Adult programs
At The Conservation Foundation, we believe you are never too old to start living a life connected to nature. Education is the fabric of which all of our programs are woven. We seek to provide information to everyone, from the casual backyard gardener to the parent to the teacher to the stormwater professional, that will empower them to understand and care for the natural world.
Gardening and Food
Conservation@Home:
You can put that green thumb to work for the environment and create a home landscape that is both beautiful and functional through our Conservation@Home program. Learn about the benefits of native plants, ways to conserve water and capture the rain that falls on your property, and be recognized for your efforts. Learn more information here.
Green Earth Harvest:
The Green Earth Harvest, a program of The Conservation Foundation, is an organic farming operation at our McDonald Farm that offers a Community Supported Agriculture program. Besides growing healthy organic produce on McDonald Farm’s tillable acreage, they also conduct many camps, farm exploration days and other events. Learn more information here.
Municipal/Technical
training & resources
River and watershed protection is a core component of The Conservation Foundation’s mission and we work diligently to provide educational opportunities for municipal staff and elected officials, contractors and residents. Since the early 2000’s we have hosted a number of workshops and seminars focusing on Best Management Practices (BMPs) for stormwater management and stream restoration.
These offerings have evolved over the years and are now coordinated more broadly with our partners, including DuPage County Stormwater Management, to meet the growing need for in-depth information to help communities meet current and proposed regulatory requirements. Our Technical Workshops provide information to help stakeholders address complex problems, plan for the future and implement change.
Technical Workshops – Held Spring and Fall
Workshop and Conference Goals:
- Show the connection between good stormwater management and stream health and how that relates to NPDES wastewater permits.
- Elevate the status of stormwater management in communities.
- Integrate stormwater management into ordinances and operations (planning/zoning, engineering, public works).
- Encourage contractors to incorporate green infrastructure elements in their business model.
- Convey the importance of investing in long-term maintenance/management to achieve BMP success.
- Coordinate communications with local environmental groups
- Showcase the expertise of local talent in the region.
Examples of Workshops:
- Natural Turf Management
- Managing Your Community’s Stormwater
- Outreach to Elected Officials – NPDES Phase II Requirements
- Gross Solids
- Green Infrastructure
- Total Suspended Solids
- NPDES Inspections from an Inspectors Perspective
