SETF serves both children and adults through our Civic and Environmental Education program. We hope to see Southeast Side residents educated about issues that affect the health of their environment, be able to contribute to the redevelopment of the region, and respond to environmental threats.

Students living in the Calumet region of Chicago have the ultimate outdoor laboratory right in their backyards. SETF works with high school classrooms and environmental clubs to involve students in grassroots efforts to protect the environment. We will soon offer a range of classroom and teacher training opportunities including a toxics to treasures tour curriculum, service learning opportunities, and more.

School Chapters
Environmental clubs that show strong interest and commitment to local issues can become a SETF Student Chapter. Participating students qualify for internships and scholarships provided by SETF and our partners.

Participating schools to date: Seton Academy, St. Francis de Sales High School.

Marian R. Byrnes Scholarships
Seven scholarships totaling $5,600 have been awarded to students participating in our education programs since 2003. Take a look a Online degrees.

Partnerships
Our partners are engaged in major efforts to link students with the Calumet. The Field Museum involves students from third grade through high school through Mighty Acorns, Earth Force and UrbanWatch programs. BOLD, Chicago's city-wide public high school leadership program has teamed up with local partners to create the Calumet Is My Backyard (CIMBY) program that integrates leadership training with service-learning opportunities focused on conservation stewardship work. The Calumet Ecological Park Association (CEPA) is a grassroots organization that offers educational and restoration opportunities for residents (adults and children) to get involved in.

To better coordinate the educational and stewardship programs offered by all providers including IDNR, Chicago Park District, Cook County Forest Preserve District and others, the Chicago Department of Environment initiated the Calumet Stewardship Initiative (CSI) in 2001.

The CSI publishes a menu of events listing a wide range of educational and environmental stewardship opportunities for students, families, and adults.

The CSI also coordinates the annual Calumet Stewardship Day.

Sustaining the Initiative
The partners are strategizing how to create an experiential learning continuum that will provide a full range of environmental education opportunities to students from pre-school through college. Plans are also being developed to sustain educational efforts by equipping local groups with the necessary tools and knowledge to involve students in grassroots efforts.

Creating a learning continuum
SETF is working with our partners to fit the following programs into the Calumet experiential learning continuum:

• Toxics to Treasures Tour curriculum for middle and high school students;
• The East Side Dust Study involving high school students, residents, and Chicago State University with Wright College
• Chicago State University's Premat Program

SETF will soon host workshops for community members at the Calumet Initiative office. Topics will be selected based on the requests of members and area residents. Possibilities include:

• environmental health: asthma, lead, asbestos, pesticides, treated lumber;
• energy efficiency: home energy efficiency audits, rebate programs and purchase incentives;
• household hazardous waste;
• composting and recycling;
• backyard soil contamination.