URBANA, Ill. — Discover the power of working with nature. University of Illinois Extension’s natural resources series, Everyday Environment, returns with two live, free webinars exploring how anyone can apply nature-based solutions to help address environmental challenges. The series explores the intricate web of connections in the natural world through podcasts, blogs, webinars, and videos.
The first session, Ecology at Your Home, will be at 1 p.m. on Aug. 13. Refresh your knowledge of biology and ecology and learn how to increase the ecological value of outdoor spaces with this back-to-basics session on applied ecology. Discover ways to turn any landscape into an oasis that is the envy of neighbors with this presentation by Abigail Garofalo, Extension state Master Naturalist specialist. Sign up for free at go.illinois.edu/ecologyatyourhome.
Community Science in Your Backyard will be at 1 p.m. on Oct. 1. Everyday observations of nature are just as important to science as big discoveries. Anyone can contribute important data from the comfort of a backyard or a local park to help scientists better understand the natural world with tools such as iNaturalist, eBird, Budburst, and CoCoRaHS. Presented by Amy Lefringhouse and Erin Garrett, Extension natural resources, environment, and energy educators. Sign up at go.illinois.edu/communityscienceinbackyard.
If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in these webinars, contact Erin Garrett at emedvecz@illinois.edu. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs. All sessions are recorded and available to watch on Extension’s YouTube account within a few weeks.
To connect with Extension natural resources, environment, and energy staff about a program or for a consultation, visit go.illinois.edu/NREEstaff. Extension’s natural resources, environment, and energy program provides research-based education for awareness and action to sustain healthy environments and ecosystems that support quality living and resilient communities. Extension staff empower people across Illinois to make a difference through the Master Naturalist, Climate Steward, and Watershed Steward volunteer and training programs.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 500 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through five program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, health and community wellness, and natural resources, environment, and energy.