Many conservation-minded agencies and organizations advocate for nature using volunteer support. Not only do they offer volunteer opportunities (beyond financial donations), but they provide resources and support for volunteers as well.
Advocate Agencies, Organizations, and Coalitions
-
-
- Audubon Chicago Region* – The Chicago regional office of the National Audubon Society.
- BackYard Nature Center – A non-profit organization whose mission is to connect children and adults with the wonders of nature through volunteer stewardship activities, education, and unstructured play. Additionally, they hold monthly invasive species workdays at the Skokie Lagoons every second Saturday.
- Bird Conservation Network* – A coalition of local organizations that advocate for better bird habitat and reduced threats to birds.
- Chicago Audubon Society – Education, stewardship, and research programs to promote nature, conservation, and restoration.
- Chicago Bird Collision Monitors* – An all-volunteer conservation project dedicated to the protection of migratory birds through rescue, advocacy, and outreach.
- Chicago Botanic Garden* – Provides a broad range of educational programming and has been active in local and international plant conservation. Hosts the citizen science program Plants of Concern, and is a partner for Project Budburst and the Northeast Illinois Invasive Plant Partnership.
- Chicagoland Environmental Network – Sponsored by Brookfield Zoo, lists a wide variety of volunteer, internship, and job opportunities.
- ChicagoNatureNOW! – An educational and nature-marketing venture. Every week, volunteer scouts scour the vast Chicago region to report on the finest wildflower blooming events. The mission is to introduce Chicagoans to local nature with the goal of sparking volunteerism throughout the region.
- Chicago Ornithological Society – Provides friendly and fun opportunities for birders as well as being dedicated to conservation efforts for the survival of breeding and migratory birds.
- Chicago Wilderness* – A conservation alliance of more than 150 groups working to study and restore, protect, and manage the natural ecosystems of the Chicago region. Follow Chicago Wilderness on Facebook too.
- The Conservation Foundation – Preserves open space and natural lands, protects rivers and watersheds, and promotes stewardship in Northeastern Illinois.
- Conserve Lake County – Preserves open land, restores natural areas, and inspires land conservation in Lake County, Illinois.
- DuPage Birding Club – One of the largest and most active birding groups in Illinois dedicated to “birding with a purpose” in various habitats in DuPage County, the greater Chicago area, and other regional hotspots.
- Environmental Defenders of McHenry County – Defenders’ teams and committees work to address issues facing our natural areas, water resources, and open spaces, as well as decisions being made by our county and city officials. Volunteer opportunities abound.
- Evanston North Shore Bird Club – A non-profit membership organization dedicated to the study, protection, and enjoyment of wild birds and the protection of natural resources.
- The Field Museum* – Leads pioneering collaborations to bring people and nature together within the Chicago region.
- Fox River Ecosystem Partnership – Promotes, preserves, protects, and enhances the Fox River and its watershed through a coalition of partnerships.
- Friends of the Forest Preserves* – Supports nature in the Cook County Forest Preserves and lists opportunities with groups in Cook County.
- Friends of the Parks – Supports nature in the city of Chicago.
- Illinois Audubon Society* – An independent, state-wide, educational, and scientific organization “to promote the perpetuation and appreciation of native flora and fauna of Illinois and the habitats that support them.” See also the Fort Dearborn Audubon, Kane County Audubon, Lake-Cook Audubon, Lake County Audubon Society*, McHenry County Audubon Society, Peoria Audubon Society, Prairie Woods Audubon, Thorn Creek Audubon and Will County Audubon chapters.
- Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ (IDNR) Division of Education Entice Program – This program offers Continuing Professional Development Units for teachers.
- Illinois Native Plant Society – Promotes the study and appreciation of Illinois’ natural vegetation.
- Illinois Ornithological Society – Dedicated to Illinois birds and birding.
- Lake Forest Open Lands – Dedicated to conserving the natural environment through land acquisition, habitat restoration, environmental education, and conservation advocacy.
- Loyola University Institute of Environmental Sustainability* – Provides education, research, and outreach on pressing environmental issues.
- Morton Arboretum – The Morton Arboretum offers classes toward the Naturalist Certificate Program, in ornithology, botany, and much more.
- The Nature Museum – With a long history of connecting people with nature through science, the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum supports many citizen science and conservation research programs such as the Illinois Butterfly Monitoring Network (IBMN), Calling Frog Survey, and Project Squirrel.
- Openlands* – Unites the people and resources of the diverse Chicago metropolitan region around the goal of land and water protection, providing a healthy vibrant space to live and work, e.g., their Openlands Treekeeper program.
- Prairie State Conservation Coalition – A non-profit organization created to assist conservation land trusts, land owners, and communities in their efforts to protect land and water resources in Illinois.
- Shedd Aquarium – Volunteer Opportunities* – Join the Shedd family by becoming a volunteer. If you’re passionate about aquatic life, and you love to learn, teach, and inspire, you’ll be a great volunteer!
- Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter and Sierra Club, Indiana Chapter – The nation’s oldest conservation organization, founded upon local volunteers making a difference.
- STEM Kids Chicago – A guide to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) activities in Chicagoland for tweens, teens, and their families.
- Volunteer Stewardship Network (VSN), The Nature Conservancy* – Sponsored by The Nature Conservancy, this network supports interactive electronic discussion among citizen scientists, technical experts, and land managers.
- Wild Ones – A not for profit organization that promotes environmentally sound landscaping practices to preserve biodiversity through the preservation, restoration, and establishment of native plant communities.
* 2015 Wild Things Conference Supporter
The organizations marked above with a “*” graciously supported the 2015 Wild Things Conference through sponsorship or volunteerism. Citizen Science or Habitat Restoration groups/agencies who additionally contributed to the 2015 conference were:
- Bartel Grassland – A 585-acre prairie restoration project in southern Cook County being restored to native prairie by a coalition of volunteer citizens and professionals.
- Chicago Park District – The leading provider of recreation and leisure opportunities in Chicago by providing safe, inviting, and beautifully maintained parks and facilities prioritizes for the needs of children and families.
- Deer Grove West Natural Areas Volunteers – This group coordinates volunteer workdays at the Deer Grove West Forest Preserve in Cook County.
- Friends of Deer Grove East – Friends of Deer Grove East help conserve Deer Grove East Forest Preserve in Cook County.
- Forest Preserve District of Cook County – Forest Preserves Volunteers describes volunteer opportunities with the Forest Preserve District of Cook County.
- Forest Preserve District of DuPage County – See Volunteer Opportunities within preserves or at Willowbrook Wildlife Center.
- Habitat 2030 – Habitat 2030 is a group of young(ish) volunteers building a culture of 20-30-40-somethings who will preserve, restore, and enjoy our local natural areas long into the future.
- McHenry County Conservation District – Volunteer opportunities exist in environmental education, wildlife and plant monitoring, native prairie plant seed collection, and land stewardship.
- North Branch Restoration Project – This group coordinates volunteer workdays at several sites in Cook County.
- Orland Grassland – A 960-acre preserve in southern Cook County being restored to prairie, wetland, shrubland, and oak savanna by a coalition of volunteer citizens and professionals.
- Plants of Concern – A network of volunteers who monitor rare plants in the Chicago region.
- Somme Prairie Grove – A 90-acre preserve in Northbrook of savanna, prairie, wetland, and oak woodland that has been and is a great restoration success story.
-