The Water Environment Federation (WEF) will help cultivate community engagement and educate Chicago youth about the value of water through the “The Pershing Cultivation Project: Growing Green Gardens and Young Minds.” Organized as a part of WEFTEC 2015 by the Students and Young Professionals Committee, the event is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 26 at Pershing East Magnet School in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood.
During the event, conference and community volunteers will help transform a portion of the school grounds into a learning garden that will serve as an interactive tool for the school’s K-8 students to learn about water, the environment and green infrastructure. Features will include an outdoor classroom and corresponding lesson plans; a permeable path and rain garden to capture and store storm water runoff; and a large traditional garden filled with native prairie grasses and flowers.
To help kick off the project, WEF will also host the third annual Water Palooza educational fair on Friday, Sept. 25. Students, teachers, and parents will be invited to enjoy a day of engaging, hands-on environmental activities provided by nearly 20 water companies, governmental agencies and non-profit organizations from across the country.
The activities provide an invaluable way for WEF to give back to the WEFTEC host city through grassroots solutions that promote environmental stewardship and help raise awareness about the value and importance of water, which is one of the Federation’s strategic objectives. Local and WEF leadership are expected to attend the opening ceremony to share their vision for environmental protection and community involvement and service.
Sponsors include AECOM, ARCADIS U.S. Inc., Bentley Systems, Black & Veatch, Brown and Caldwell, Carollo Engineers, CDM Smith, CH2M, Greeley and Hansen LLC, Hazen & Sawyer, HDR, and Vaughan Co. Inc. The service project donors include Advanced Engineering and Environmental Services, Apex Engineering Group, Christy Webber Landscapes, Chemtrol, Engineering America, Entex Technologies, Environmental Operating Solutions Inc., FKC Screwpress, Lubrizol Advanced Materials Inc., Northwind Perennial Farms, Parsons Corp., Trinity Landscaping and Wigen Cos.
Source: Water Environment Federation
