Community Outreach

LRMG is committed to social responsibility within our service area communities. We are always looking for better ways to integrate area development and environmental concerns to ensure a healthy community for today and the future.

We demonstrate this commitment by sponsoring many non-profit conservation efforts as well as organizing various environmental appreciation events. The following represent recent examples of some of our community outreach activities.

Earth Day 2009

The fourth and fifth graders (about 180 students) of Crete Elementary School participated in an Earth Day event at the future site of the Crete Community Nature Park. Located just a half mile from the school on Holland Company’s property, students excitedly arrived to study the wetland ecology and biodiversity in their own freshwater marsh. The employees at LRMG led hands-on programs encouraging the kids to observe and interact with the different species big and small that together create a functioning ecosystem. The students all received native plugs to identify and plant along the edge of the marsh. Another program encouraged them to stop and listen to the sounds of nature that might normally be ignored. The most popular event involved drawing and studying the various macro-invertebrates caught in the wetland.

Overall, the day was a huge success from the students for whom the program was created to the volunteers from Holland Company who helped make it happen. Afterward, the teachers expanded upon the day’s activities by having students put together slide shows about what they learned. We hope to work with the school district in the future on more programs promoting environmental education.

Career Fairs 2009

This spring LRMG participated in local career fairs at both Crete-Monee High School and Crete Elementary School. Our gifted graphic artist, Amber Ahlborn, presented information to the students on what it is like to be a graphic artist and how to become one. Bringing along impressive visual examples of what she creates regularly for LRMG, she explained how graphics and the environment are important, and answered other questions from the students.

Presentation at Crete Public Library

LRMG presented “Eco-Friendly Landscaping” at Crete Public Library. This was a part of the library’s month long series of lectures and events focusing on “going green” during April. LRMG also put together a display case in the main hall for the month, covering the effects of invasive species and how they are being controlled at the future Crete Community Nature Park.

The talk emphasized how everyone can make a difference with the choices they make at home to lessen their impact on the environment. The main issue today is the intelligent management of water to ensure its quality and abundance for future generations while minimizing the damage it causes.  We can help manage water by using rain barrels, creating rain gardens, and landscaping with native plants. There are many reasons to use native plants since they don’t require additional watering. You benefit because Native Plants:

• Reduces pollution
• Conserves natural resources
• Maximizes ecological function
• Looks attractive
• Saves time and money

 

Native Habitat Posters

The graphic design and ecological staff of LRMG created an original three part environmental education poster series entitled “Native Prairies and Wetlands of Northeast Illinois.” The posters feature prairie and wetland ecosystems that are native to the Kankakee River Basin. The posters are featured at the Willowhaven Nature Center located at 1451 N. 4000 E. Road, Kankakee, IL 60901 and the Kankakee Soil and Water Conservation District located at 685 Larry Power Road, Bourbonnais, IL 60914. Proceeds from the sale of poster prints go to various foundations focused on environmental education.



Bourbonnais Township Park District-Prairie Garden Installation

Recently, LRMG planted an interpretive native prairie garden at the Bourbonnais Township Park District’s Willow Haven Nature Center. Design and installation was performed by the landscape architecture and restoration management teams of LRMG. Plant plugs were generously donated by the Horse Creek Natives collection of Essex Nursery Inc. [ENI].