On July 15, 2025, Audubon Great Lakes joined leaders from the Forest Preserves of Cook County, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), and our fellow conservation partners to celebrate a major investment in the future of conservation in Illinois. Thanks to the inaugural Youth and Young Adult Conservation Corps (YYACC) grant from IDNR, the Forest Preserves of Cook County has expanded its Conservation Corps programs by 37%, creating paid, hands-on conservation job opportunities for more than 40 youth and young adults this summer.
Audubon Great Lakes is honored to be one of the partners in this powerful effort to inspire the next generation of conservation professionals. Through our Habitat Restoration Internship, we’ve doubled our impact—expanding from seven to fourteen interns—thanks to the new funding. These young people are gaining technical skills and valuable on-the-ground experience in managing and restoring vital habitats like wetlands, prairies, savannas and woodlands, with a focus on protecting and improving habitat for grassland birds.
The program not only provides interns with ecology training, native plant identification skills, and pesticide license certification, but it also opens doors to professional networks and future careers in conservation. Successful graduates are leaving the program as well-prepared candidates for jobs in forestry, land management, and ecological restoration—helping to build a more sustainable and representative environmental workforce in Illinois.
During the event, Michelle Parker, VP and Executive Director for Audubon Great Lakes joined Natalie Phelps Finnie, Director of Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Toni Preckwinkle, President of the Forest Preserves of Cook County, Izabella Redlinski, Acting Director of the Forest Preserves of Cook County, local commissioners and conservation partners to celebrate IDNR's recent expansion grant for FPCC's Conservation Corps program. There was also an opportunity to visit with our all of the interns to learn more about the incredible work they do, the tools they use in restoration, and the certifications they’re earning to prepare for future careers in conservation.
Since 2005, these programs have empowered over 3,500 participants, giving hands-on experience in conservation, teamwork and leadership. Additionally, Audubon has hosted habitat restoration interns in the Chicago region for 20 years, with 80% of our 150 graduates continuing on to conservation or green careers, including at Audubon, INDR, and FPCC.
“As leaders in the conservation field, we have a responsibility to not only protect the lands and waters that birds and people rely on, but also to build the pipeline of future stewards who will carry this work forward. That means investing in programs that provide training, mentorship, and tangible career pathways for young people. It means ensuring that our workforce reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. This is how we create lasting impact—not just for nature, but for equity, opportunity, and resilience across our region,” said Michelle Parker, VP and Executive Director for Audubon Great Lakes and Chair for the Illinois Nature Preserve Commission. “We are incredibly grateful to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for their leadership and support, and to the Forest Preserves of Cook County for their longstanding commitment to Conservation Corps programs that serve as a model for the state.”
As President Toni Preckwinkle so eloquently said during the press conference, “We know the impact of meaningful youth and young adult employment.” These programs provide not only a paycheck—but purpose.
Audubon Great Lakes is proud to stand with our partners in ensuring that young people—especially those from historically excluded communities—can access meaningful jobs in nature and conservation. Together, we’re building a future where more people see themselves reflected in environmental work, and where Illinois’ wild places thrive.
To learn more about the Forest Preserves’ Conservation Corps programs, visit https://fpdcc.com/forest-preserves-of-cook-county-expands-conservation-corps-thanks-to-inaugural-grant-from-the-illinois-department-of-natural-resources/
