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Bolingbrook
Why We Are Here: Earth Force’s long standing partnership with General Motors prompted the GREEN program’s establishment in Bolingbrook, a small community established southwest of Chicago, within the East DuPage River watershed. The river is 25 miles long draining about 82 square miles. The main concerns of this watershed include preserving habitat biodiversity and preventing runoff contamination. The Bolingbrook Parks District just began work with the local GM Customer Care and Aftersales facility, involving Wood View Elementary school students in exploration of the DuPage River Watershed.
Demographics: 6.8%of families were below poverty level throughout Bolingbrook. According to the 2006-2008 American Community Survey, the racial composition of Bolingbrook was: • White: 56.13% • Black or African American: 18.69% • Native American: 0.32% • Asian: 9.46% • Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: 0.10 % • Some other race: 12.27 % • Two or more races: 3.13% • Hispanic or Latino (of any race): 23.02% Source: American FactFinder, United States Census Bureau. "Bolingbrook, Illinois - ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates: 2006-2008". Factfinder.census.gov. link. Retrieved 2010.
What We Are Doing: The Bolingbrook GREEN program is one of our newest! The Bolingbrook Parks District works with GM mentors to train the next generation of environmental stewards in this region through ecology, water monitoring and invasive species action projects that preserve the parks spaces that benefit this community. GM volunteer mentors are participating in water monitoring in the fall and spring, and two teachers from Woodview Elementary were trained in the the Earth Force six step investigation-to-action process with the help of the Chicago Field Museum. The fall water monitoring days at Hidden Oaks Nature Center were structured around three core content areas; chemical testing, invertebrate analysis and a wetland habitat exploration. Spring programming occurred at Winston Woods natural area and involved water monitoring focusing on a woodland stream habitat. The 4th graders also took part in a service learning opportunity by learning the importance of eradicating invasive species and then clearing garlic mustard, buckthorn and honeysuckle. Bolingbrook Parks District hopes to expand the program beyond Wood View to the rest of the school district in years to come.
Earth Force History in this Community: The Bolingbrook GM GREEN program started in 2010 and has great potential for growth and impact. Number of Youth: 106 Number of Educators: 4 Participating Partners: General Motors – www.gm.com Bolingbrook Parks District - http://www.bolingbrookparks.org/ Field Museum Earth Force Program - http://www.fieldmuseum.org/research_collections/ecp/cons_edu.htm
Participating School Districts: Valley View Community Unit School District 365U - http://www.vvsd.org/
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