Friends of the Parks Earth Team

Carver Military Academy Earthteam

2010-03-09T16:36:00.002-06:00

Spring 2010-
So far the year has kept us busy with learning and appreciating all that our EARTH has to offer! Starting with biodiversity basics, the teens at Carver are truly getting a feel for what their environment is all about. We are beginning the first drafts and planning sessions for our final presentations/projects. This semester is a first for Carver Earthteam. We found it important to begin a beautification committee of some sort; the committee being Earthteam! Our fist endeavor is to start a perennial garden in the front outdoor entrance of the school. There are other locations that may be fitting but we figured we might as well go for the gold and make the entrance a little brighter! Today we are picking the first set of native perennials to go into our garden. The students have their own choice and then a class vote will determine the final picks. The next step for the garden is landscape design or plant placement. The students will determine this by groth habits, bloom time and light tolerance of each determined plant. We are really excited to see the outcome! Hopefully we can continue to plant and care for our garden over summer semester. Our second project is a music vdeo. We all seem to appreciate music so why not make some music about the Earth!!! We plan to have it be about recycling and be filmed outdoors. Wish us luck!! Our third project is a mural... which will hopefully go well. We will keep you posted as our progress improves.

Humboldt Park Earth Team visits the MCA and Art Institute's new Modern wing, with Millenium Park on the way

2010-03-01T08:21:00.002-06:00

The super Earth Team apprentices from Humboldt Park spent their Saturday exploring their city's public art installations. From the cutting-edge of the MCA, to the beautiful Cloud Gate and Frank Gehry-designed bandshell of Millenium Park, and then onward to the new Modern Wing at the Art Institute, the Earth Teamers saw some of the best artwork in Chicago (and the world).

And they did it all on a Saturday!

New Blogging to Commence Shortly!

2010-02-16T15:25:00.001-06:00

After a hiatus and some blog re-tooling (you may notice that many blog entries were accidentally erased!), the Friends of the Parks Earth Team blog will be back in full-force this upcoming week!

Look forward to exciting new posts from Carver Academy, Humboldt Park, and Horner Park Earth Teams!

Horner Park Earth Team blog!

2009-06-08T13:46:00.001-05:00

Our Horner Park Earth Team has established their own home on the web, at the Horner Park Earth Team blog!

Check out great pictures and updates!

Fall Earth Team and Ultimate Team sign-up!

2008-09-24T10:55:00.002-05:00

We are happy to announce that Friends of the Parks will be offering FIVE (5) Earth Team apprenticeship programs this fall, as well as two Ultimate Frisbee Team pre-apprenticeship programs.

Earth Team sites will include:

Calumet Park

Humboldt Park/Ramirez High School

Kelvyn Park

Roosevelt HS

Norwood Park/Taft HS

Ultimate Frisbee programs will be available at Garfield Park and Humboldt Park.

To register, visit After School Matters, and click on "apply for fall programs near you."

Then, search (option 2) for either "Earth Team", or "Ultimate."
Then select the program that you'd like to apply for, and complete the application.

Norwood Park Earth Day

2008-04-26T11:54:00.014-05:00

Norwood Park Earth Team explores our natural selves through haikus and sketches

2008-04-13T19:31:00.002-05:00

Paul Munsen of Sun Ovens International Speaks to the Norwood Park Earth Team

2008-04-13T19:27:00.003-05:00

Paul Munsen, an internationally-known designer and seller of solar ovens, took time to come explain how they work to us, and he brought one with. Cool!

The Norwood Park Earth Team heads to the Center for Green Technology!

2008-04-13T19:05:00.007-05:00

Lafi and Nedal check out the view from the green roof of the center, complete with awesome solar panels.

Denisa checks out the resource center and natural building materials.

An awesome photo of Mike taken by resident team photographer, Sylwia.

Another awesome photo by Sylwia of Vanessa and Marie on the bus.

The team as we're about the enter green tech.

Trying to convince Vanessa to be in a picture as we are about to get an overview of the center.

Katie at the center giving us some background on native species, cisterns, and greenhouses.

Up on the roof...

The Ramirez Earth Team at Humboldt Park: In action!

2008-04-11T15:19:00.004-05:00

At Edgebrook Woods , some Ramirez ladies take to the airwaves to discuss their restoration work.

