Students check out a solar-powered cart on display during Campus Sustainability Week 2006, co-sponsored by GREENetwork

GREENetwork
GREENetwork, formerly the Committee for a Sustainable Campus, was established in August 2002 as a permanent body charged with assisting Illinois Wesleyan University in reducing its environmental footprint-- "greening the campus." Composed of students, staff, faculty and administrators, GREENetwork is the successor to the Green Task Force, which worked for two years to assess the ways in which Illinois Wesleyan's daily activities impact the environment and to propose and begin to implement change on campus. GREENetwork has focused most of its attention on improving the rate of recycling, encouraging energy efficiency and reducing paper and food waste on campus, as well as studying options for encouraging the purchase and use of recycled paper products. Contact Abigail Jahiel at 556-3923, Given Harper at 556-3056, or check out the website.

Ecology Action Center
The Ecology Action Center (EAC) is an outgrowth of Operation Recycle, a not-for-profit community recycling center which began as a volunteer effort in 1971.  Formally named the EAC in 1995, the Center provides the community with information and an array of educational programs about the environment aimed at all age levels, as well as monthly networking breakfasts, and meeting space for other local environmental organizations.  The EAC actively coordinates community evens such as community tree planting, America Recycles Day, and hazardous and electronic waste drop-off days. Most recently, they have been running an energy efficiency educational campaign in the community. Over the years, many Illinois Wesleyan students have interned or volunteered at the EAC, and many volunteers are needed each semester for the after-school education program. Call Michelle Covi, EAC director, at 454-3169 or check out EAC's website.

Students tour the prairie at Funks Grove

Funk's Grove
A group of local volunteers are trying to restore woodlands and prairies at Funk's Grove, just south of town. They remove non-native vegetation, collect seeds, plant seeds and rootstock, conduct prescribed burns, pick up trash and more. To participate in a work day, contact Don Schmidt at (309) 828-5247 or djschmi@ilstu.edu. To inquire about volunteering or interning at the Sugar Grove Nature Center at Funk's Grove, contact director Angela Smith at 309-874-2174.



The ParkLands Foundation
The ParkLands Foundation, founded in 1967, is a private, non-profit organization working to restore prairie and preserve habitat for wildlife and plants. Volunteers remove introduced species and plant native species.  Activities take place on the Merwin Nature Preserve and other lands that the organization has acquired.  Contact Don Schmidt at 438-3800 or Tim Lindenbaum at tlindenbaum@dtnspeed.net or visit the website.

Sierra Student Coalition
The Sierra Student Coalition (SSC) is a group of dedicated Illinois Wesleyan students interested in environmental sustainability on the campus, local and national levels. Since its inception in May 2005, the SSC has conducted numerous work projects at local parks, trails and organic farms. The SSC is constantly working to make IWU a more environmentally friendly campus and was the driving force behind IWU's adoption of the Talloires Declaration. The group also works to raise awareness of national and global issues through movie showings, petitions and other campaigns. If you are interested in the Sierra Student Coalition, feel free to come to a meeting. The SSC meets every Wednesday at 9pm in The Underground, down the stairs from Starbuck's in the Memorial Center. For more information, visit the website or contact SSC co-president Leslie Morrison.

Living Upstream
Inspired by Sandra Steingraber's 1997 book Living Downstream, Living Upstream is a local, volunteer organization that educates and empowers the public on issues related to the environment and human health. Through its campaigns, Living Upstream works to promote alternatives to toxins in the community. Past efforts have focused on introducing organic foods into local grocery stores, and educating the public about the possible ill effects of recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) in cow's milk. Living upstream is presently working on an extensive campaign to reduce the use of common pesticides on lawns and gardens throughout the area. This organization needs your help! Contact Laurine Brown at 862-2547 or by email at LVBROWN1@mindspring.com.

IWU volunteers paint a barn during a workday for The Land Connection in May 2005

The Land Connection
The Land Connection is a young, active, and rapidly growing organization whose mission is to cultivate healthy farms, healthy food, and healthy communities. It saves farmland from housing development; promotes organic production to eliminate use of harmful pesticides; educates farmers and the public on the many environmental, health, and social benefits of production and consumption of local organic food; and facilitates direct rural-urban linkages between organic food growers and eaters to reduce the fossil-fuel costs to the environment of long distance transportation and to make organic food financially viable for a greater number of people. Several Illinois Wesleyan students have interned either with the Land Connection directly or with one of the several organic farms associated with it and have found the experience extremely rewarding.  Contact Terra Brockman at 309-965-2407 or terra@brockmanfarms.net. For further information, check out the website.

The John Wesley Powell Audubon Society
The John Wesley Powell Audubon Society is the McLean County chapter of the National Audubon Society. Named after the famous 19th Century explorer and naturalist, John Wesley Powell, this chapter views its mission as "promoting activities that foster an understanding and appreciation of the natural world" and encouraging others to join the cause of "restoring, maintaining, and managing our natural communities and ecosystems." The Society offers programs and field trips to learn about and enjoy nature, works on local ecosystem restoration projects, monitors the bird population of McLean County, and engages in campaigns such as the current "Yard Smart Campaign" to promote environmentally healthy, pesticide-free lawns. Contact Rhea Edge at REDGE@eureka.edu or visit out the website.