Forest Preserve Foundation Inc

DIRECT SUPPORT OF PROGRAMS THAT ALIGN WITH THE MISSION OF THE FOREST PRESERVE FOUNDATION.REPRESENTATIVE GRANTS INCLUDE:SPRING LAKE NATURE PRESERVE RESTORATION PROJECT A GRANT TO THE FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF COOK COUNTY TO COMPLETE REMOVAL OF A DENSE THICKET OF INVASIVE SHRUBS, PRIMARILY BUCKTHORN (RHAMNUS CATHARTICA) ALONG SPRING CREEK.IN SPRING LAKE NATURE PRESERVE, LOCATED IN BARRINGTON HILLS, IL, JUST SOUTH OF COUNTY LINE ROAD. (13,500)CONSERVATION CORPS PROGRAMS - PROVIDED EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO NEXT-GENERATION ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERS THROUGH THE CONSERVATION CORPS PROGRAMS - THE CHICAGO CONSERVATION LEADERSHIP CORPS PROGRAM (CCLC) AND THE FOREST PRESERVE EXPERIENCE PROGRAM (FPE).CHICAGO CONSERVATION LEADERSHIP CORPS PROGRAM (CCLC) - A CONSERVATION CORPS PROGRAM OF THE FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF COOK COUNTY FOR HIGH SCHOOL AGE STUDENTS. FPDCC ENGAGED 40 YOUTH, AGES 14-19 YEARS OLD, IN PAID EMPLOYMENT TO CONDUCT HANDS-ON CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES AND LEARN BASIC JOB SKILLS IN THE FIVE-WEEK SUMMER JOBS PROGRAMS. YOUTH CONTRIBUTED A MINIMUM OF 5,500 HOURS OF ON-THE-GROUND ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION, TRAIL IMPROVEMENT OR GARDENING WORK AND RECEIVED A MINIMUM OF 30 HOURS OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND NATURE-BASED RECREATION EXPERIENCES. PARTICIPANTS WERE RECRUITED FROM THROUGHOUT COOK COUNTY. THE PROGRAM IS MANAGED BY THE FOREST PRESERVES OF COOK COUNTY, RESOURCE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT. ($105,000)THE FOREST PRESERVE EXPERIENCE PROGRAM (FPE) - A CONSERVATION CORPS PROGRAM OF THE FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF COOK COUNTY THIS IS A FIVE-WEEK SUMMER JOBS PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES PAID EMPLOYMENT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHOSE FAMILIES UTILIZE THE SERVICES OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OF COOK COUNTY. FPDCC ENGAGED 72 YOUTH IN THE FOREST PRESERVE EXPERIENCE WHO CONTRIBUTED A MINIMUM OF 7,000 UP TO 8,100 HOURS OF ON-THE-GROUND ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION WORK, WHICH INCLUDED MANAGING INVASIVE SPECIES, COLLECTING AND DISPERSING NATIVE SEED, AND RECEIVE A MINIMUM OF 30 HOURS OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND NATURE-BASED RECREATION EXPERIENCES. ($20,000)RESTORATION OF SWEET WOODS; FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF COOK COUNTY FINAL PAYMENT TO THE FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF COOK COUNTY FOR THE COMPLETION OF 2-YEAR GRANT TO RESTORE ACRES OF NATIVE UPLANDS AND WETLANDS ECOSYSTEMS IN SWEET WOODS FOREST PRESERVE, A HIGH-PRIORITY CONSERVATION AREA FOR THE FOREST PRESERVES OF COOK COUNTY. SWEET WOODS IS A 300-ACRE PRESERVE LOCATED IN GLENWOOD, THORNTON, AND LANSING, ILLINOIS. 227 ACRES WAS RESTORED. THIS WORK IS PART OF THE ONGOING RESTORATION OF SWEET WOODS, THE LARGEST-SCALE RESTORATION PROJECT IN THE FOUNDATIONS HISTORY. ($16,566.12) VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION PROGRAM - A GRANT TO THE FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF COOK COUNTY TO SUPPORT THE VOLUNTEER RESOURCES DEPARTMENTS 2023 VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION PROGRAM. ($1,800)