Karla and Jorge move some buckthorn that they've artfully chopped.

FOTP Forest Preserves Director Rebecca Blazer drops some knowledge on the Ramirez Earth Teamers.

Bill Koenig, from the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, talks to the teens about the importance of restoration work.

The teens take a break from their restoration work to strike a pose.

Buckthorn: not only invasive, but heavy!

Humboldt Park, the park home of the Ramirez Earth Team, is literally and figuratively the backyard of many area residents, and a vital part of the community.

The Ramirez Team at their home base, on the second floor of their high school, prepare bird feeders to share with their community.

Ramirez Earth Team teachers Noah and Susan have the team enthralled with their dynamic-duo style of instruction.

Animal Week at Norwood Park

2008-03-16T12:06:00.005-05:00

"Animal Adaptations" - the students did an awesome job creating animals with specific adaptations to unique, and sometimes imaginative and fictitious, ecosystems and niches.

Malwina's animal

Zach's animal

Karima's animal

Guess who's animal

Speaker from the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum - Steph brought in some fun boxes of animal skins, skulls, scat, etc. It was a great opportunity for students to learn about animals and their environments and to touch real parts of animals' bodies, something they may not have had the chance to do (or wanted to do! ) before.

Some Roosevelt HS Earth Team snapshots

2008-03-03T14:52:00.004-06:00

The Roosevelt crew studied frogs last week, and got ready to answer some questions about cane toads.
Instructor Phyllis goes over some fun facts with the teens.

The teens composed "Frog Haikus"!

Norwood Park Field Museum Fieldtrip!

2008-03-02T10:58:00.003-06:00

Calumet Park Earth Team visits the MCA

2008-02-28T08:54:00.007-06:00

In our first visit of an exciting new partnership with the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Calumet Park Earth Team visited the Gordon Matta-Clark exhibit Saturday, Feb. 16.

The teens also visited the "Museum of Modern Ice" at Millennium Park, Gordon Halloran's installation near the famous "Bean" sculpture.
At Halloran's "Paintings Below Zero", the teens were able to see for themselves the value of public art in open public space. As Earth Team apprentice Pancho put it, "It's out here for everyone to see, anyone who just walks by!"

A few of the Cal Park gals strike a pose in front of "The Bean" (Cloud Gate, officially :))

The teens learned the background of Matta-Clark's art from an MCA educator at the Beatrice Mayer Education Center.

The Bean continues to fascinate! For many of the Cal Park teens, it was their first time ever visiting Millennium Park and experiencing all of the public art installations.

Norwood Park Earth Team!

2007-12-14T17:16:00.000-06:00

This is the video we played at our final celebration summarizing some of the activities from the Norwood Park Earth Team for this fall. Beforehand, some of the apprentices presented to the other programs, describing how the Earth Team impacted their lives this semester, what they learned, and why it was so fun!

Calumet Park Earth Team!!

2007-11-20T10:38:00.001-06:00

The Cal Park crew.
Claudia and co. boogie down in the autumn's leafy goodness.
Foliage fun.
Halloween!
Halloween fun at the park.

Growing up Green!!!

2007-11-19T13:12:00.000-06:00

"The members of the Horner Park Earth Team, an After School Matters teen apprenticeship program run by the Friends of the Parks invite community members of all ages to come to Horner Park for our FREE community event "Growing up Green." The event is being held on November 29, 2007 from 4:30 pm 6:30 pm at the Horner Park Field House (2741 West Montrose Ave.).

"Growing up Green" will promote environmental awareness in our community. We will provide fun and engaging activities for children, like recycling races, face painting, and designing animal masks out of recycled materials. For adults we will have informational booths from business like Safer Pest Control, City of Chicago- Streets and Sanitation, Community Energy Cooperative, I-Go Cars, Neighbor Space, Friends of the Park and Chicago Park District. For adults and children alike Old Town School of Folk Music will also be playing at the event.

This will be a great, FREE, event for families to attend to introduce environmental topics to their children and find out what they can do to help be more green!"

Just another day at Horner Park...

2007-11-19T12:42:00.000-06:00

These are a few photos from a random day with the Horner Park Earth Team. We are currently pulling from four different high schools in the area: Lane Tech, Lakeview HS, Admundsen HS and Northside College Prep. We meet on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3:45 till 6:45 at Horner Park, which is located at Montrose Ave. and California Ave.

