Resources
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The Mighty Acorns is an environmental education program that connects 3rd-5th grade students to multiple meaningful and sustained interactions with their local ecosystems. The program is through the Shirley Heinze Land Trust has built-in funding and ready-made resources for educators, including paid training and classroom and field materials.
The Field Museum offers two youth conservation action programs through the Keller Science Action Center, Earth Force and Chicago Green Ambassadors. Earth Force is an environmental problem solving program designed to deal with an environmental problem in the neighborhood of the participating 6th-8th grade classroom. Chicago Green Ambassadors connects young people from ages 15-22 to the south lakefront, which includes the Calumet Region.
The Dunes Learning Center prides itself as being "a classroom without walls." The center hosts summer camps as well as school programs. Educators may request a presentation, either on site or in their own classroom. Tuition assistance for environmental education may be available.
Shifting Sands: On the Path to Sustainability tells the story of how one region, where rare plants grow in the shadows of smokestacks, sparked a movement for a national park; a movement which eventually led to game-changing environmental policies with worldwide impact and unique partnerships on the path to a more sustainable world. The film corresponds with a curriculum and educator guide, which can be downloaded from the Shifting Sands website. The curriculum is designed to enhance educational opportunities before, during, and after viewing the documentary. To order a copy of the documentary, visit the Shifting Sands webpage.
Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant supports a wide array of programming and resources for educators in the Calumet region and across the Great Lakes. Resources include teacher training and workshops, material lending, free curricula, posters and classroom outfitting, etc. Contact Julie Fiorito, IISG Great Lakes K-12 education specialist, for more information and ways to get started.
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Other Opportunities
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