A workshop to learn, share and collaborate on climate action in the Chicago Wilderness region

Presented by the Chicago Wilderness Climate Change Task Force

Monday, November 6, 2017, 9 am – 3:30 pm
at the Lincoln Park Zoo
Chicago IL

A one-day workshop for everyone working on conservation in the Chicago Wilderness region.

We discussed climate impacts in the region as well as current climate-related efforts to increase the region’s health and resiliency for people and nature.  We worked together to identify assets find specific areas of collaboration to move climate action forward in the near-term.

If you were able to join us, thank you for taking part!

What’s next?

Join us as we plan for greater climate action in the Chicago Wilderness region.

12/8/17   CW Climate Education & Engagement Working Group meeting
animalia project, 1770 W. Berteau Ave,   Suite 404, Chicago IL
RSVP to ask ~at~ animaliaproject ~dot~ org

1/2018    CW Climate Change Committee meeting
date and location to be determined.
for more information, send a note to susan at this address:  ask ~at~ animaliaproject ~dot~ org

 

find workshop details and follow-up information below

More about projects discussed at the conference

projects discussed

Many of the projects discussed by presenters are collected here.  If anything is missing, please contact Susan at ask ~at~ animaliaproject ~ dot~ org

from the morning sessions:

Great Lakes water levels from GLERL

Sucker fish research project with citizen scientists at Shedd Aquarium

Adaptation Workbook for urban trees

Space to Grow: greening Chicago Schoolyards, with MWRD and others

Crystal Green fertilizer / phosphorus recovery system at MWRD

Climate Action Toolkit from the Field Museum

Connect! community + climate + action tools used at Brookfield Zoo

from the afternoon sessions:

Chicago Wilderness and CW Reports on climate change, biodiversity and more

Channeling Change:  Making Collective Impact Work

Southeast Conservation Adaptation Strategy with 5 Landscape Conservation Collaboratives

National Fish, Wildlife & Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy from USFWS & NOAA

Yale University Program on Climate Change Communication

George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication

 

Agenda

Registration 8:30 – 9:00 am

Morning Session: Part 1 [9:00-10:15 am]

Welcome and Introduction

Best Available Science

Overview of current and expected changes in climate: Jim Angel, Illinois State Water Survey, Prairie Research Institute

Impacts to plants and animals: Abigail Derby Lewis, The Field Museum

Impacts to humans: Ashwin Ravikumar, The Field Museum

Impacts to Great Lakes water levels: Phil Willink, The Shedd Aquarium

Morning Session: Part 2 [10:30-11:50 am]

Taking Action (75-min session with 5-min presentations on recent climate action)

Climate impacts to nature

Rebecca Grill, Park District of Highland Park

Karen Murchie, The Shedd Aquarium

Katherine Moore Powell, The Field Museum

Lydia Scott, The Morton Arboretum

Desi Robertson-Thompson, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Phil Willink, The Shedd Aquarium

Municipal policy landscape

Deborah Shore, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District

Jack Eskin, City of Gary, Dept. of Planning & Redevelopment

John Dickert, Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative

Engagement and outreach

Susan Ask, Animalia Project

Mario Longoni, The Field Museum

André Copeland, Chicago Zoological Society

Lunch [11:50-1:00 pm]   Lunch on your own, please pack a lunch or enjoy a nearby restaurant (scroll down for a list).

Afternoon Session [1:00-3:30 pm]

Climate considerations for landscape scale conservation: Next steps for the Chicago Wilderness Alliance, John Rogner, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Facilitated small group breakout topics:

1) Tracking and measuring climate-related data for natural resource management

2) Developing best practices for regional and shared messaging on climate change

3) Designing communities with climate-informed stormwater considerations in mind

4) Collaborating on climate change research questions for urban ecology

Wrap up and adjourn [3:30 pm]

Download the full agenda:

Shifting Climate Workshop full agenda

On social media?  Use hashtag :  #CWClimate17

speakers and facilitators at CW Climate Change Workshop

Jim Angel, Illinois State Water Survey, Prairie Research Institute – State Climatologist – researches climate related subjects for the State of Illinois

Dr. Abigail Derby Lewis, The Field Museum – Senior Conservation Ecologist, Senior Region Senior Program Manager – works on a variety of projects from climate change adaptation to monarch conservation

Dr. Ashwin Ravikumar, The Field Museum –Environmental Social Scientist – puts his efforts into improving people’s well-being through conservation

Dr. Phil Willink, The Shedd Aquarium – Senior Research Biologist – works in the field to evaluate list of threatened and endangered species

Rebecca Grill, Park District of Highland Park – Natural Areas Director at Highland Park District, Rebecca leads and oversees Ravine restoration in the North Shore communities

Dr. Karen Murchie, The Shedd Aquarium – Research Biologist and instructor focusing on fish migration and the fish ecology of the Great Lakes.

