ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
2019 – Present
Environmental Education engages with students in the Chicago Public School system and spreads knowledge about various topics related to the environment, our relationship with it, and sustainability as a whole. The goal is to enlighten students about ways that they can interact with and help our planet.
Our project group recognizes the importance of turning awareness into pro-environmental behavior. Thus, we also aim to provide students with the tools and resources to more easily engage them in sustainable living and to help them become environmental advocates.
We partner with public and charter schools (K-12) through the Neighborhood Schools Program and teach mini-lectures on climate change, sustainability, food security, natural gardening, and permaculture complemented by hands-on activities (e.g., poster-making, indoor and outdoor gardening, blind-taste tests).
Two project group leaders leading a professor–student sustainability seminar in May, 2025.
In 2025, we continued our teaching program at Gary Comer Youth Center, coming in twice a week and continuing to build upon concepts introduced earlier in the year.
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We also continued teaching sixth graders once a week at Ray Elementary, focusing on hands-on and interactive activities this quarter. In addition to trivia quizzes on the lessons, we incorporated taste tests and seed germination experiments.
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During last school year we also hosted a workshop with West Loop's Bennett Day School and are currently partnering with the Chicago Youths Symphony Orchestra.
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From 2023-2025 have taught tailored lessons to the following schools:
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Ray School
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Gary Comer Youth Center​
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Woodlawn Charter School
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​Dulles Elementary School
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Bennett Day School
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CYSO
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UChicago Charter School
Interactive Activities
Students at Ray Elementary School participated in a bean sprout growing activity. The students measured the plants' growth over time (image left), and they planted their sprouts in the school's garden along with other vegetables.
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Environmental Education also led water testing activities, where students tested the pH and other chemical properties of various water bodies in Hyde Park.
Project Group Leaders Dougie and Sam present on the groups work at the 2024 Sustainability Symposium.
A student's work during in-person instruction (2019)
Garden Club
On May 2nd, 2025, with the help of some passionate middle school students, our group installed three garden beds at the UChicago Charter School’s Woodlawn Campus to kickstart their garden club. The club meets weekly to plant and harvest fresh fruits and vegetables, and to learn how to prepare and cook the food students pick.
This initiative will began again in the 2025-26 academic year. This project is funded thanks to the University of Chicago’s Green Fund.
Environmental Education members for the 2025-26 academic year.
