The 2022 Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit is excited to partner with a number of regional organizations to host post-conference field trips on June 17th.
Tour of the Lick Run Greenway: A Park with a Purpose
Hosted by Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati (MSD)
Description: Join us for a walking tour of the Lick Run Greenway in the Cincinnati neighborhood of South Fairmount. This $111 million green infrastructure project looks and functions like a park with a stream running through it but it’s eliminating more than 800 million gallons of combined sewer overflows (CSOs) into the Mill Creek each year and helping rejuvenate the South Fairmount community. The tour includes stops at the key elements of the Greenway, including the headwaters, mile-long stream channel, pond, and outfall into the Mill Creek, a tributary of the Ohio River.
Time: Friday, June 17 @ 9:00-11:30 am
Location of Field Trip: Meet at the Headwaters parking lot at 1911 Queen City Avenue (this is the satellite lot, NOT the main parking lot). There is also street parking along Queen City and Westwood avenues.
Maximum number of participants: 40
To RSVP for the Tour: Email Larry.falkin@cincinnati-oh.gov
Important Details: Participants should be in good physical condition and wear walking shoes and comfortable clothing. Terrain is flat. Walk is min. 1 mile and max. 2 miles.
Questions? Contact Larry Falkin, MSD, at Larry.falkin@cincinnati-oh.gov or (513) 919-4235.
Agriculture Career Tech Campus of Aiken High School
Hosted by Aiken High School
Description: On your visit of our Agriculture Campus, you will experience an international student-created, student-centered, and student-managed outdoor learning laboratory with the comfort of a student-roasted coffee. A 35-raised bed garden and 21 tree orchard is the centerpiece of our campus set on 61 acres of beautiful forest and prairie that teaches food security. Chickens, ducks, and even an alpaca are on site in their runs and paddocks for students to apply animal husbandry best practices. Pollinator gardens of natural and university collaboration research variety are accessible through the hiking trails that were created by students who apply a land ethic to the removal of invasive species and the promotion of native fauna and flora. And, maybe…just maybe, we will have our USDA high tunnel installed by June 17th.
Time: Friday, June 17 @ 9:00 am - 5:00 pm.
Location of Field Trip: Aiken High School, 5641 Belmont Ave, Cincinnati OH 45224
Maximum Number of Participants: Unlimited
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Important Information: Our agriculture campus is open for visitors throughout the day and we will try to have student and teacher docents available for questions and directions.
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Questions? Contact Aaron Parker, 523-388-8157, parkeaa@cpsboe.k12.oh.us
Tour of the Rockdale Urban Learning Garden
Hosted by Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Description: Come explore the one-of-a-kind, one acre Rockdale Urban Learning Garden. Staff members from the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden Horticulture team will be stationed throughout the garden to answer questions and talk about the many features that encourage learning and a connection to nature.
Time: Friday, June 17 @ 9:00-10:00 am
Location of Field Trip: Rockdale Urban Learning Garden, 328 Northern Ave. 45229 (routing to this address is better for garden access)
Maximum Number of Participants: 100
Visit the Link to RSVP: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0A4FAAAB2EABFF2-midwest
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Questions? Contact Steve Foltz, Stephen.foltz@cincinnatizoo.org
Explore Local Archaeology! Guard Archaeological Site and Preserve Guided Tour
Hosted by The Archaeological Research Institute
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Description: Visit an active archaeological site and preserve in Lawrenceburg, IN and receive a guided tour by ARI staff archaeologists. Learn about our region's past, about our archaeological research, how you can get involved in preserving our past, and get hands-on experience researching.
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Time: Friday, June 17 @ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Location of Field Trip: 424 Walnut Street, Lawrenceburg, IN 47025
Maximum Number of Participants: 50
Visit the Link to RSVP: https://exploreari.org/ari_tours/river-of-time-trails-tour/
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Important Details: Rivers are constantly flowing. When you step into a river, you are connected to all the river shores, twists, and bends at once. When you step into our River of Time, you are connected to the past, present, and future of the Guard archaeological site. Explore three different trails winding through a 1000-year-old village and imagine the houses, people, and stories that surround you. Learn about what came before the village, and what happened after. Discover the natural environment that has persisted throughout. Enjoy birdwatching, native prairie plants, an ancient cultivates garden, and the numerous species of animals that take refuge along the trails. Our trails approximately total at 1 ¼ mile long, with ½ mile and ¾ mile trail options
Questions? Contact: Samy Norris, 812-290-2966, samy@exploreari.org
Walnut Woods Restoration: A Student Driven Project
Hosted by Walnut Woods of Evanston
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Description: Description: Join us to learn about the ongoing restoration of Walnut Woods of Evanston, a 10 acre urban forest located directly adjacent to Walnut Hills High School. Students, community members, and an active group of volunteers have been working for nearly 6 years to transform this once neglected space into a park. We will tour the site and talk about our volunteer driven approach to restoring this forest and the role students play in each step of the process. Participants will learn about the work completed to date and our plans to further develop this space into an educational outdoor classroom.
