Calumet Is My Back Yard (CIMBY) is helping ’s South Side and Northwest Participating schools include Bogan High School, Bowen High School, Brooks College Prep, Carver Indiana high school students become the Military Academy, for next generation of environmental leaders. Agricultural Sciences, CICS Larry Hawkins, CIMBY strengthens and connects the Collins High School, , Fenger Lake Calumet region’s human and natural High School, Hammond Clark, Harlan Community communities through place-based education Academy, Morgan Park, Simeon Career Academy, and stewardship. George Washington, and Westville High School.

The Calumet Region

WIIS CIMBY improves academic MCH

I-290 IILL IIND Chicago 4 success. Cicero L a k e M i c h i g a n I-9 I-55

• Provides locally-focused, real-world place- MICHIGAN Indiana Dunes National Trail INDIANA Lakeshore Creek based science education. Oak Lawn Grand Calumet River Little Calumet River I-94

• Reaches out to students who face enormous 4 Gary

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I C o o k La Porte C o u n t y challenges from limited school resources and Hammond I-80 / I-94 I-80

Salt L a P o r t e the threat of violence in their neighborhoods. Creek C o u n t y

Valparaiso Calumet Region

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-6 County Line • Sparks enthusiasm for science, technology, I Protected Lands S A

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W i l l A N I I D C o u n t y L Local/Regional Government N L I engineering, and mathematics (STEM) I P o r t e r C o u n t y NGO or Private L a k e Rivers 0 2.5 5 10 education. Miles C o u n t y ± Roads • Teaches important civic and 21st century work skills including critical thinking, Find us in the field: restoring, exploring, and problem solving, and creativity. protecting Calumet Natural Areas: Beaubien Engaging the next generation of Woods, Dan Ryan Woods, Dolton Ave Prairie, Chicago’s environmental leaders Eggers Woods, Hegewisch Marsh, Indiana Dunes, CIMBY makes an Kickapoo Prairie, Kinder Morgan Prairie, Olive environmental impact. Harvey Wetland, Powderhorn Prairie, Sand Ridge Nature Center , Whistler Woods., • Heals damaged ecosystems through Willam Powers Conservation Area, Rainbow ecological restoration practices. Beach, Ambler Flatwoods, Van Vlissingen, • Removes invasive species and sows and Wolf Lake. native plant seeds. FOR MORE INFORMATION • Monitors ecological health. • Connects stewardship to larger ALUMET environmental issues in C the region and VISIT: the country. www.fieldmuseum.org/cimby IS CONTACT: Samantha Ozik Y M Civic Engagement and Service Learning Initiative ACK 501 W. 35th Street | Chicago, IL 60616 B [email protected] | 773.553.6386 YARD CIMBY engages high school CIMBY Special Events CIMBY Summer Internships students and teachers in CIMBY offers six major events over the course Students who successfully complete the full of the year which bring together students from CIMBY school year are eligible to participate the Calumet region in all participating high schools. These include: in paid summer environmental internships educational activities and • a kick-off day of restoration and exploration with established environmental organizations at the Indiana Dunes in the Chicago area. Interns have previously experiences that connect been placed at the Chicago State University’s • a Biodiversity Day at the Sand Ridge Aquaponics Center, the Sierra Club, Friends classroom learning with Nature Center and Forest Preserves of the Parks, Sand stewardship opportunities. • a CIMBY Student Leadership Retreat to the Ridge Nature Center, and the Little Village University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point Environmental Justice Organization. The Field • an Environmental Leadership and Careers Museum offers additional opportunities for nine Conference at The Field Museum Environmental Leadership Interns funded by • a guided Toxics to Treasures tour of the the Ford Motor Company. Calumet region and workshop, • the CIMBY Science Summit at The Field Museum.

CIMBY in the Classroom CIMBY offers engaging curriculum that meets next generation science standards and Common Core state standards, professional development and model curriculum and activity implementation for teachers to use with their students in the classroom.

CIMBY in the Field CIMBY Student Leaders Through a series of field trips, students perform Select high school students enrich their ecological restoration at adopted natural sites. CIMBY experience by participating in special Founded in 1999, CIMBY is a joint program of Students monitor biodiversity and water and soil events and opportunities which allow them Chicago Public Schools (CPS), The Field Museum’s quality in prairie, woodland and wetland sites. to take on leadership roles. Student Leaders Science Action Center, Dunes Learning Center and Students remove invasive species and perform host stewardship activities in the field, attend Shirley Heinze Land Trust. additional stewardship tasks that are aligned with city-wide conferences, present their work site management plans. Students also participate to stakeholders in Calumet, and use their in exploration activities, helping them to build a expertise to train the next generation of stronger connection to their adopted natural area. environmental caretakers.