(upbeat music) (upbeat music continue) - For more than 50 years, the Sun Foundation has provided educational programs in Central Illinois, combining art and environmental science.

And their signature event is taking place in just a few days in Peoria.

Karen Zuckerman is the co-chair of the Clean Water Celebration Navigating Committee.

And Susie Grana Ingram is chief naturalist at the Peoria Park District and the board president of the Environmental Education Association of Illinois.

Thank you for coming in.

Good to see both of you.

- You as well.

- Good to see you.

- So the Sun Foundation's been around a long time and started by two people, and, boy, has it grown.

Tell us a little bit about the history of the organization.

- All right, well, it was founded in 1973 by Bob and Joan Ericksen.

And their goal was to bring programming where scientists and artists and engineers of all kinds could be in nature with kids.

And so their programming developed, bringing them to the site out at Sun Foundation, which is near Washburn, Illinois.

I think the address is Washburn.

Yes.

- Yeah.

- And so they started bringing in kids out to the site, and it could have been field trips.

But one of the first programs I believe, and I don't know if I'm correct or not, but it was Art and Science in the Woods, which brought all of those people together in the environment and gave them an opportunity to learn from a field biologist or work with an environmental artist right on site in nature.

Use what was there to incorporate, but still had the opportunity to get to know that person, their job, their passion for nature.

- Yeah.

So kind of a hands-on, out-of-the-classroom type deal.

- Definitely.

And their focus is always looking at the health of the environment also, but the health of ourselves since we live in that environment.

And so they did a lot of programming, bringing health experts, did a lot of programming.

There would be different events throughout the year, always with the summer program, Art and Science in the Woods.

And that has continued all along.

And 19, I wanna say, was it 1994, they were introduced to the Rivers Project, which was with Dr.

Robert Williams.

And he was bringing high school kids together, testing water.

They would bring their results together and they were meeting in Peoria as a student congress.

And so Sun Foundation decided that they wanted to support that.

And so they came up with the idea of having, they would come in for the weekend for their Congress and we would then ask them to stay and present to the local students and community in our area.

And so Clean Water Celebration developed.

And that's been going, this is our 33rd year.

So they do a lot of programming, focuses on education, science, art, just looking at our environment and the importance of it from all perspectives.

- Very good.

Susie, how'd you get involved in all this?

- I moved to Peoria in 2009 and I started working with the Peoria Park District.

And I was working with a wonderful guy, my mentor named Dean Johnston.

He was the program coordinator at Forest Park Nature Center.

And he said, "Susie, I'm going to send you to this Art and Nature camp for the week to teach about native animal adaptations."

His kids had both gone to that camp for their entire childhoods.

He'd been an instructor there for a long time.

So I showed up with my little boxes of like snakes and turtles.

I had no idea what I was getting into.

I had come to the Peoria Park District from a purely academic background.

So I taught like college labs, written papers, did research, but was not as used to interacting with people, especially kids, especially kids without their parents there.

So I had the best time doing that in those afternoons, that Art and Science in the Woods, and eventually started coming out to teach all day classes.

And my class for the past few years has been, it has a really boring name.

It's called forest and prairie ecology, but it's a secretly fun class.

And what the students in our class do, we're on our feet the whole time.

We're exploring all of the different types of habitats that the Sun Foundation property has to discover.

And they're tasked with finding different things in the environment.

Wild flowers, rocks, invertebrates, bones, taking them back to our study station, identifying them and writing up information to share with their families at the end of the week.

So they have a job.

And also they get to have fun.

One of the things that was challenging to me in that particular environment is that every instructor is asked to, if you're teaching something that's primarily science-based, like me, to incorporate an art component, and if you are doing more of an art-focused class, bring in a science component.

Art is another thing that was kind of intimidating for me, but it's really cool to see what these students come up with when they are, you know, drawing the specimen that they have and describing it in words.

- So a little bit outside of your wheelhouse, having to incorporate the art aspect into it.

- Yeah, I've become more comfortable with it every year.

It brought me out of my box, for sure.

- How do you think that helps kids?

You know, because some kids are very math and science oriented, others are art and creative.

So bringing those two together, how does that help a child learn you think?

- What I think is cool about this environment is that I'm like those kids.

I tend to just focus on the science stuff and not think about a more holistic approach to learning.

