An educational and certification program that recognizes yards and sites conscientiously improving their area for the environment and humanity. For more information, see extension.illinois.edu/cook/conservationhome.
The program goals are to Protect and restore natural areas by encouraging the use of native plants and to promote good water resources, such as rain barrels and rain gardens, and that reduce runoff, conserve, and filter rainwater.
Why:
- Native plantings support a large variety of beneficial wildlife.
- Perennial flowering plants increase the beauty and value of property
- Earth friendly practices reduce the use of chemicals and improve water, air, and soil quality.
Infrastructure University of Illinois Extension and Forest Preserve of Cook County staff work together to create and refine the C@H checklists specific to the various types of properties listed below. Current resources and additional trainings are provided to volunteers to schedule home visits, manage website content and registrations, and distribute signs. Staff and volunteers continue to evaluate landscapes weather permitting.
2022 Update
C@H Residential Membership Breakdown |
Year | Applicants | Unpaid & Consulting | Paid & uncertified | Certified |
2022 | 55 | 22 | 0 | 33 |
Total to Date | 302 | 131 | 5 | 166 |
Schools & Communities: Illinois Extension Staff and volunteers aid schools looking to incorporate C@H friendly practices worked with 10 schools and communities in 2022. Highlights are:
- South Suburban College Campus; South Holland
- Palatine Park District/Buehler YMCA; Palatine
- Harper College, Palatine
- Legacy Garden Park; Willow Springs
- Glencoe Middle School; Glencoe
- Homewood Library, Homewood
- BEDS Plus Shelter, LaGrange
- Lake Katherine Butterfly Garden, Palos Heights
Evaluator Training: Illinois Extension and Forest Preserve staff conducted a training for evaluators on March 5. 24 MG and MN volunteers attended. A virtual training occurred on 4/5 and trained 12 MG/MN volunteers
| Extension Volunteers |
|---|
Breakdown by Activity | Breakdown by Program |
Activity | Hours | Program | Hours |
Evaluation | 147.75 | North Cook MGs | 157.5 |
Outreach/Tabling | 172.25 | South Cook MGs | 70.25 |
Program Development | 85.25 | Chicago MGs | 31 |
| | Master Naturalists | 146.50 |
| | Total | 405.25 |
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- C@H Promotion: for the listed events, Extension staff, volunteers, and Forest Preserve employees involved in the C@H program promoted the program through tabling events and talks. Volunteers passively promoted the program whenever they hosted a tabling program for Extension programming. Additionally, UIE staff also discussed this program among their colleagues across the state at several internal meetings. UIE Staff has worked to update the C@H Website with updated graphics/resources, updated criteria and new criteria for community garden application.
Highlights of Promotion & Programming |
Date | Event | Location | Attendees |
22-Jan | Forest Park Library | webinar | 10 |
26-Jan | Native Landscape Design Workshop | webinar | 121 |
12&22-Feb | Northwestern University | webinars | 17 |
9-Mar | Go Green Glenview | webinar | 50 |
13-Mar | FPCC Caldwell Wood | on site | 25 |
15-Mar | CCGA | webinar | 23 |
8-Apr | C@H at EEAI | in person | 14 |
20-Apr | Arlington Heights Library | webinar | 50 |
13-May | Northbrook Plant Sale | Village hall | 45 |
9-Jul | Homewood Green Thumbs | Village Hall | 14 |
20-Aug | Franklin Park | City Hall | 50+ |
18-Sep | La Bagh Woods Fall Fest Bridget Deagan | La Bagh | 200 |
| | | 625 |
Programming Update:
Winter Program: Native Landscape Design
- Description: 2-part workshop series. Part 1 consisted of an introduction to landscape design focusing on incorporating native plants. Part 2 consisted of breakout rooms in which staff and volunteers coached individuals on their specific landscape conditions and layout.
- Dates: Part 1- 1/26; Part 2- 2/9 & 2/16
- Attendance: 121 participants
- Marketing efforts: FPCC Nature Center, FPP Facebook pages.
- Investment: $204
Spring/Fall Program: Rainscaping
- Description: 6-part series workshop provides participants with the tools and skills needed to design, install and maintain a rain garden on your residential property. Through hybrid training, garden tours, and coaching sessions, participants will develop a personalized rain garden plan. To participate, participants pay a $40 deposit and will receive a $200 stipend to build a rain garden after completion of all sessions and submittal of your personalized plan. Stipends will be provided per household or garden.
- Dates: June 16, 23, 30 and July 14, 21, 28
- Applications: 72 applicants. Applications closed May 15. Offered 32 participants. Two auditing participants (did not want stipend)
- Marketing efforts: FPCC Nature Center, FP Facebook pages, Extension Facebook Page
- Investment: $2,979.04
- Evaluation and impact:
- 32 participants; 15 participants completed the course in its entirety and submitted rain garden plans to receive the $200 stipend.
- 94%-100% participance showed increased knowledge of rain gardens, increased confidence and ability to plan and install a rain garden, and likeliness to install a rain garden.
- 64% plan to educate others on rainscaping practices
CONSERVATION@HOME NEWSLETTER
To date, the newsletter has 281 subscribers including members, volunteers, and partners every season. It is disseminated through Illinois Extension’s Email+ program.
C@H Newsletter Statistics |
Season | Date Released | Open Rate % |
Winter | 1/15 | 67.5 |
Spring | 4/2 | 70.2 |
Summer | 7/7 | 74.16 |
Fall | 10/6 | 67.62 |
CONSERVATION@HOME APPRECIATION EVENT
Extension and FPCC staff will work together to organize and host an appreciation event for volunteer evaluators and C@H members. Appreciation Luncheon August 7, 2022, at the Chicago Botanic Gardens to feature volunteers, members, and partners of the Conservation@Home program
- Partners featured: Illinois Indiana Sea Grant, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, Chicago Region Tree Initiative, Field Museum, West Cook Wild Ones
- Keynote: Pam Karlson
- Attendance: 79 participants
CONSERVATION@HOME PLANT SALE
Extension staff worked with FPCC and West Cook Wild Ones to support the plant sale through attending planning meetings, providing resources, assisting with preparation, and promoting among the C@H members. UIE staff also recruits volunteers for the sale among the Master Naturalists and Master Gardeners. The sale dates were 6/6-9 and 9/30. C@H members received a 10% discount.
