Session 1: Choose Your Path and the Good Red Road - Eagle Ridge Singers and Friends, Jimmy Lakota, Jo Lakota

(45 minutes) What are your choices?  Whatever you choose, travel the Native American Way of conscious living on the earth.  Learn through Native American song, dance, and stories of this thoughtful way of living and gain a new perspective on your impact, your conscious choices. CCSS: ELA SL / ILS: NGSS ESS3,SSG2

Session 2: The History of Science as told by Mark Twain - Warren Brown

(45 minutes) Mark Twain said "Inventors are the creators of the world—after God." This presentation is a first-person Chautauqua-style program by Warren Brown as Mark Twain. You will journey on water, land, and air, sharing insights from the Diaries of Adam and Eve to friendships with inventors and thoughts about Galileo and Newton. CCSS: ELA SL

Session 3: Session 3: - Walter the Water Molecule Connects Us All - Brian FOX Ellis

(45 minutes) Join storyteller and author Brian “Fox” Ellis as he takes us on a journey around the world and through your watershed with the story of a single drop of water. This participatory story allows you, the audience, to find your voice as a storyteller and share the stories of your watershed.

CCSS: ELA SL, ILS: NGSS ESS2-4 / SS.G.2

Session 4 : Creating River Music, Songwriting with a purpose - Barry Cloyd

(45 minutes) Create an original song that focuses on the importance of Clean Water & the health of our rivers.CCSS: ELA SL, W / ILS: NGSS ESS2 / SS.G.2 / FA-MU:Cr1-2-3

Session 5: The Time Machine - The Pertinence of Place -  Matthew Jones

(30 minutes) Dr. Coldwater is a scientist with a special mission-bringing you the wonders and wizardry of our watery world. Interact with a "Jean-Luc Godfroy," a metis Coureur de Bois, who appears from the past to speak of historical people and the places you know and love. This presentation touches on physics, geography, foreign language, history, culture, and biology (along with diversity and extirpation) in this entertaining presentation. CCSS ELA SL / ILS: NGSS ESS3 / SS.G.1,2,3 / SS.H.1,2,4 / FL29 A,D,E 

Session 6: Zoo Conservation, Making a Splash! – Peoria Zoo

(45 minutes) Meet several zoo animals while learning about ways we can save water and habitat. CCSS: ELA SL / ILS: NGSS LS2

Session 7: Backyard Habitats - Wildlife Prairie Park

(30–40 minutes) Backyard Habitats: Here is your opportunity to meet 5 different animal ambassadors (a mammal, reptile, bird, amphibian, etc). Get an overview of each of these animals and then talk about what each requires in order to thrive in their habitats. Learn how the public can get their own backyards certified as wildlife habitats!  CCSS: ELA SL / ILS: NGSS LS2

Session 8: Water Cycle Adventures - Susie Grana Ingram, Forest Park Nature Center

(45 minutes) Water covers most of the earth and is always moving. Discover the role water plays in every stage of its cycle. You will also meet a native animal that depends on clean water for survival! CCSS: ELA SL / ILS: NGSS ESS2 / SS.G.2

Session 9: Clean Water It’s for the Birds - Dr. Travis Wilcoxen

(30 minutes) It’s easy to see how polluted water has an impact on animals that live in the water, like fish and frogs. The truth is, clean water is extremely important for animals that spend much of their time in the air, like birds. In this session, students will learn about how pollutants in water such as lead, mercury, and pesticides can cause problems for many kinds of birds, from ducks to eagles. CCSS: ELA SL / ILS NGSS LS2 / PD&H 22 C

Session 10: Amphibians as Indicator Species - Douglas Holmes, resident herpetologist Peoria Zoo

(30-45 minutes) Find out what amphibians can tell us about the health of our environment while learning about the effects of chemicals on amphibians, the importance of amphibians, and how we are all connected, CCSS: ELA SL / ILS NGSS ESS2, LS2, SSG2

Session 11: Native Plants - Make and Take a Seed Ball - Rachel Mitchell

(20 minutes) Discover the benefits that native plants can bring to your community, your yard, and beyond! Make a native wildflower seed ball to take with you.

CSS: ELA SL / ILS NGSS LS1, LS2 https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd1035133.pdf

Session 12: The Diversity of Life in Illinois Waters - John Marino, Aquatic Ecologist

(30 minutes) Explore the variety of living things in our freshwater systems and how we interact with them.  Learn about how biodiversity is important for supporting the benefits provided to people by rivers, lakes and wetlands.Learn how monitoring diversity is valuable for tracking how people are affecting these systems. Learn how research like that in Bradley University’s lab is useful to improve understanding of diversity. Examine a variety of organisms, including aquatic snails, insects, tadpoles, and others! 

Session 13: Natural Dyes with Foraged Roots Apothecary - Lily Scalf

(45 minutes) Discover the incredible power of plants, the harmful effects of fast fashion and the ancient art of Shibori. Students will have the chance to dye materials using plant pigments.

