June Project:

This month we went to Blackwell Forest Preserve where we learned the importance of Leave No Trace (LNT)! There are 7 principles to follow! We also did a lesson on poisonous plants learning how to identify them and what makes them dangerous! Everyone received their LNT Outdoor Awareness Certificates! With that, they can share information on how to respect our environment!  

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Try this at home!

• Use reusable bottles, lunch boxes, and Tupperware! 

• Save glass jars and reuse them! 

• Follow the 3 R's! Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! 

• If you see trash clean it up! ( please be careful with glass) always wash your hands after touching trash! 

• Grow a garden and/or grow plants hydroponically!​

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​​July Project:

We revisited Blackwell Forest Preserve and learned what being a Citizen Scientist means! We worked on identifying invasive plant and animal species! It is important to remember how much we make an impact! The "Be a Hero Transport Zero" Campaign shows us how important it is to Leave No Trace! We got to go fishing off the pier, try out row boats, and make a Citizen Scientist Nature Report! 

 

How can we prevent invasive species? 

• Clean your gear after every trip! 

• Never bring or remove firewood from the area!

• Report invasive species to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) 

• Plant Native Species!  

• Clean your boats before putting it in a new body of water! 

 

 

Special Guest Visit! 

We had Illinois Secretary of State Disability Liaison, Bill Bogdan, come talk to us about Accessibility, Advocacy, and Adaptive Sports! 
He shared the importance of advocating for yourself and some great resources! (all will be listed below) We also got to learn about the many adaptive sports he participates in!! Thank you so much for visiting! 

We learned how to be an ally!
A- Acknowledge and respect others! 
L- Learn about different disability types! 
L- Leverage your influences to promote inclusion!
Y- Yield the floor to people with disabilities to help eliminate barriers!

 

 

August projects:

We got to have 2 totally awesome adventures! We visited Pilcher Park in Joliet and the Morton Arboretum in Lisle! At both sites, we got to discover the flora and fauna around us and understand how to identify trees and their seeds! At the Morton Arboretum, we got to further our Citizen Scientist skills and got to create our very own nature journals! 
It was a fantastic time learning to appreciate the world around us! 

 

 

Important Resources!

• Do you have your FREE Persons with a Disability Identification Card? If not apply here! ( just click on the application to view the PDF)  https://www.ilsos.gov/publications/disabilitypub.html

• Are you a part of the FREE Illinois State Library Talking Books and Braille Program? If not apply here! https://www.ilsos.gov/publications/librarypub.html#tbbs 

• Do you have your FREE U.S. National Park Access Pass? You can visit our national parks for FREE! Apply here! https://www.nps.gov/subjects/accessibility/interagency-access-pass.htm

• Register here for the Emergency Contact Database! This gets added to your ID Card and/or Drivers license! https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/drivers/ECD/home.html 

• Are you registered to vote yet? Make sure to exercise your right to vote! https://ova.elections.il.gov/ 

• Are you eligible for an Accessible Parking Placcard? Find out here!  https://www.ilsos.gov/services/persons_with_disabilities/disabilities.html