Our Water Future volunteers have created these Earth Day educational resources to offer a practical, engaging approach to the environmental challenges facing Chicago!
The resources highlight the impactful work done by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) to protect water quality, manage floods, safeguard public health—and how we can work together.
Designed specifically for different age groups and adult volunteers, the materials empower individuals, organizations, scouts, schools, and activists to actively contribute to cleaner waterways and climate resilience through simple personal actions, community involvement, and informed policy advocacy.
Grade Schoolers: Fun and easy-to-understand ways to protect Chicago’s water, from reducing plastic to planting community gardens. Click here.
Middle Schoolers: Practical strategies for young people to tackle pollution, flooding, and environmental inequality in Chicago. Click here.
High Schoolers: Insights on systemic environmental challenges in Chicago, emphasizing advocacy, policy engagement, and personal responsibility. Click here.
Adult Volunteers: Comprehensive guide for community-driven environmental action and advocacy efforts in Chicago, focusing on infrastructure, policy reform, and climate resilience. Click here.
Photo credits: Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Public Schools, Metropolitan Planning Council, Friends of the Chicago River