to get outside and stay well.
  • Post pictures. Show places you enjoy going, things you do outside to support your wellbeing on Instagram (@NCH2Network) or on your own social media sites using these hashtags: #NCH2, #Take5OutsidetoThrive, #Tools2ThriveOutside, and #CultivateWellbeing.
  • THE POWER OF NATURE TO HEAL. Presented by CARES (Chicago Associate for Research and Education in Science) in support of the Veterans Administration Research Week (May 17-21)  10:00-11:30am Wednesday, May 19th; Location on Zoom, Meeting ID: 894 864 2443, Passcode: CARES2021; Moderator: Teresa Horton, PhD, Northwestern University ; Speakers: Sally Coulthard, COL (Ret.), Defence Garden Scheme, UK; Kristen Walter, PhD, Naval Medical Center San Diego; Catherine Game, Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods, Lake County, Illinois; ALL ARE INVITED ◊ ALL TIMES CENTRAL ◊ ALL PROGRAMS VIRTUAL
  • Geographies of Racial Justice in Chicago May Webinar: Finding Food and Food Justice in Chicago. Join us Wednesday, May 26th 7:00-8:30pm for a discussion about the widening food disparity in Chicago communities. For more  information and registration click here.
    Chicago organizations have been working on increasing food access for decades, yet many Black and Brown communities continue to have lower access to healthy food than white communities. This talk outlines these differences, then discusses examples of innovative projects growing and distributing food in new ways throughout the city and beyond, with a particular focus on responses to food access issues related to the COVID pandemic. Presented by the Geographic Society of Chicago https://www.geographicsociety.org/
  • Looking ahead: AHTA/IPPS Joint Symposium , The Role of Horticulture in Human Well-being and Social Development The 2021 AHTA/IPPS Joint Symposium, is a collaboration of the International People Plant Council, the American Horticultural Therapy Association, and the International Society for Horticultural Sciences and will be held in a virtual format, October 29-30, 2021. 
    The purpose of this international symposium is to provide a forum for researchers, educators, and practitioners to continue to discuss, identify, encourage, and expand the research used by professional and trade associations to clearly demonstrate the benefits of horticulture in wellness and quality of life. This research facilitates the expansion of programs in diverse areas from urban planning to healthcare. For more information and registration, click here.
  • Recent Research: Triguero-Mas, M., Anguelovski, I., García-Lamarca, M., Argüelles, L., Pérezdel Pulgar, C., Shokry, G., Connolly, J.J.T., Cole, H.V.S., Natural outdoor environments’ health effects in gentrifying neighborhoods: disruptive green landscapes for underprivileged neighborhood residents, Social Science & Medicine, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.113964 This article highlights the need for careful research to examine the effects of urban greening projects. Not all change is therapeutic. In socially underprivileged neighborhoods, the addition of greenspace often comes with gentrification and stress which offset any proposed health benefits.
DISCLAIMER: All information, content, and material on this website is for informational purposes only. This information should not replace a medical consultation or treatment plan given by a qualified healthcare provider. ​
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