Time: Friday, June 17 @ 10:00-11:00 am
Location of Field Trip: Walnut Woods of Evanston - 3250 Victory Pkwy Cincinnati, OH 45207, parking is available along Sulsar Ave, the forest is located between Sulsar Ave and Victory Pkwy, we will meet at the trail head near the large green park sign.
Maximum Number of Participants: 30
To RSVP: Please email ssettlemyre@civicgardencenter.org to register.
Important Details: Please be sure to wear closed toed shoes and we recommend long pants.
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Questions? Contact Sam Settlemyre, ssettlemyre@civicgardencenter.org or 513-221-0981.
Restoring the Earth — a church’s journey
Hosted by Christ the King Lutheran Church
Description: Tour these church grounds, which are a demonstration of what other houses of worship (or just houses) can do to be more sustainable. This church is converting some of their lawn into community food production -- building good soil and community. They have a 450 sf compost bin, permaculture food forest (mostly native), 2 acre forest being restored with natives, milpa garden, 2,200 sf prairie, monarch way station, and earth-friendlier mowing practices. All because we're called to be good stewards of creation.
Time: Friday, June 17 @ 10:00-11:00 am
Location of Field Trip: Christ the King Lutheran Church, 7393 Dimmick Rd., West Chester, OH 45069
Maximum Number of Participants: 15
Visit the Link to RSVP: https://www.ctkluth.org/inspiring-creation-care.html
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Important details: Rain or shine. Will be walking about 1/2 mile over uneven terrain.
Questions? Contact Susan Fox, (513) 777-4370, office@ctkluth.org
A Tour and Demonstrations of Sustainable Gardening Best Practices
Hosted by Turner Farm Community Garden Program
Description: The Price Hill Community Garden Program is committed to building connections between people and the land that feeds and sustains us. Management is a variation of Turner Farm’s work-share Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model. In exchange for working in the garden, community members share in the harvest. We work in the garden during scheduled times that vary between mornings, afternoons, weekdays, and weekends - gardeners may also work independently in the garden. The work sessions include harvesting and sharing produce along with weekly Work & Learn sessions.
Time: Friday, June 17 @ 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Location of Field Trip: Price Hill Community Garden 956 Purcell Ave. Cincinnati, Ohio 45205
Maximum Number of Participants: 20
To register please contact: Peter Huttinger, peter@turnerfarm.org or 513-328-0100
Tour of the Cincinnati Recycling & Reuse Hub
Hosted by Cincinnati Recycling & Reuse Hub
Description: The tour will cover the Hub's 1st floor collection/receiving area and the 4th floor warehouse area, going over many of the Hub's accepted items and where they go. Participants are welcome to bring recyclable and reusable items from home and Hub volunteers will help participants sort items in the collections area. (A full list of accepted items can be found on the Hub's website: cincinnatirecyclingandreusehub.org.) At the end of the tour, participants are welcome to go "shopping" (for free) through the Hub's ZeroLandfill and Reuse areas.
Time: Friday, June 17 - Tours at 10:00 am, 1:00 pm, and 3:00 pm.
Location of Field Trip: Cinti Recycling & Reuse Hub; 911 Evans St (enter off of Woodrow)
Maximum Number of Participants: 25
Visit the Link to RSVP: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c4baea923a6f5c34-cincinnati
Questions? Contact Colleen McSwiggin 513-484-0112, crrh.managingdirector@gmail.com
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Ohio River Sweep
Hosted by Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) and Foundation for Ohio River Education (FORE)
Description: Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO), Foundation for Ohio River Education (FORE), and WAVE Foundation at Newport Aquarium are working together to hold an Ohio River Sweep cleanup along Newport on the Levee and James Taylor Park. Ohio River Sweep is an Ohio River Basin wide cleanup effort spanning 6 different states. Participants will be provided a 2022 Ohio River Sweep t-shirt, gloves, and trash bags to aid in the cleanup.