Horner Park Main Entrance

Playing "People to People"

"head to stomach"

Ivan, Brian and Asadullah taking a break in the trees!

An intense game of "WAAAAHHH"
Inside the field house playing invasive species bingo... ZEBRA!

Horner Park Earth Team goes to Lincoln Park!!

2007-11-19T11:55:00.001-06:00

These are a few selected photos from the Horner Park Earth Team's field trip to the Lincoln Park Lagoon and Zoo on October 13th. We met up with Brenda, the fishing lady, for some information about exotic species and an afternoon of fishing fun! After fishing, we made our way to the farm where we ran into another Earth Team Teacher Phyllis and then we made our way to the zoo!

Asadullah caught a bass!

Shamus and Roman, who are really excited about getting their picture taken, with Salar and friends in the background, who are equally as excited about the picture.

Daniel enjoying the time at the farm.

Earth Teamers waiting on their other fellow Earth Teamers at the farm.

Yes, there were flamingos. Fatima the Flamingo was very excited.

This gorilla was huge!

Group picture back at Horner Park!

RHS Zoo Trip

2007-10-22T15:17:00.001-05:00

RHS Edgebrook Woods Restoration Day

2007-10-22T14:38:00.000-05:00

NEED A FALL JOB?!

2007-09-04T17:31:00.001-05:00

Apply NOW for an Earth Team apprenticeship at your school or in your neighborhood!! Please visit AFTER SCHOOL MATTERS (www.afterschoolmatters.org) to apply. Choose from 5 sites--Calumet Park, Humboldt Park/Ramirez HS, Horner Park, Roosevelt High School or Norwood Park/Taft HS. Please contact hatzfeldc@fotp.org with questions about the application process.

Programs start October 1st and run to December 15th. This is a PAID apprenticeship and interviews will be held the weeks of September 17th and 26th. Once you apply online, you are eligible for an interview. SIGN UP TODAY!

The Last Day at Edgebrook

2007-08-16T16:18:00.000-05:00

One last team knot for the road...

Tiff, Danny, Fabi, Nick, David and Yiwong pose for a quick shot before heading out.

Eckhart Park's Butterfly Release Party

2007-08-16T16:14:00.000-05:00

Summer 2007 at Edgebrook Video

2007-08-09T23:49:00.001-05:00

Steambank Ecology at Edgebrook

2007-08-08T22:53:00.000-05:00

Virgil and Maria use nets to collect macroinvertebrates and use field notes to identify their findings.

David and Colleen discover macroinvertebrates squirming around in their net.

Ryan goes out on a limb for his collection team.

On the top left of our container, a damselfly nymph (bottom) meets a minnow (top) .
After program, Danny and Yuridia return to show us a spectacular caterpillar.

Cal Park ET Planting Trees

2007-08-08T16:41:00.001-05:00

At the Beach and Dunes

2007-08-08T16:36:00.001-05:00

Fishing fun with the Edgebrook and Humboldt crews at Humboldt's lagoon!

2007-08-07T23:47:00.000-05:00

Vanessa reels in one of her five (five!) bluegills on the lagoon. She would end up being the fishing champion of the day.Edgebrook's Neesha is a bit squeemish with her catch, and who can blame her? He's fishy.
Albey recreates The Old Man and the Sea, except with a young man, no sea, and little bluegills instead of large marlin. Still, the iconography is solid.

Keenan waits patiently for a bite.

Ryan waits for his 2nd fish of the day.

Edgebrook's Eddie and Cajette are determined to catch one.

They may come from different parts of town, but when it comes time to fish, Edgebrook and Humboldt present a united, fish-catching front.
In addition to fishing, we had some wetlands work. The teens collected a variety of species that are highly pollution-Intolerant, indicating that the Humboldt lagoon is quite healthy.

Frank, our Department of Natural Resources instructor, shows us how to properly unhook a snagged fish. It came in quite handy, as we practiced "Catch and Release" with all of the fish.

The teens all strike a pose beneath Jen Jensen's historic Humboldt boathouse (built in 1907).

Humboldt Park Earth Team rocks the hizzy with water testing and mural creation!