What I like is, as you're getting through the week, these students are feeling more comfortable in that setting.

They're seeing other people doing it, the instructors of the program and the teaching assistants are really encouraging.

So I feel like we start with a message of, "You can do this, we'll help you, we'll give you the tools to do it."

And there are many artists all around us who could give us some practical pointers if we need them to start.

- It's like building a community out there, isn't it, in those two weeks?

- Yeah.

And since we both live in the area, a lot of the instructors from our Art and Science in the Woods come from specialties all over the country, sometimes all over the world, right?

So we get the bonus of being able to see our students in real life, in the community, and like connecting with them and learning about their school year.

And so those relationships get to stay even after that program's over.

- We're gonna talk about the Clean Water Celebration in just a few minutes.

But I'm curious, Karen, all the years you've been doing this and you're there on site and you see the kids, what's it like watching the light bulbs go off and the eyes getting big and the kids saying, "Oh, yeah, that's how that works," or, "Wow, that's interesting, I wanna learn more about that."

- Yeah, that's always my favorite part.

As an educator, that was always the thing that kept me excited.

And so, yes, at those times where you see that, that one child look at something and it clicks, and they start asking questions and they're excited, and then before you know it, they're coming back and visiting us at Clean Water Celebration and saying, "I did this because of this."

So the longevity for me has been that I get to see those kinds of things flow and happen.

But it's amazing to see how, just looking at it from more than one perspective, more than just the science, and even more than just the art, because we do a lot of social science as well, as we look at it at Clean Water.

It's amazing to see how varied that response is and how it fits for some and not for others.

- And for the Clean Water Celebration, tell us about the focus in terms of ages of the kids there and who they are.

I'm guessing you try and get a, you know, some students maybe from the suburbs, from the city, rural areas, a little bit of everything.

- Yes.

So as far as our audience goes, when it first started as an addition to that Rivers Project with high schoolers presenting, we thought upper elementary, middle school, would be a good match.

They would have the, you know, attention span to listen.

But as the event started growing and we had more participation across the board, we had homeschool families reach out and say, "We'd love to attend.

Are there things that, we're sure there are.

They told us.

We are sure there are things that are happening at your event that my children would benefit from."

So where we look at our presentations mostly, I'd say grades three and up.

And that's where our presenters kind of focus.

And I try and make sure that they're scheduled so that all the third and fourth graders are in one session, and all the seventh and eighth graders are in another session.

A lot of middle, upper elementary and middle school kids attend with their teacher as a class for the day.

But the event is meant to be shared.

Originally we were trying to network with the Rivers Project, not only the students, but the experts they had to come in and learn from.

And so there was the opportunity, we used to have a Sunday part of the event where we opened it up to the community and the keynote speaker would then present to the adult audience.

And then on Monday, they would present to the student audience.

But COVID took that away.

And so we just decided to have everything wrapped in one package.

And so it's open to learners of all ages.

There's plenty of room in that Prairie Home Alliance Theater for seating.

So that is open to the public and the exhibit hall is open.

That floor with 45 exhibits is open from 9:00 to 2:00.

And so there are lots of activities that would fit anyone that's interested in all parts of, I don't know, all perspectives through the water.

- Well, I'm guessing too with all those kids, it could be a little chaotic, but I'm sure that you have a lot of hands-on and very visual type of presentations to grab their attention and keep them focused.

- So each of the exhibitors are asked to have an interactive activity so that when our audience comes up to that exhibit, they can see, by the sign, who's presenting, but that person then, or persons, then tells them what their focus is, what the theme of the exhibit is.

And then they do something hands-on, whether it's a game, or whether they're building something, whether they're looking through a microscope, whether they are creating art.

There's a big community mural where everyone helps create a piece with Big Picture Peoria and Peoria High School Art, students actually create that with support for Big Picture.

So there's a lot.

Yes, it's all hands-on, interactive.

- Susie, from being there in the past, what kind of exhibits do you think really grab the kids' attention?

What are they really into?

- Most of what I see is in my presentation room.

And one thing that the students will say right away when they come into the room is if they have gotten to see an animal.

Because we do have some presenters and some exhibits that feature usually indigenous Illinois animals, sometimes some others, because water's global.

And I think they know, when they come into the presentation room, that I'm going to show them a live animal because they will mention if they haven't seen one and really want to.

