“Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has.”
Although this quote is attributed to Margaret Mead, it could very easily be the motto of the Environmental Defenders of McHenry County. For over 50 years, they have worked diligently protecting our ecosystem and preserving our natural environment all while educating residents. They have successfully protected valuable areas such as Ryder’s Woods in Woodstock and the Volo Bog State Natural Area. They also assisted in the development of the Crystal Lake watershed protection ordinance and the McHenry County Stormwater ordinance.
For this column, Erin Kennedy, the executive director of the Environmental Defenders has agreed to help us understand their current initiatives, upcoming events and volunteer opportunities. Thank you, Erin, for being available to answer a few questions.
Can you please tell us a bit about the history of the Environmental Defenders?
The Environmental Defenders of McHenry County history begins in 1969 when the Fox Valley Freeway was proposed. In response to the proposal that would pave over some of the most ecologically significant features within the Fox River watershed, a group of concerned citizens from the Barrington area formed the Defenders of the Fox to protect and improve the Fox River ecosystem and its tributaries. The Defenders of the Fox’s first goal was to fight the freeway. In February 1970, a group of like-minded people from Crystal Lake and other parts of McHenry County joined the Barrington group, forming the McHenry County chapter of the Defenders of the Fox. At about the same time, an ad in the Woodstock Daily Sentinel called for people interested in environmental matters to attend a meeting at Pleasant Valley Outdoor Center. The meeting attendees eventually formed the McHenry County Environmental Council.
The Defenders publishes a quarterly newsletter with articles on environmental issues facing the county and about the work of the organization.
It seems that Action Teams are one of the reasons that your organization is so successful. Can you please give us a brief description of each Action Team and what they focus on?
The Defenders currently have six Action Teams.
Water & Natural Resource Protection – Focuses on both water issues and natural resources issues. The team has regular workdays at Sterne’s Fen to cut brush and remove invasive species. Water & Natural Resource Protection also hosts our BMP (best management practices) Talks & Tours series. That is a great opportunity for people to learn about various environmental topics and how they directly affect McHenry County. The team also works to encourage local governments to sign on to the National Wildlife Foundation’s Mayors Monarch Pledge to encourage creating pollinator habitat.
Recycling – The Recycling Action Team coordinates recycling drives throughout the year and manages the Styrofoam collection in the county.
Waste Reduction – Focuses on bringing food scrap composting opportunities to McHenry County residents & businesses, educates the public on how to reduce food waste and encourages the community to reduce single use plastics.
Transportation – Promotes the development and implementation of policies that ensure streets are safe for people of all ages and abilities, balance the needs support local land uses, economies, cultures, and natural environments. It encourages the public to use eco-friendly transportation options, including public transportation, carpooling, bike path use, and other alternative means for commuting and running errands.
Outreach – Works on recruiting, retaining, educating and celebrating our members. These objectives are met by planning and creating unique events & educational opportunities.
Fundraising – Plans and executes several fundraising opportunities to help support the organization’s environmental work throughout McHenry County
What are your most pressing needs as it relates to volunteers? How can our readers make the most difference to your organizations?
One of the Defenders most popular programs is our Styrofoam recycling. The Defenders operate three locations in McHenry County for residents to recycle their Styrofoam. Currently, our Algonquin Township location in need of the most help. This seems to be our most popular location, and additional volunteers would alleviate the accumulation of Styrofoam and reduce the time the Styrofoam shed must be closed due to it being full. The Environmental Defenders are always looking for volunteers to help with our Fall Book Sale, “Use it Again” Garage Sale and the McHenry County Fair.
Your organization is membership based. How much is an annual membership.
The Defenders offers several membership opportunities. A Basic/Family membership is $50 for the year and our senior membership is $30. The Defenders also offers membership opportunities for businesses and non-profits. Contact our office 815-338-0393 for membership questions or additional information.
If someone is interested in learning more about your organization, what should they do?
If someone is interested in learning more about the Environmental Defenders, I would encourage them to check out our website www.mcdef.org or visit our social media pages on Facebook or Instagram. The Defenders generates our weekly E-News for members and residents to stay up to date on environmental issues and events.
Many thanks to Erin for giving us so much information regarding the valuable work that this organization performs. I encourage you to check out their organization. You do not need to live in McHenry County to become involved.
Kathleen Carr is the owner of The Growing Scene, Inc.,a landscaping company. She can be reached by calling 815-923-7322 or emailing her at Kathleen@thegrowingscene.com. Have a gardening question? Please contact her. She may address it in an upcoming column.