2007-08-07T23:39:00.001-05:00

Albernard carefully inspects the visual data from his coliform bacteria test of Humboldt's beach water. The levels indicated that swimmers should not drink the beach water.(clockwise from left): Albey, Martavius, Amber M., Michael, X-Man, Johnny, and Amber Nicole work on the group's mural on a bright sunny Friday.
Martavius shows that his wetlands water sample is quite low in terms of dissolved oxyen (DO) levels.
Jamarius and Albey look to their insect guide book for artistic guidance.

Terracing at the VRC

2007-08-03T16:09:00.001-05:00

The hillside after invasive species removal, but before terracing work.

Keenan helps Ken, the forest preserve representative, demonstrate how to terrace a slope with natural items found on site.

Charnita, Keith, Lawrence, Angel and Tiffany work together to terrace a section of the hill. Ca jette and Keenan saw stakes to help support the terracing.

Yiwong is moving branches to create a sturdy slope.

Reggie holds the stake for Valerie and hopes for the best.

Eddie takes a break to put a BandAid on his mosquito bite.

After the terracing was complete, Ken brought native seeds from the garden to spread on the hill. David, Angel and Reggie ceremoniously spread the seeds along the hillside.

Reggie admires his work.

The restored hillside at the Volunteer Resource Center...

Field work and fun

2007-08-03T15:55:00.000-05:00

Ca jette, Eddie, Reggie and Neesha discuss sampling techniques to determine forest quality at Edgebrook Woods.

The team meets back at the pavilion to discuss their findings and complete their plot surveys and food chains.

Patricia and Keenan go head-to-head in Forest Jeopardy/Family Feud.

Maria takes on Ca jette

An intense round of Final Jeopardy...

Camouflaged Twiggies

2007-08-03T15:46:00.001-05:00

3 Earth Teams visit the Shedd Aquarium!

2007-07-31T16:33:00.001-05:00

Shipwrecked at Indian Road Woods

2007-07-31T16:18:00.000-05:00

Virgil, equipped with walking stick and journal, prepares to lead the Earth Team to his group's fort, deep in Indian Road Woods.

Mari, Colleen, Sia, Virgil and Ryan explain how their group will survive all elements and show off their handmade fort.

Eckhart Park "Building Butterflies in the City"

2007-07-29T23:33:00.001-05:00

Humboldt Park Earth Team explores the Humboldt wetlands

2007-07-27T21:23:00.000-05:00

Vanessa, Amber, and Amber snag a wetlands dragonfly.Martavius, Xavier, and Anthony hunt for a water strider on the lagoon.
A moment of quiet reflection for Michael and Martavius, on the lagoon.
Xavier and Albernard team up to contain a wetlands beetle, while Jamarius continues his search.
Shaquiencia leads the Calumet Park crew in lunchtime revelry at the Shedd Aquarium.
John, Amber, Vanessa, Albey and X-Man have a light moment at the Humboldt boathouse. Even serious scientists need to laugh.

Whole Foods Workday

2007-07-24T16:33:00.000-05:00

Volunteers from Whole Foods joined the Edgebrook Woods Earth Team in buckthorn removal.

Montrose Point Field Trip

2007-07-21T14:51:00.000-05:00

Exploring the Hedge

Litter Clean-up on the Dune

Fun on the beach

Bird Nerds at Indian Road Woods

2007-07-21T14:31:00.001-05:00

2007-07-18T20:09:00.001-05:00

Calumet Park Earth Team Summer 07

2007-07-16T19:33:00.000-05:00

Restoration at the VRC

2007-07-16T00:18:00.000-05:00

The Edgebrook Woods Earth Team tackles the buckthorn near the Volunteer Resource Center in the Forest Preserve.

Calumet Park's Earth Team

2007-07-12T18:09:00.001-05:00

Apply for a Summer Job NOW!!

2007-06-06T22:50:00.000-05:00

What is the Earth Team?

The Earth Team is a community-based environmental education apprenticeship that employs teenagers in Chicago’s parks and forest preserves. The program brings together teen communities, educates them to make responsible environmental choices and empowers them to make changes in their world. This paid apprenticeship provides teens, ages 14-19, with hands-on conservation and environmental experiences, not often seen in school curriculum. This hands-on learning method encourages them to, not only discover and gain appreciation for their local natural areas, but also to learn about how their choices impact the world around them.

