Summer 2013 Grant Awardees

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is pleased to announce the inaugural Coastal Grant Program awardees. This program is providing more than $730,000 in grants for local environmental education projects along the Lake Michigan shoreline and in the Millennium Reserve-Calumet region, utilizing federal funds thought the Illinois Coastal Management Program.

Through the "Expanding Youth Conservation Action in the Millennium Reserve" project, the Field Museum will sustain and expand the scope and geography of its youth conservation action programming in the Illinois Coastal Zone on Chicago's South Side, with a special focus on the Millennium Reserve in the Calumet region.  It is expected that 15 trained educators and 300 students will be working on  year-long conservation projects.

Calumet is My Backyard program participants are approximately 600 high school students from 13 Chicago Public Schools; many with their first experience in natural areas, working to restore and protect 12 natural areas within Calumet Region, providing over 6,000 hours of stewardship work and scientific investigation annually.  The students focus on waterways in the Illinois Coastal Zone, including Lake Calumet, the Calumet River, the Little Calumet River and the Grand Calumet River. 

"Think! Beyond the Banks" is a one-year renewable outreach campaign that links river health and education with the real world, everyday actions that improve the Chicago River.   The campaign combines elements of Friends' highly successful Chicago River Schools Network (CRSN) with exciting new marketing materials and techniques to empower students to become river ambassadors within their schools, families and communities.

The City of Blue Island will hold a series of five workshops to raise awareness of Calumet area water trails, how water trails uniquely connect people to ecological values of Calumet and to inspire stewardship activity.

The Chicago Park District (CPD) will create a new Coastal Ambassadors program to provide environmental education on coastal resources to thousands of children and families.  Based on the successful Nature Oasis program in place at CPD, the team of educators will work with day campers, afterschool groups, families and other park customers through after school programs, field trips for day campers, and family festivals. 

The Forest Preserve District of Cook County will launch Youth Outdoor Ambassadors for the Calumet Region to facilitate youth and young adults having an active voice and role in the Forest Preserves.  The Ambassadors will identify which programs resonate with teens and how young people can become inspired to become lifelong advocates for nature. 

This project was born out of the April 18, 2013 storm in northeastern Illinois that caused widespread, destructive flooding.  Observing that most people did not understand how the storm sewer system worked, the Lake Michigan League of Women Voters will jointly conduct a campaign to educate citizens about problems associated with storm water runoff, emphasizing action that individuals, communities and regions may take to prevent an alleviate flooding after rain wyverns, with an emphasis on green infrastructure. 

The ravines of southern Lake Michigan play a critical role in protecting the water quality of the lake, preventing sediment runoff, protecting beaches, offering migrating birds a much-needed safe haven, and protecting rare habitats native to this area.  The Ravine Restoration and Outreach Program will create a comprehensive initiative to protect Lake Forest beaches and ravines with education efforts and on the ground restoration. 

Several Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) have been introduced into Lake Michigan via pathways including recreation boating and fishing, and intentional and accidental releases of invasive organisms in trade.  Because prevention of introductions of new AIS is more cost effective than control or management of already established populations, prevention efforts will be promoted to recreational water users and water gardening hobbyists.   

The Park District of Highland Park will develop interpretive signage, outreach materials, and purchase specialized science equipment to be used at their new Lakefront Interpretive Center opening in the summer of 2014 on Lake Michigan.  The effort will enhance visitor learning about near-shore, dune, and ravine ecosystems.   

The project includes researching, writing and designing a report that outlines the great Biodiversity of the Millennium Reserve region with the Millennium Reserve Regional Atlas providing a resource for community leaders, local residents and educators to better understand the geological, natural and human history of this unique region.  Content could include an introduction to the Millennium Reserve project, geologic and human history, descriptions of the Biodiversity found in area habitats, reasons why this Biodiversity matters and actions people can take to restore and protect it. 

This new program offers environmental education, job training, and service learning for low income, at risk young people ages 16-24.  Located along the Little Calumet River in Chicago's Riverdale neighborhood and adjacent to Altgeld Gardens, it is a counterpart to Prologue's new Tillman maritime Academy, an alternative high school scheduled to open in fall 2014 for students who have been unsuccessful in traditional academic settings.  The program will involve youth in coastal riparian setting working to gain employable skills and develop career pathways in maritime technology, waterway safety, and conservation stewardship.