CSSS: ELA SL/ ILS: FA- VA:Cr1.1 / SS.G.3 / NGSS ESS3 / PD&H 22 C3

Session 14: Upcycled Water Bottle Carrier - Nikki Wheeler, Peoria Art Guild

(45 minutes) This hands-on fiber arts project aims to engage participants in a meaningful and eco-friendly activity that involves creating reusable water bottle carriers from old clothes. Participants will learn the art of repurposing by weaving, braiding, and lacing fabric strips, transforming discarded garments into functional accessories. The activity not only fosters creativity but also instills a sense of environmental responsibility by promoting the use of reusable alternatives. Through this project, participants will gain a practical understanding of sustainable practices while contributing to the broader message of preserving clean water resources.

CCSS: ELA SL / ILS: SS.G.3 / FA- VA:Cr1.1 • https://www.peoriaartguild.org/

Session 15: Native Trees Support All Life on Earth - Jacob Bolton, Sylvics Forestry & Nursery

(30 minutes) Trees play critical roles in supporting life on Earth. Discover these roles and why native trees are so important for you to plant and nurture.

CCSS: ELA SL / NGSS ESS3, LS1 • https://www.sylvicstrees.com/

Session 16: Getting Involved in Conservation: Giving Back to the Land - Shae Birkey

(60 minutes) There are so many positive ways to connect to the outdoors. Whether it is through active or passive recreation, the end result is fostering a love for the outdoors. Through experiencing the outdoors, especially at a young age, advocacy for its many wise uses can be established resulting in the betterment of society and the long term sustainability of our long-standing American outdoors heritage.

CCSS: ELA SL / ILS: SS G.2 / PD&H 22 •https://www.naem.org/our-community/profiles/shae-birkey

Session 17: Food’s Connection to Water and More! - Tim Magner

(45 minutes) Food shapes us, and everything around us. We’ll take you on a journey from your dinner plate to different types of farm fields and then to the laws which help decide farmer and eater choices. Students will draw their favorite meal, discuss food’s connections to water and more, then both vision what’s possible and research advocacy options, including contacting your elected representatives.

CCSS: ELA SL / ILS: SS.G.2,3 / FA- VA:Cr1.1 http://naturesfarmcamp.org

Session 18: Diggin' Archaeology! - Dr. Dale F Simpson, NIU

(30 minutes) Dr. Simpson will have your students work through four stations: Introduction, Field Gear, Raw Materials, and Lithics (stone tools) to talk about 13,000 years of Illinois Archaeology and solve archaeological puzzles.

CCSS: ELA SL / NGSS: ESS1 ESS3 / SSH5 ARCHAEOLOGICAL OUTREACH IN ACTION!

Session 19: Students Taking Action: P2D2 and more! - Pontiac Township High School Environmental Science

(40 minutes) Hey! If you have a passion for the environment and clean water, come check us out P2D2! The International Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal Program (P2D2) was started as a way to prevent misuse and abuse of prescription drugs while keeping them out of our water supply. But that's not all...learn about the other action projects we have taken on. Come check us out!

CCSS: ELA SL / ILS: NGSS LS2 •https://p2d2program.wordpress.com/

Session 20: Creating Sanctuaries to Safeguard Birds - Sanctuaries for the Skies with Stevenson High School seniors: Abhay Agarwal, Eunhyul Chang, and Kush Nagrani

As friends who united in the study of ornithology as part of an International Science competition, Abhay Agarwal, Kush Nagrani and Eunhyul Chang, learned about the current crisis regarding endangered birds and aspired to take action. They created Sanctuaries for the Skies and have planted gardens in several communities in and around the Midwest. Their mission is not only to prevent the mass extinction of birds, but also to nurture wild places and help birds sing their vibrant songs for generations to come. During this session, Sanctuary for the Skies will discuss the importance of biodiversity, climate change and lead students through a fun bird identification game. Additionally, this hands-on session will guide you through the steps of planning your own local sanctuary!

CCSS: ELA SL/ NGSS ESS2, ESS3, SS.G.3.9 https://www.sanctuaryfortheskies.org/

Session 21: It’s NOT Magic, It’s Science!!! - Dr. Dean Campbell & Bradley University Chemistry Club Demo Crew

(45 minutes) The event will feature a series of chemistry-related demonstrations that are science (not magic) in focus. Emphasis will be placed on physical and chemical properties of water and the environment.

CCSS: ELA SL/ ILS: NGSS PS1 •https://www.bradley.edu/academic/departments/chm/faculty/profile.dot?id=169366

Session 22: Drinking Water - From Source to Tap - Trip Barton

(30 minutes) A high level overview of how drinking water gets to your tap. The session will include discussion of the sources of water, water treatment processes, and how the water gets to your house.

CCSS: ELA SL/ ILS: NGSS ESS2 / PDH 22C •https://amwater.com/ilaw/water-information/water-learning-center