USEPA Seeking Intergenerational Poetry, Photo, Essay & Dance Projects

EPA Announces 4th Annual Rachel Carson Contest

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites the public to submit creative projects to the 4^th annual Rachel Carson intergenerational “Sense of Wonder” contest. The categories are – poetry, photography, essays and dance. The contest seeks to instill a sense of wonder for the environment among all generations and spur environmental stewardship.

Carson is considered to be the founder of the contemporary environmental movement through her landmark book, Silent Spring. Its publication is credited with reversing the nation’s pesticide policy.

Entries must be from a team of two or more persons from both younger and older generations.  EPA is working with the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange, the Rachel Carson Council, Inc., and Generations United to sponsor this contest.

The deadline for team entries is June 16, 2010.  The winners will be announced in October 2010. The public will have the opportunity to vote among the finalists for the winners in each category.

More information: http://www.epa.gov/aging/resources/thesenseofwonder/index.htm

EcoMyths Chicago

Informative Blog Alert!

Check out EcoMyths Chicago for monthly eco-mythbusting that matters to you.  The Myth of the Month for December 2009 was “Lake Michigan is so big that the Chicago area will never run out of water!”  Click here to find out if it was busted.

For additional information on water resources and conservation visit EcoMyths Chicago’s resource page.

Grant Opportunity: USEPA Environmental Education Grant

USEPA recently announced the Environmental Education Grant opportunity.

Approximately $3 million will be awarded to fund an estimated 90 – 95 projects that promote environmental stewardship and help develop knowledgeable and responsible students, teachers, and citizens. This grant program provides financial support for innovative projects that design, demonstrate, or disseminate environmental education practices, methods, or techniques that reflect the USEPA Education priorities listed below.

Education priorities include:

(1) EE Capacity Building: Building the capacity of agencies and organizations to develop, deliver, and sustain comprehensive environmental education programs statewide or in multiple states.

(2) Educational Advancement: Utilizing environmental education as a catalyst to advance state or local education improvement goals.

3) Community Projects: “Community Projects” address environmental stewardship in a local context and use community-based stewardship activities as the primary teaching tool.

(4) Human Health and the Environment: Educating teachers, students, parents, community leaders, or the public about human health threats from environmental pollution and how to minimize human exposure to preserve good health.

(5) EE Teaching Skills: Providing pre-service and in-service professional development for teachers, faculty, or non-formal educators to improve their environmental education teaching skills and/or knowledge about environmental issues and content, such as sustainability, water and air quality, chemical risks, hazardous wastes, climate change and greenhouse gas emissions.

(6) Career Development: Educating individuals in formal or non-formal settings about environmental issues for the purpose of encouraging interest in environmental careers.
Grantees must establish methods to document and report measurable results from grants projects. To ensure that grant proposals are competitive, please read Sections IV and V of the announcement regarding how to structure a proposal.

Application Deadline: December 15, 2009
Match Requirement: 25%
Total Estimated Funding: $3 million

The full announcement can be found at http://epa.gov/enviroed/pdf/solNotice2010.htm.
Good Luck!

Reduce Water Consumption This Gardening Season

Small steps can go a long way in making a difference in your water consumption.  When gardening this spring and summer, consider using native species plants.  Navite species are already adapted to the local environment and will require little more than natural rainfall.

In the coming months, we will be adding information on native species and other conversation practices that Blue Islanders can easily adopt to reduce their consumption of water resources while gardening. 

Also, be sure to check out Blue Islander Anna Stange’s regular column Turning Over a New Leaf – Going Green in Blue Island in the Forum.  the Green Guide – Drought Resistant Gardening Guide.

Reminder: Art on a Rain Barrel entries due June 10!

Art on a Rain Barrel

The Chicago Botanic Garden and the governor of Illinois challenge creative, eco-conscious youth, ages 8 to 18, to submit designs for Art on a Rain Barrel (AoRB), an Illinois-wide environmental art contest. Students are encouraged to create teams to enter the contest.

The top 50 teams (3–5 members) from throughout the state will be invited to bring their designs to life at the AoRB festival on Saturday, September 19, as part of the Illinois governor’s It’s Our River Day 2009.

Top designs will receive special prizes and recognition including public display at the Chicago Botanic Garden and other sites throughout the state of Illinois.

