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Gardening, planting and caring for trees, and native landscaping are among the things we do best at Openlands. So if you’ve got a green thumb, we can help you use it—if you don't, we can help you get one. Click on the links below to find out more.

• Building Urban Gardens (BUGs) lets you create your own organic oasis in the city.
• The Green Teacher Network (GTN) is a terrific resource for educators who want to turn their school garden or classroom windowsill into a living laboratory.
• TreeKeepers train to become stewards of the urban forest. 
• And our Native Habitats project shows you how to plant with species native to the Chicagoland region.

Catering to a wide range of interests and skill levels, Openlands’ innovative school programs cultivate the curiosity of both budding and seasoned conservationists:

• Join the Green Teacher Network (GTN), a resource for educators who want to turn their school garden or classroom windowsill into a living laboratory.
• Or get involved in Building School Gardens, which offers assistance in school garden design, installation, and curriculum support.

Whichever you choose, Openlands school programs offer professional-level teaching from experts in their field. Click on the links above to find out more—and don't forget to pack an apple for the teacher.

Openlands relies on volunteers to accomplish important conservation goals throughout northeastern Illinois and the surrounding region. Moreover, we offer classes that provide specialized training to help prepare you for these activities. Click on the links below to find out more about how you can get involved with us:

• Immerse your mind—and your feet—in the rich ecology of our region’s many creeks and streams by becoming a StreamLeaders volunteer;
• Try your hand as a TrailKeeper, volunteers who help clean, clear, and monitor local waterways; or
• Join the cadre of canoeist and kayakers who Paddle-A-Trail, exploring the region’s rivers, creeks, and Lake Michigan and providing useful condition updates for safer paddling.

Also, don't forget about our signature TreeKeepers and Building Urban Gardens (BUGs) classes, both of which afford additional volunteer opportunities. (Please note: you needn't have completed TreeKeepers or BUGs training to partcipate in workdays and other related events.)

What are you waiting for? Join us today!

Just about everything we do at Openlands aims to protect land and water resources in northeastern Illinois and the surrounding region. Click on the links below to find out what we're doing in your community.

• Our Land Preservation program offers a wide range of conservation services, including land acquisition and planning, conservation easements, and wetland restoration, which have helped local governments and private landowners alike save more than 15,000 acres of open space, valued at over $500 million.
• Greenways projects safeguard and expand land and water trails for biking, hiking, paddling, and other recreational and educational opportunities throughout the Chicagoland area, as well as parts of northwestern Indiana and southeastern Wisconsin.
• Policy initiatives address issues such as farmland protection, water supply and quality, and local and state land acquisition.
• Community Greening creates lush oases in diverse urban communities through urban forestry, neighborhood open space planning, and other innovative projects.
• And even special projects, such as the Burnham Plan Centennial and the Openlands Lakeshore Preserve, help protect open space and natural areas for generations to come.

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