Openlands

OPENLANDS PROTECTS THE NATURAL AND OPEN SPACES OF NORTHEASTERN ILLINOIS AND THE SURROUNDING REGION TO ENSURE CLEANER AIR AND WATER, PROTECT NATURAL HABITATS AND WILDLIFE, AND HELP BALANCE AND ENRICH OUR LIVES.

WETLAND RESTORATION - OPENLANDS MANAGES PROGRAMS TOGETHER WITH ITS PARTNERS TO ENSURE THE ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION OF WETLANDS AIMED TO PROMOTE THE DIVERSITY AND BEAUTY OF THESE NATIVE ECOSYSTEMS THROUGH ACQUISITION, CREATION, RESTORATION, AND ENHANCEMENT. OPENLANDS IS STEWARDING THE CARE OF SIX SITES IN THE DES PLAINES RIVER WATERSHED THAT SPANS OVER 1,500 ACRES.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT - OPENLANDS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND SCHOOLS THAT DEEPEN THEIR CONNECTION TO THE NATURAL WORLD IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AND ACROSS LANDSCAPES. WE SPONSOR WORKSHOPS AND FIELD TRIPS IN OUR BIRDS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD (BIMN), SCHOOL GARDENS, AND SPACE TO GROW PROGRAMS. IN 2022, THE BIMN PROGRAM IMPACTED 1,656 STUDENTS ACROSS 44 CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AT THE ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL LEVELS. WE ENGAGED 70 EDUCATORS AND 51 VOLUNTEERS TO INTRODUCE STUDENTS TO THE COMMON BIRDS OF THE REGION, WITH THE GOAL OF CREATING ADVOCATES FOR NATURE.IN 2022, THE SCHOOL GARDENS PROGRAM HOSTED 8 WORKSHOPS WITH 126 PARTICIPANTS FROM 60 SCHOOLS AND ORGANIZATIONS. WE SUPPORTED THE DEVELOPMENT OF IN-HOUSE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS THROUGH $1000 GRANTS TO 5 SCHOOLS.THROUGH SPACE TO GROW, WE SUPPORTED THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF 4 NEW SCHOOL YARDS THAT NOT ONLY ADDRESS WATER MANAGEMENT ISSUES IN THE COMMUNITY AND PROVIDE NATURAL SPACE FOR OUTDOOR ACTIVITY. NINETY-ONE TEACHERS WERE ENGAGED AT THE SCHOOL TO DEVELOP EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES SURROUNDING THE NEW BUILD ENVIRONMENT.OPENLANDS SPONSORS THE FIRST AND ONLY REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP IN ILLINOIS. THE 2022 COHORT OF APPRENTICES GAINED OVER 2,000 HOURS OF ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AND CLASSROOM LEARNING FROM OPENLANDS. APPRENTICES LEARN FROM OPENLANDS IN THE FIRST YEAR BEFORE TRANSITIONING TO A PARTNER TREE CARE COMPANY FOR THEIR LAST TWO YEARS.OL FORESTRY PROGRAM SUPPORTS THE PLANTING OF TREES WITH COMMUNITY RESIDENTS ON PUBLIC LAND AND EDUCATES RESIDENTS IN THE CARE AND ADVOCACY AROUND THE URBAN FOREST. IN FY 22, OPENLANDS RECEIVED 75 TREEPLANTERS GRANTS RESULTING IN APPROVING 30 TREEPLANTERS PROJECTS TO PLANT 833 TREES, INVOLVING 852 VOLUNTEERS.THROUGH THE TREEKEEPER COURSE, TREE LOVERS OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS GAIN ACCESSIBLE TRAINING AND EDUCATION THAT CERTIFY THEM AS AN OFFICIAL TREEKEEPER. THE MONTH-LONG COURSE GIVES STUDENTS AN APPRECIATION FOR TREES IN OUR REGION THROUGH LEARNING ABOUT URBAN FORESTRY IN THE AGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND BEST PRACTICES IN TREE PLANTING AND CARE TO BUILD A MORE RESILIENT URBAN FOREST.THE IMPACT OF TREEKEEPERS CONTINUES BEYOND THE ORIGINAL CERTIFICATION AS MEMBERS CONTINUE TO BE ACTIVE IN COMMUNITY EVENTS SUCH AS STEWARDSHIP WORKDAYS INVOLVING PLANTING AND PRUNING. IN FY 22, TREEKEEPERS SPONSORED 319 EVENTS, WITH 655 TREEKEEPERS AND 1,415 VOLUNTEERS CLOCKING 5800 HOURS.

LAND PRESERVATION - AS CHICAGO'S REGIONAL LAND TRUST, OPENLANDS CONNECTS AND ENERGIZES THE REGION THROUGH STRATEGIC COLLABORATION AND LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS THAT PROTECT LAND, WATER, AND WILDLIFE. IN 2022, OPENLANDS TRANSFERRED HUNDREDS OF ACRES TO REGIONAL PARTNERS IN LAKE, MCHENRY, AND COOK COUNTIES FOR THE PUBLIC TO ACCESS AND ENJOY FOR GENERATIONS.OPENLANDS TRANSFERRED 270 ACRES TO U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE TO BE A PART OF HACKMATACK IN 2022, INCLUDING VITAL STREAM CORRIDORS, OAK SAVANNAHS, WETLANDS, AND PRAIRIES. NOW IN IT'S TENTH YEAR, OVER 1,000 ACRES HAVE BEEN PROTECTED.