Interested teams must submit an entry form no later than June 10, 2009. The top 50 teams will be announced in early July.

Please visit the Art on a Rain Barrel Competition website for details on how to enter.

Chicago Green Festival-May 16 & 17

Green Festival, the original green consumer living event, will return to Chicago for an energetic weekend of eco-innovations that will invigorate the community with a vision of a cleaner, more efficient future for American businesses, homes, and lifestyles. Chicago will host the third Green Festival from the historic Navy Pier on May 16 and 17.  Click here to learn more about the Green Festival.

School Art Contest!

The Chicago Botanic Garden and the governor of Illinois challenge creative, eco-conscious youth, ages 8 to 18, to submit designs for Art on a Rain Barrel (AoRB), an Illinois-wide environmental art contest. Students are encouraged to create teams to enter the contest.

The top 50 teams (3–5 members) from throughout the state will be invited to bring their designs to life at the AoRB festival on Saturday, September 19, as part of the Illinois governor\’s It\’s Our River Day 2009. Top designs will receive special prizes and recognition including public display at the Chicago Botanic Garden and other sites throughout the state of Illinois.

Interested teams must submit an entry form no later than June 10, 2009. The top 50 teams will be announced in early July.

Local Food South Side Bike Tour – 3/22

Although it does not come as far south as Blue Island, anyone interested in biking and/or local food should enjoy this bike tour through local food initiatives on the South Side.

Date: Saturday, March 22, 2009
Start Time: 10:00am
Begin @: Downtown at State and Adams
End @: 4929 S. Campbell Ave. (home of planner Sean O’Connell) for lunch and conversation.
Approx distance: 15-20 miles

Stops will be made at Growing Power, the Pacific Garden Mission, Windy City Harvest, Growing Home, and the Experimental Station.

Information about each initiative and how to get involved will be presented at each location. Taking the tour this early in the season should give everyone plenty of time to experience planting, transplanting, etc.

Planned as part of the collaborative Institute and its involvement in the School of the Art Institute’s Spring 2009 BFA show. Contact Sean at Space.has.seansean@gmail.com with any questions, suggestions, etc.

Green Business: The 2009 Sustainable Schools Symposium (2/27)

Join Lt. Governor Pat Quinn for a full-day conference featuring how to make your school or school district more sustainable by implementing a variety of green practices and programs. Speakers and workshops will cover topics such as sustainable school facility planning and siting, green facilities management, sustainable renovation and construction, energy efficiency and conservation, environmental education and service learning, water conservation, waste reduction, and sustainable school transportation.

This symposium is an opportunity to exchange ideas with your peers and identify new programs to apply at your school or district. Suggested symposium participants include school and district administrators, regional superintendents, school board members, facilities managers and custodial staff, teachers, school health practitioners, facility planners and architects, school-related non-profits and agencies, and high school student environmental leaders.

Complimentary continental breakfast & lunch will be served

Date: Friday, February 27, 2009
Time: Registration begins at 9:00 a.m.
Program 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Location: Joliet Township High School District 204
                    Joliet Central High School
                    201 E. Jefferson
                    Joliet, IL 60432

Any questions, please contact:
Jon Zirkle
Office of Lt. Governor Pat Quinn
Phone: (312) 814-2094
Email: Jonathon.Zirkle@Illinois.gov
Or, visit the website standingupforillinois.org.

1/19 – Free MLK Day Events @ several local Forest Preserve locations.

Enjoy active time outdoors with your family and take advantage of the opportunity to get some much needed sun this Monday, 1/19 – Martin Luther King Day.  Attend one of the free, family-friendly outdoor nature events offered by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County.

SAND RIDGE NATURE CENTER   1:30 p.m.
15890 Paxton Avenue, South Holland    708.868.0606

Monk Parakeets: Monk parakeets from South America have become established here. Learn how they survive here, and where you can find them.

TRAILSIDE MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 1:00 p.m.
738 Thatcher Ave, River Forest   708.366.6530

Winter Critters: Have you ever wondered wheresnakes go in winter, or whose tracks those are in the snow? Explore animals in winter with touchable artifacts and fun activities.

Click here to download the full Forest Preserve of Cook County January events calendar.