So I get to experience what else has been going on at Clean Water Celebration through their eyes.

They'll tell me the presenter that they just came from.

And it's always something completely different from mine.

It'll be like listening to a storyteller tell some stories about, you know, Illinois River lore.

So I do enjoy getting to talk with some of the other presenters.

My room is always right next to the calm room, which I think is the hidden gem at Clean Water Celebration.

- Oh, that's a good point.

And this year the calm room has moved upstairs.

- What is the calm room?

- Because of the construction.

Brandon Mulberry puts together a space that has reduced lighting, soft sounds.

So it's a place where, if you need to bring down the level of mass confusion, we were talking about, or you just need time and space to interact differently than you have been, then that calm room is there.

It's up in 203 this year because of the construction at the Civic Center.

And it's off by itself.

So that's kind of nice.

And I usually go in, 'cause I'm going 100 miles an hour that day, and so I step in and it's quiet.

There's beautiful lighting.

There's water sounds.

There are things that you can hold, you know, and feel.

- It's a big stimulating day.

So, I'm grateful for the calm room folks.

(all laughing) - Sounds like a nice place to be.

- Upstairs for it now.

- That's great.

What are some of the things that you really hope the kids, you know, obviously you want them to have fun, but what are some of the things that you want them to take with them after they leave the Clean Water Conference and maybe talk to their friends about, or tell their parents about?

- I think that's a good question.

I think the biggest thing is connection and how all parts of their life, their lives and our lives, is connected by water.

And what it gives us water is life.

Water drives everything that happens.

We can't do the show without water that help provide the electricity, right?

- I hear a lot in my- - What do you hear?

- In my work in natural resources about data centers and how it takes a lot of water to run a data center.

So even that, so many different aspects of our lives run on water that we don't or that we might not think about.

- Right.

And each year we have a theme.

And so this year, our theme, we're looking at lots of things that are happening during the day, looking at all perspectives.

The theme that we are focusing on is how water kind of links our past to our future.

So how past civilizations used water and how that water is still the water we use today.

It has gone through your water cycle adventure, right, through the water cycle and how we are looking at how we will have to use, how we will be using water and how we have to care for it in the future.

And how that has kind of changed over time.

So a lot of connections that this is how, you know, you may not think about what you have in your backyard as being important, but how you treat your backyard affects the water that's underground.

And so there's a connection there.

So we have to look at our environment and water as being connected to something and everyone.

So connection I think would be the biggest thing.

- That's great.

Let's talk about some of the other things that the Sun Foundation does because you have a lot of very cool programs that I wish were around when I was a kid.

But, Susie, let's talk a little bit about Art and Science in the Woods.

What is that?

- Art and Science in the Woods is the week-long camp at Sun Foundation on the property of the Ericksen's.

And they generously allow hundreds of kids to come out.

I say allow, but that family wants to share the resources they have with these students that come out and take a class for the week.

It's a class that they focus on.

So whether it's forest and prairie ecology, which is probably the best one, or one of the many other wonderful classes that we have, they spend the morning with their major class and then in the afternoon they can choose different minor classes.

So they're not really just focusing on one thing the whole week.

They get to try out different things that might be of interest to them, maybe a class with a ceramicist or learning about wild edible plants and how they can safely identify those and prepare and consume them, or learning to build a fire using, you know, just materials that you find in nature.

- Do you see a lot of kids who maybe, you know, depending on where they grow up or their economic situation, just haven't had the opportunity to go out and learn about nature hands-on?

And what kind of responses do you get from them?

- Absolutely.

A lot of times, at the beginning, there are a lot of unknowns.

A lot of kids might grow up thinking that our woods are full of bears and venomous snakes and, you know, creepy guys lurking in the woods, right?

And in reality, nature is one of the safest places we can be.

Probably the most dangerous thing that we have in our woods here in Illinois are mosquitoes.

But if you haven't experienced that, really the fear is more at the top of your mind.

Kids learning that they can go for a hike that's a mile and their body gives them the ability to do that, and they're proud at the end of that.

And they might have a little bit of mud on their shoes or a lot of mud on their shoes, but the experience has been worth it.

It's super fun to see the kid at the start of the week that has never been swimming in a creek, right?

