Join Us
Day: Meets 2nd Monday of each month
Time: 5:30 pm
Location:
Zoom
Chair: Kim Compton, caldwellk@gmail.com
The Outreach Action team offers speakers through its Speakers’ Bureau on various environmental topics, sponsors the quarterly documentary film series, Green Screen, and is co-organizer of Earth Day. The Team also offers scholarships to high school seniors and advocates for environmental clubs in McHenry County schools. Also, if you’re interested in working on programming ideas for our membership, helping us diversify our organization and helping to grow our numbers through tabling opportunities and other avenues, this is the committee for you.
Earth Day Celebration – The Defenders co-sponsors this annual Earth Day event at Prairieview Education Center in collaboration with the McHenry County Conservation District. Booths by “green” vendors, including several Defenders’ tables, included as well as nature hikes, live music, puppet shows and food trucks. 10AM to 4PM.
Environmental Documentaries – GREEN SCREEN Environmental Documentary Film Series brings local and global issues to the screen at the Luecht Conference Center. This quarterly series is co-sponsored with McHenry County College Sustainability Center. Films are 4th Monday of the month in January, April, July & October. 7PM, doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Environmental Clubs – Defenders advocates for environmental clubs (and classes) in our schools throughout McHenry County and advise on starting a club and work with existing clubs on programming. Student membership in The Defenders
Speakers’ Bureau – The Defenders offers speakers for groups, such as businesses, schools, scouts, Rotary Clubs, retirement communities on many topics concerning the environment and sustainability. Donation to Defenders of $50 appreciated.
Latino-Hispanic Outreach – as part of an ongoing project encompassing general Defenders’ work and other committee projects, educational outreach to this underrepresented community within The Defenders’ family is organized.
Environmental Scholarships – Each year, The Defenders offers scholarships of $1,000 to two outstanding high school seniors planning to pursue college studies related to environmental science, conservation or related field.
Without our dedicated members who volunteer and help fund our organization through their annual membership contributions, we would not be able to operate. While we have been working to preserve, protect and educate since 1970, we still need to reach many more people and spread our roots throughout our beautiful county.
Our programming brings special events and opportunities to all of our members, including young professionals and students, families, seniors as well as business members. Our Membership Committee is also very involved with the annual Environmental Defenders’ Annual Dinner.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
The Margaret Marchi Environmental Library
What, exactly, is conservation design? What is in those sprays for mosquitoes? Which native plants would work in my yard? What are some realistic energy alternatives? What can I do to protect water quality? What are the county’s policies on environmental issues? What is the State of the World?
These types of questions can be answered by using the Defenders’ library, created by founding member, Margaret Marchi, and maintained by our dedicated volunteers. Our library is a great resource, and the best environmental library in Northern Illinois. The library is open to our members as well as the public during normal office hours. This service encourages research and greater understanding of environmental issues.