Summer Internship 2021

El Paseo Community Garden

STEM Scholars interns will be working to support environmental justice and equity by volunteering at El Paseo Community Garden to help support a community greenspace. Interns will learn how to maintain a community garden and green space; contribute to community science by tracking and reporting on an at-risk species, the monarch butterfly; learn about beekeeping and the components of supporting pollinators;  engage in community composting programs and more.

Since 2009, El Paseo Community Garden (founded as Growing Station) has been enhancing the quality of life for Pilsen residents through community building, stewardship, conservation, placemaking, partnerships, programming, and community gardening. The converted brownfield site provides opportunities to socialize with each other, plant and grow food, play, or simply be outside and enjoy the wildlife and fresh air the native plants provide in the many gathering spaces provided.

Interns helping at El Paseo Community Garden.

Monarch Community Science – Field Museum

STEM Scholars interns will  monitor milkweeds for monarch eggs and larvae to help scientists at the Field Museum track and record current ask-risk monarch populations in Chicago.

Check the Monarch Community Science website to learn how you can help the monarch butterfly population by becoming a scientist at home! The website contains Zoom recordings you can watch to learn how to track monarch butterflies, their eggs, and other insects that can help save them.

Intern, Freddy H., monitoring milkweeds al El Paseo Community garden as part of the Field Museum Monarch Community Science program.

CEDA training the interns for the Energy Community Events.

Interns informing community members about CEDA programs and distributing IE Kits that teach the importance of energy efficiency.