This summer, teen apprentices at Calumet Park, Humboldt Park and Edgebrook Woods will discover Chicago’s ecosystems through activities focusing on environmental and conservation science. The Earth Team creates a well-rounded teen experience through a variety of activities: adventure recreation, teambuilding activities, scientific research techniques and experiments, art within the environment, field trips and guest speakers. Participants will use their experiences and new knowledge in park and preserve beautification, conservation stewardship and community education and improvement.

Program Details:

Dates: Work starts July 2^nd and runs for 6 weeks until mid-August
Time: Teens work Monday-Friday, 9:30am-2pm.
Locations: Calumet Park (9801 S Ave G); Humboldt Park (1400 N Sacramento Ave); Edgebrook Woods (6100 N Central Ave)

Who's Eligible to work with the Earth Team?

*Teens ages 14-19 (up to age 21 with special needs) years old are eligible to apply for the program
*Teens must be registered w/ Mayor Daley’s KidStart program (KidStart’s deadline was April 27^th).
*Teens must be residents of the city of Chicago.
*20 teens will be hired to work at each site with 2 instructors.

How to Apply:

Go to the After School Matters website at www.afterschoolmatters.org and link to summer programs. Search for “Earth Team” and choose the site that’s most convenient for you.

Once you’re registered on the After School Matters website, an instructor from the site you applied for will contact you for an interview. Interviews will be held between June 11^th and June 22^nd.

Calumet Park Earth Team Video

2007-05-03T17:04:00.000-05:00

Roosevelt Earth Team Video

2007-05-01T14:37:00.001-05:00

Norwood Park Earth Day

2007-04-25T12:01:00.000-05:00

Norwood Park Earth Team

2007-04-22T20:10:00.001-05:00

Cool Globes and an RHS Greenhouse Update

2007-04-02T16:52:00.000-05:00

Check out: Cool Globes: Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet website. All of the Earth Teams participated in a design contest for Cool Globes, and some teens were able to join Gallery37 downtown over Spring Break to build the globes!

Last week we planted a variety of vegetables to go with our native prairie plants. We cleaned out the outdoor beds at RHS in preparation for planting in late-April.

Norwood Park Ice Skating

2007-04-01T17:30:00.000-05:00

Snowman Building Day at Norwood Park

2007-04-01T15:28:00.000-05:00

Norwood Park Edgebrook Woods Work Day Group Shot

2007-04-01T15:25:00.000-05:00

2007-04-01T15:20:00.000-05:00

2007-04-01T15:18:00.000-05:00

2007-04-01T15:17:00.002-05:00

2007-04-01T15:17:00.001-05:00

2007-04-01T15:16:00.000-05:00

2007-04-01T15:15:00.000-05:00

2007-04-01T15:14:00.000-05:00

More from the Greenhouse...

2007-03-26T12:49:00.000-05:00

RHS Workday at Edgebrook Woods

2007-03-26T12:13:00.000-05:00

SUMMER WORK!!!!

2007-03-26T12:11:00.000-05:00

RHS Soil Testing in the Lab

2007-03-26T11:52:00.000-05:00

RHS Soaking up the Rays

2007-03-13T13:16:00.000-05:00

C.Y.C.L.E. Workday at Dan Ryan Woods

2007-03-10T20:47:00.000-06:00

Click to view more pictures of CYCLE Club's B.E.S.T. High School (Bowen Environmental Studies Team) students doing restoration work at Dan Ryan Woods.

RHS Starting the Soil

2007-03-08T11:08:00.000-06:00

Click on the link to see a couple photos from our soil mixing day.

Preparing for the Plants

2007-03-04T00:40:00.000-06:00

Before we could start planting, the Roosevelt Earth Team spent many hours cleaning and organizing the greenhouse.

Check out some more action shots here.

Ice Skating at Warren Park

2007-03-03T23:38:00.000-06:00

Norwood Park's and Roosevelt High School's Earth Teams visited Warren Park for ice skating and team-building. Check out the photos and the video below.

RHS Earth Team's Greenhouse

2007-03-03T23:08:00.000-06:00

Check out recent pictures from day one of the Roosevelt High School Earth Team Greenhouse Project.