And I grew up in a pretty urban area near Chicago, I'd never been swimming in a creek as a kid, right?

And at the end of the week, they are trying to get as in that creek as they possibly can.

And that's the most rewarding thing to see, is not necessarily what they learn, and they are learning, but how ready they will be to experience and learn what nature has to offer.

- [Mark] We should say that, you know, you mentioned people going out on the Ericksen's property.

They did start this, and it is a not-for-profit, right?

- It is.

- So you rely obviously on donations and help from corporations to put all this on.

And I know something like the Clean Water Celebration, that's a big deal and you do need a lot of help doing that.

- Right.

And we have sponsors who have been with us.

When it was first created, the organization, Sun Foundation, got together local businesses and agencies who all dealt with water.

And so a lot of our sponsors have been with us as part of a navigating committee and Clean Water Celebration has always had Illinois American Water, has had our back from the 1st to our 33rd year this year as our premier sponsor.

But they provide a lot of resources, not only monetarily, but also within their staff and the things that they can help.

They can help build the knowledge of how water gets to us and how water is transported.

So, yes, we have sponsors, Illinois American Water, Illinois Arts Council.

We have a full list of sponsors.

You can find them on, if you go to Clean Water Celebration at sunfoundation.org, pull the menu down, you'll see sponsors and committees.

So, yeah, we have some 30 sponsors.

- That's great.

- To get that going.

- Susie, what about environmental field trips?

What are the kids learning on those?

- I have not had the opportunity to bring a group out to some foundation for an environmental field trip.

But if I did, I know exactly what I would do.

One of the coolest things about the land at Sun Foundation is you can experience so many different types of natural features on just that property.

So there are woods.

And we are talking woods that are more like a bottom land forest habitat where you've got like a bunch of trees, really dense vegetation, and more open woodlands that feature oak trees that are older than any human that you'll ever meet.

So you could spend your entire time there just studying the ecosystem that is, you know, like the little mini ecosystem that's found on one oak tree.

There are ponds.

There's a creek.

There are a couple of fantastic prairie restorations that I know require a lot of upkeep and care from the staff and volunteers.

And seeing a prairie of multiple acres is kind of a rare thing.

Prairie land is rich and valuable.

So we like to convert it to different things that can be useful for us, right, and just seeing that big space in, you know, the summer and early fall, and all of it's like wildflower glory is a really cool opportunity to learn about.

I mean, we are the prairie state, right?

So getting to do that is a great way to learn about something very close to home.

- Karen, how do you usually find the kids that are being invited to this?

Do they reach out to you?

Do you reach out to them?

How's that work?

- For Art and Science in the Woods, or for Clean Water, or- - For Clean Water.

- Oh, for Clean Water Celebration.

Well, the teacher audience registers and we reach out to the Regional Office of Education and let them know that that's an event that's possible.

Some of the teachers that come were students that came to Clean Water Celebration and they're now bringing their students.

So we reach out to the teachers through the Regional Office of Education.

We send out invites, of course, to those teachers who've attended before.

And a lot of the times, word of mouth is the best way.

If you're a teacher, which I was for a long time, and, you know, you know that that space is a safe space, a rich environment where students will interact.

So then those teachers often share that information with other teachers.

And then we use social media and just reach out to the general public.

And that's how we get kids.

- All right.

Well, this is coming up next week.

And I know that you're working non-stop.

- Yes, a week from today.

- Getting ready for it.

Tell us again your website so people can find out some more information.

- Okay.

So sunfoundation.org.

There'll be a banner that appears on that first page, and at the top will be the list of all these programs we've been talking about.

So you can see Art and Science in the Woods.

You can see the, we didn't talk about the regional granting program is there, Clean Water Celebration is there.

And then just drop down the Clean Water Celebration, and then you'll find a welcome guide and all the information about the events.

So they're like drop-down menus for each of the programs.

- Okay.

Well, we wish you the best of luck at the event.

I know I'll be out there sticking the microphone in some kids' faces, to see how they're doing.

- Great to have you.

- Yeah, we'll be there for Eco-Watch.

So, Karen and Susie, best of luck.

And we will see you out at the Civic Center.

- See you there.

- All right.

- All right.

And thank you for joining us.

If you wanna share this interview with someone on social media or email it to them, just go to our website, wtvp.org.

Have a good night.

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