Openlands

Openlands is proud to announce the creation of The Negaunee Opportunity Fund with a $3 million gift from The Negaunee Foundation. The Fund will support Openlands’ land acquisition transactions across the region, including ongoing acquisitions at Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge. Openlands Board Chair, JoAnn Seagren shared, "With diminishing private funds available specifically for land acquisition, The Negaunee Foundation has established itself as a philanthropic leader and champion for nature." Full release: https://lnkd.in/gRDgSEsP

Today is the big day! Trees & Tacos will kick off at 2 pm at Thatcher Woods. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to network and learn more about green jobs. Event info: https://ow.ly/BUqx50Thzkl #TreesAndTacos #ArboricultureFair #2024

The latest print edition of Openlander is now available on our website! Dive into our Spring/Summer 2024 feature, "A Network of Living Land and Water," where we explore how greenways, water trails, and other natural spaces connect us all. Access the PDF version on our site to learn more: https://ow.ly/5abr50TgVri.

🌳 Ready to Branch Out Your Career? Join us this Friday, September 6, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. for Trees & Tacos: Arboricultural Career Fair. This event of The Morton Arboretum will be held at Thatcher Woods Pavilion, River Forest🌲🌿 🌟 Explore career opportunities in arboriculture, meet industry professionals, and discover how you can help shape a greener future. Plus, enjoy delicious tacos while you network! The first 100 participants will get free tacos. Openlands is a proud partner and will be participating in the event program. Register now and learn more: https://ow.ly/k04L50TfTp0

🌿 Get Your Tickets Now! 🌿 Join us for the 2024 Openlands Annual Luncheon on Thursday, October 17, at Hilton Chicago. Be part of the largest gathering of the conservation community in the region! 🌍 This year, we're thrilled to honor Arnold L. Randall with the Gerald W. Adelmann Conservation Leadership Award and welcome Dr. J. Drew Lanham as our keynote speaker. 🎉 🎟️ Tickets and sponsorships are available now. Don’t miss this chance to support nature and conservation efforts! Visit Openlands Annual Luncheon for details: https://ow.ly/zzyj50Tfzkk #OpenlandsAnnualLuncheon #ConserveNatureForLife #2024

🌳We're excited to announce that registration is now open for the Fall 2024 TreeKeepers Course! Become an Openlands Certified TreeKeeper and deepen your knowledge of urban forestry in the Chicago region.🌿The course runs from October 6 to October 30—don’t miss your chance to join us! Reserve your spot today and learn more on our TreeKeepers page: https://ow.ly/py4b50TeVk7 #TreeKeepers

Attention Lake County residents! Join Bombus on September 14 at Compass Lane Farms for their special "Native Plant Know-How Event" market and learning event! 🌿 Bombus will be selling native seeds, plants, trees, and shrubs grown on-site, with 10% of proceeds benefiting Openlands. 🌱 Our certified arborist, Gerardo Trujillo, will be there to offer expert guidance on all things landscaping. Don't miss this chance to celebrate our native landscapes with Alluvium, Indigo Ecological Design, and Openlands! Learn more at the event page: https://ow.ly/cltA50TaiJL

We are thrilled to announce that the Lake County Board has updated its landscaping regulations for new developments in ways that help to preserve biodiversity and enhance community health. These vital updates ensure that more native trees will be planted, along with a greater diversity of young trees. Invasive tree species are now prohibited. Openlands served as lead content advisor on the project, providing resources, market feasibility analyses, and options for consideration. This opens the door for a new generation of trees and plants, creating vibrant, resilient plantings for years to come!

Let's make the best of the back-to-school period for garden and nature educators. Discover this curated selection of books organized by topics to enhance the teaching and joy of environmental subjects such as worms. Access this magical entry into the world of small creatures through this collection on our educator resources webpage: https://lnkd.in/geQ5HvzA

Today, 40 years ago, President Reagan signed legislation in Chicago that created the Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor—the first of its kind. This event sets another first of its kind, like the Illinois Prairie Path, as it created a new category for the Department of Interior. From this Openlands-supported initiative, 62 National Heritage Areas now span 37 states, preserving our nation's stories.