If you struggle with climate anxiety, volunteering for the Lake County Forest Preserves is a practical thing you can do to help address the future as well as feelings of worry and fear.

Individuals, couples, families and friend groups can all volunteer. So can corporate groups, civic groups, scout troops, religious institutions, book clubs and just about any other organization. Opportunities include removing invasive species, planting trees and collecting native seed.

Another way to contribute is by making a gift to the Preservation Foundation of the Lake County Forest Preserves, the charitable partner of the agency. The most significant effort in the Foundation’s history is in progress: a five-year fundraising campaign to create a $20 million endowment for the Forest Preserves. Returns from investing that principal are expected to be $800,000 annually, which will exclusively support ongoing habitat restoration.

When it comes down to it, the ultimate source of resilience is all of us.

Guests:

Forest Preserves Mentioned:

Selected Links and Sources:

2024 Lake County Forest Preserves referendum

“The average adult spends more than seven hours online – here’s how you can manage your screen time,” Allconnect

“Become a community scientist,” Jen Berlinghof, Lake

Blanding’s Turtle Recovery Program

“The butterfly effect: how tiny actions unleash global consequences,” Farnam Street

Commemorative gifts

Community science monitoring

Group Volunteer Projects

Horizons subscriptions

Horizons (Summer 2024)

“If climate change keeps you up at night, here’s how to cope,” Harvard Medical School

Lake County Seed Collection Guide

“Majority of US adults believe climate change is most important issue today,” American Psychological Association

Preservation Foundation of the Lake County Forest Preserves

Restoration Workday Calendar

Restoration Workday Sites

“Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World,” General Stanley McChrystal

Volunteer Interest Form

Volunteer With Us

***

If you like what the forest preserves do for you, please consider donating to the Preservation Foundation of the Lake County Forest Preserves’ endowment campaign. Your gift will help

Have questions or comments? Send them to [email protected].

This episode of Words of the Woods was written, hosted and produced by Brett Peto, Environmental Communications Specialist at the Lake County Forest Preserves. Featuring research and expertise from Jen Berlinghof, Kelly Burdick, Nels Leutwiler, John Nelson, Kelly Schultz and Rebekah Snyder. Script editing by Jen Berlinghof, Kelly Burdick, Alyssa Firkus, Kevin Kleinjan, Ty Kovach, Jeanna Martinucci, Kim Mikus, Matt Mulligan, John Nelson, Kelly Schultz, Rebekah Snyder, Erika Stergos, Matt Ueltzen and Pati Vitt. Music and sound effects from Storyblocks. Audio editing and mixing by Brett Peto. Episode cover art © Liz Rose Fisher.

Words of the Woods is a production of the Lake County Forest Preserves in Libertyville, Illinois.