Craft Your Climate Message: Halloween Edition

Zoom

Tuesday, October 15
12:00pm – 1:00 pm:

Climate activism doesn’t need to rely on scare tactics! Join Kim Moldofsky, the Bold Belief Builder at Scrappy Affiramtions, to review best practices for climate communication and craft a Halloween-themed message using paint, markers, colored pencils, or whatever supplies you have on hand. Spark your imagination!

This is a free Zoom-based workshop designed for creative play, brainstorming, and exploration. Save your spot here.

Fall Paddle Festival

Tower Road Boat Launch, Northfield

Saturday, October 19
10:00 am – 1:00 pm:

Embrace the fall season with nature-based activities on and off the water. Participate in a canoe trip, archery, pumpkin painting, nature play and more. Free. All ages. Registration isn’t required.  Call for inquiries 773-758-8899.

Municipal Rebates for Climate Resilient Landscaping

Zoom

Tuesday, October 29
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm:

With more frequent and intense extreme weather events, there is increasing concern for how urban landscapes are managed. While some landscape management practices have exacerbated the impacts of climate change, communities are creating new ways to use landscape management to bolster their resilience. Join to learn about how your community can help create voluntary incentive programs for climate-resilient landscaping, benefitting both people and wildlife. We will hear from Ft. Collins, CO and Montgomery County, MD that have successful rebate programs for homes and others in their communities. Register here.

Sustainable D112-How Highland Park’s K-8 schools are Going Green

The most recent Facilities Committee Meeting included updates on District 112’s Long-range Plan, which will modernize our oldest schools. We are pleased to learn that the district is reviewing proposals for solar panels at Oak Terrace and Edgewood schools and geothermal energy for Sherwood, Wayne Thomas and Ravinia schools. “The financial benefits for the district could be substantial, especially with the passage of the federal Inflation Reduction Act. This legislation offers significant tax credits for renewable energy projects, including geothermal systems . . . the district could potentially receive up to 30%-40% in tax credits, with additional bonuses for meeting specific criteria.” Read more here.

Another way D112 has been has been increasing sustainability is through Seven Generations Ahead’s (SGA), Zero Waste Schools Program. It has been running successfully in the Red Oak, Oak Terrace and Braeside school lunchrooms since 2019, with hopes to expand to another school this year. Thanks to various funding sources, including SWALCO, the only cost to the district are the hauling fees for the compost toters.The program begins with a Lunchroom Waste Audit to show schools how many pounds of trash they are sending to the landfill each day. Next, sorting stations are added to the lunchrooms on “Launch Day.” 

With the help of educational videos, signage and volunteers, students and staff learn how to sort waste into 5 categories: rescued food, liquids, recycling, landfill and compost. At the end of the Launch Day a second waste audit shows how many pounds of edible food, liquids, recyclables and food scraps were diverted from the landfill. The results are astonishing!

SGA creates a one-page summary of the data with estimated annual diversion rates for the school to share with students and families. The goal is to help everyone rethink their lunches with a focus on reducing waste across all categories, not just landfill waste. In a time when Climate Anxiety is affecting even our youngest citizens, this program gives kids tools and agency to participate in helping the planet.

We applaud the innovative things they are doing in D112, but there’s more work to be done. Leadership needs to hear from residents, parents and students who support the District’s broader commitment to sustainability. It only takes a few voices to generate a conversation. Share your thanks for their current work and your thoughts on the future of renewables, food service and climate curriculum in our schools. Email the North Shore District 112 Board of Education members by clicking here.

We’re All Plastic People Now, Hybrid Panel Discussion Recording

Thank you to everyone who came out to our informative panel discussion, in-person and virtually. We were delighted to hear from, Illinois State Representative Daniel Didech, Kate Jakubas from Meliora Cleaning Products, Jacquelyn Casazza of Go Green Glen Ellyn, and Shourya Mehta from Stevenson High School. A special thanks to our moderator Ashley Johnson, Business Outreach, Vernon Area Public Library. If you missed the movie you can watch it here, We’re All Plastic People Now. You can find the recording of our panel discussion here.