Dr. Katherine Moore Powell, The Field Museum – Climate Change Ecologist working on applicable climate change adaptation for Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Lydia Scott, The Morton Arboretum – Director of the Chicago Region Trees Initiative. Lydia works on tree ecology in urban settings

Dr. Desi Robertson-Thompson, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore – Research Coordinator, Great Lakes Research & Education Center at National Park Service researches various insect communities and ecosystems, lately focusing on ephemeral wetlands.

Deborah Shore, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, Commissioner

Jack Eskin, City of Gary, Dept. of Planning & Redevelopment, Deputy Director – oversees land use planning, sub area planning, brownfield redevelopment, vacant land management, building deconstruction in the City of Gary.

John Dickert, Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, President and Chief Executive Officer

Susan Ask, Animalia Project – Director and Founder ecologist and who engages in research and education

Mario Longoni, The Field Museum- Urban Anthropology Manager who researches people’s attitudes toward environment and obstacles to using natural areas

André Copeland, Chicago Zoological Society, Interpretive Programs Manager at Brookfield Zoo and Chicago Zoological Society

Practical matters about the workshop

Registration reached capacity

Free

Transportation

Location

Lincoln Park Zoo at the Laflin Administration Building in the Ann Milligan Gray Conference Room 2001 N. Clark St (at Armitage Ave), Chicago IL

By train or bus

The workshop is easy to reach by public transit; use the route planner to chart your own path.

Bus
Bus #151 or #156 will drop you by the east door (Stockton & Armitage)
Bus #22 stops at the front door (Clark & Armitage)
Bus #73 travels along Armitage to the Zoo

El train
Brown/Purple line: Armitage stop is a 15 minute walk to the Zoo or a 5 minute ride on Bus #73
Red line: North Ave stop is a 25 minute walk to the Zoo

By bike

Bike racks are readily available.  If riding the Lakefront Trail, exit at Fullerton, then travel south on Stockton.

Divvy bike stations in several nearby locations, for short-term bike rental.

By car

Parking is available at 2400 N. Cannon Drive (at Fullerton Parkway) for $20 – $35; open from 6 am to 11 pm.  Street parking is possible, but difficult to get, within Lincoln Park.

Carpooling is encouraged– for more conversation, lower emissions, fewer cars, less cost.

More details from the Lincoln Park Zoo’s website

Lunch

Lunch is on your own.  Bring your own lunch and picnic indoors or at the zoo.  Or, dine out.

Here are some restaurants within easy walking distance:

Park Place Café – Lincoln Park Zoo.   Sandwiches, salads, burgers, and more.  Vegetarian meals available. Cafe style seating.

R.J. Grunts – 2056 N Lincoln Park W. Sandwiches, burgers, soups, salads, and more.  Vegetarian burgers and vegan chili available.

SaiMai Thai – 338 W Armitage Ave.  Thai curries, noodles, and more.  Vegetarian and vegan meals available.

A little further away, just north of Fullerton on Clark:

Cupbop + Ramen – 2439 N Clark Ave.  Korean and Japanese cupbop, bibimbop, ramen, and more.  Vegetarian and vegan meals available.

Sultan’s Market – 2521 N Clark Ave.  Middle Eastern sandwiches, soups, salads, and more. Vegetarian and vegan meals available.

Chopo Chicken – 2460 N Clark Ave.  Peruvian bowls with quinoa, rice and toppings, and more.  Vegetarian and vegan meals available.

Sustainability

We tried hard to plan a workshop with a small climate footprint.

Thank you for bringing your own mug for a cup of coffee or tea in the morning and considering taking public transit or carpooling to the workshop.

Take a hike

While you’re here, we hope you enjoyed  Nature’s Boardwalk and the Zoo.

The planning committee includes representatives of these organizations: Alliance for the Great Lakes, Animalia Project, The Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Lincoln Park Zoo, The Wetlands Initiative and US Geological Survey.

updated:  11/8/17