Time: Friday, June 17 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Location of Field Trip: 39.09479234512171, -84.49822191658572, Newport on the Levee on the lower level straight out from the Newport Aquarium side employee entrance. (Map will be emailed to participants)
Maximum Number of Participants: 30
Visit the Link to RSVP: https://riverlearning.org/midwest-sustainability-summit-field-trip-form/
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Important Details: Parking is available either at the Newport on the Levee parking garage or James Taylor Park parking, which does cost, but we are working on getting vouchers for parking. We will be meeting at the lower level of the levee along the river straight out from the Newport Aquarium employee entrance, which will be on a map sent out before the event. Please dress appropriately for the weather keeping in mind that shoes may get muddy and you may end up walking through areas with taller vegetation if you choose to do so. We look forward to cleaning up the river with you!
Questions? Contact Nicholas Callahan, (523) 231-7719 Ext 102, ncallahan@orsanco.org
Bicycle Co-op and Communal Garden Tour
Hosted by MoBo Bicycle Co-op / Village Green Foundation
Description: The Village Green Foundation is a multigenerational volunteer-run neighborhood third space comprised of a bicycle co-op, community garden, communal garden, greenhouse, and fruit orchard that has been sustained by volunteer labor for 15 years. Come tour our space and learn about how we divert bikes from landfills, teach people how to fix their own bikes and provide sliding-scale or labor trade bikes. Visit our gardens and see how we run a free weekly garden produce delivery to our lower income neighbors, provide free composting, tend our orchard and nourish our community.
Time: Friday, June 17 @ 2:00-3:00 pm
Location of Field Trip: 1415 Knowlton St, Cincinnati OH 45223
Maximum Number of Participants: 20
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Visit the Link to Register: https://forms.gle/jSqWeSZna1zyGMTk9
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Questions? Contact Nate Kemphues, 513-666-1890, villagegreenfoundation@gmail.com
Tour of the new Casa del Sol Ministry Center
Hosted by the Sisters of Charity and Faith Communities Go Green
Description: The tour will be of the new Casa del Sol Ministry Center of the Sisters of Charity near the corner of Delhi and Bender Rds. This facility will utilize solar and geothermal technology to ensure the buildings will be Net-Zero Energy. The Sisters are again partnering with Melink to install 109 solar panels for a total system power of 44.7 kW DC to add to the several hundred solar panels already installed. The new Center will be home to outreach programs of the Sisters of Charity, including the MSJ Talent Education Program, an acupuncture therapist, a music studio for piano lessons, and the Newcomers Immigration Program.
Time: Friday, June 17 @ 2:00-3:00 pm
Location of Field Trip: Casa del Sol Ministry Center of the Sisters of Charity, 5776 Delhi Road 45233
Maximum Number of Participants: 20
Contact To RSVP: Sr. Caroljean Willie, SC at cjwilliengo@gmail.com or 513-543-2229
Questions? Contact Sr. Caroljean Willie, SC at cjwilliengo@gmail.com or 513-543-2229
-3364
Tour of Education Farm
Hosted by Gorman Heritage Farm
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Description: Come for a guided tour of Gorman Heritage Farm, a 122-acre nonprofit, working farm with a mission to educate about agriculture, nutrition, sustainability and the environment. Stroll through our beautiful and bountiful gardens, then walk to our historic farmyard to meet some of our animals. Learn about the history of the farm and its current efforts to build agri-food literacy in our region. Walking paths are a combination of paved and gravel with a distance of 3/4 mile total. Tours take place rain or shine, so please dress for the weather.
Time: Friday, June 17 @ 2:00-4:00 pm
Location of Field Trip: Gorman Heritage Farm, 10052 Reading Rd.
Maximum Number of Participants: 30
Visit the Link to RSVP: https://form.jotform.com/221294753777164
Important Details: Please wear closed-toe shoes that are good for walking and dress for the weather.
Questions? Contact Nicole Gunderman, ngunderman@gormanfarm.org, 513-563-6663
-522-3364
Hike the Goltra Nature Preserve in East Westwood
Hosted by East Westwood Improvement Association
Description: Join us for a hike at the Goltra Nature Preserve in East Westwood led by neighbors! Wear some sturdy hiking boots as trails are currently in development! Come discover this beautiful gem in Cincinnati's own backyard!
Time: Friday, June 17 @ 5:30-7:00 pm
Location of Field Trip: 2303 Brokaw Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45225--we will have staff on hand to usher folks from parking to the trailhead as we prepare for our guided hike!
Maximum Number of Participants: 15
Visit the Link to RSVP: Sign up at the following link
Important Details: The East Westwood Improvement Association, Groundwork Ohio River Valley, Cincinnati Off-Road Alliance, and Hillside Trust are in discussion towards creating a trail system in the Preserve. Come get a sneak peak and learn about this amazing land and partnership! We might even grab pizza afterwards!
Questions? Contact Kyle Reiser at kylereiser28@gmail.com or 513-522-3364
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