Chicago Wilderness Alliance

Thank you to the Forest Preserve District of Kane County for helping make Congress 2026 possible! 💚

This year, we’re celebrating 30 years of collaboration and progress with the theme Growing Forward Together. Join us November 6 at the College of Lake County for a day of learning, connection, and partnership-building.

Early bird registration is just $60 through October 1: https://www.chicagowilderness.org/page/alliance_congress

Let’s grow forward together!

Action Alert: Chicago Collisions Coalition Seeks Support For Bird-Friendly Building Design Ordinance

Bird-window collisions kill over 1 billion birds each year in the United States. Installing bird friendly building technology works – reducing/preventing bird deaths due to collisions – whether applied as new construction or retrofits.

The Chicago City Zoning Committee will be meeting on 9/22 and the proposed bird friendly building ordinance may be examined and discussed. The Chicago Collisions Coalition is seeking support to pass this ordinance.

Individuals and organizations are invited to spread the word on social media networks or promote using the tools on the Chicago Collisions Coalition website.

Learn how you can help raise awareness, take action and sign on as an organizational supporter: https://chicagocollisionscoalition.org/

The Bird Conservation Network (https://www.bcnbirds.org/) submitted this action alert request.

Thank you to the College of Lake County for hosting Congress 2026 on Friday, November 6! Join us as we mark 30 years of collaboration and progress with this year’s theme: Growing Forward Together. Dive into 30+ sessions led by experts in conservation, restoration, sustainable agriculture, and traditional ecological knowledge. This is your opportunity to exchange ideas, build partnerships, and help shape the next chapter for our region’s natural landscapes.

Learn more and secure your spot at the early bird rate of $60 before October 1: https://www.chicagowilderness.org/page/alliance_congress

Looking for hands-on learning? Congress 2026 field trips are happening Thursday, November 5—free to attend, but space is limited. Explore local sites and connect with peers in the field.

Learn more and reserve your field trip spot: https://www.chicagowilderness.org/page/Congress2026FieldTrips

Let’s celebrate our shared achievements and set the course for a resilient, thriving future. We can’t wait to see you there!

GREEN DRINKS - CHICAGOLAND WEST EVENT
DATE+TIME: Wednesday, August 19 at 6:30 PM
LOCATION: Noon Whistle Lombard Brewpub @ 800 E. Roosevelt Rd., Lombard, IL 60148
TOPIC: Nature Is Not Optional: Why Environment is the Original Health Infrastructure
SPEAKER: Dr. Sheetal Rao, Assistant Professor Clinical Medicine and Co-Founder of Nordson Green Earth Foundation

Dr. Rao's presentation will discuss how protecting nature makes us healthier. You will learn about the 'biodiversity hypothesis'—the fascinating link between a diverse natural environment and a strong immune system. We will look at what is currently threatening our local ecosystems, how nature loss is tied to historical inequities and how it can impact individual and community health. Most importantly, we will discover real, local solutions. We will see how nature-based projects create multiple health, environmental and social benefits for everyone, including a look at Miyawaki forests—tiny, fast-growing native forests that we can plant right here in our own community spaces.

RSVP to Green Drinks - Chicagoland West: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe6rXJyubQ4Q3crNEqwslRJnIBOa61zxzd_Is3s9RH6OgxEVg/viewform

And follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/greendrinkscw.