CONEX
Conservation Expo
CONEX is a FREE, public, all ages exposition for people of all ages, sponsored by Homes4Monarchs, and created to showcase the many organizations, agencies, and small businesses throughout Chicagoland that promote conservation and sustainability.
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CONEX is held annually at Amos Alonzo Stagg High School in Palos Hills, Illinois.
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The event features tables representing dozens of nonprofit organizations/agencies like the Shedd Aquarium, Cook County Forest Preserves, Sierra Club, and the Oak Lawn Children's Museum
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ConEx is also a Craft Fair, featuring dozens of tables of local food, craft, and beauty product vendors.
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We also have live animals, a food court, professional speakers in our auditorium, a kids' craft area, and live music.
Scattered throughout CONEX are informational tables with specimens and cirricula from the Field Museum of Natural History and Chicago and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). These info tables are run and facilitated by high-school student volunteers, and are themed with subjects relating to the environment and human culture, such as such as Wild Mammals, Fossils, Wetlands, Ancient Egypt, and World Music
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VIDEO of CONEX: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Nbp-QZezl0
CONEX 2020
CONEX 2020 was held on Saturday, January 11, 2020, from 11am - 4pm
CONEX 2020 expanded upon CONEX 2019's success in several key ways:
We nearly doubled our number of tablers from 2019. This year, nearly 75 organizations and small businesses were represented at CONEX.
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Attendance more than doubled to around 2,500 participants
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We expanded our social media marketing, including a Facebook event post that reached over 56,000 people.
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We displayed a life-sized, touchable, replica T-rex skull from the Field Museum.
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We expanded our live animal encounters (courtesy of Earth Moving Animals Co.) and the organizations that brought live animals to their tables
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We added an official CONEX Food Court, with food vendors like Fat Tommy's Hot Dogs, Doughs Guys Cupcakes, and Big Jim's Donuts.
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We expanded the Kids Craft Area to include free Face Painting
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We increased the number of high-school student volunteer to 70, up from 55 last year.
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We increased the number of student-run tables to nearly 20.
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We expanded the live music to include a Stagg student rock band
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We increased the number of professional speakers in our auditorium to 5
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VIDEO of CONEX: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Nbp-QZezl0
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Chicago Tribune Articles on CONEX:
PRE-EVENT
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POST-EVENT
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COMPLETE TABLING LIST
ORGANIZATIONS:
Alliance for the Great Lakes
Avail Chiropractic
Brookfield Zoo: Chicago Zoological Society
Chicago Audubon Society
Chicago Bird Collision Monitors
Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning
Chicago Pigeon Pets Rescue
Chicago Region Trees Initiative
Chicago River Canoe and Kayak
Children’s Museum in Oak Lawn
Citizens Utility Board
Climate Reality Project
Faith in Place
Field Museum of Natural History
Forest Preserves of Cook County
Geography & Environmental Studies Department at NE Illinois University
Girl Scouts Service Unit 614 - Troop 65493
HAX
Hickory Hills Wood Workers Club
Illinois Bobcat Foundation
Indiana Dunes National Park
Lake Katherine Nature Center
Little Garden Club of Wilmette
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District
MGB Youth Agency
Midwest Soarring
Monarch Mommas & Papas
Nicor Gas
Orland Grassland Volunteers
Palos Park Garden Guild I/Palos Park Women’s Club
Palos Park Public Library
Palos Restoration Project
Pathway to Adventure Council: Boy Scouts of America
Protostar
Rodent Poison Kills More than Mice
Shedd Aquarium
Shen Yun
Sierra Club: Sauk Calumet Chapter
The Friends of the Indian Boundary Prairie
The Resiliency Institute
United States Marine Corps
University of Illinois: Master Gardeners / Conservation@Home Initiative
University of Illinois: Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences
VENDORS:
Annanalflakes
Avon
Body & Brain Yoga TaiChi
Botanical Art by Heeyoung Kim
Butter Duck Farms
Cathy Mikoff
Color Street
Doughs Guys
Enameled Glass Creations
Fat Tommy's
Fleece by Karen
Grow It Greener Chicago
Heather’s Backyard Haven
Intoxicating Illuminations
Jim Rowan Photography
Jody’s Jems
Jonesin’ for Jewelry
Just For Fun Novelties
K.D. Enterprise
Kayme’s Kreations
Margie’s Menagerie/Vantel Pearls
Norwex
Nurturing Through Nature
Oddities Market
Paparazzi Jewelry
Partylite
Pink Zebra
Quality Plus Photo Design Center
Stray Cat Art
The Prairie Enthusiasts
Usborne Books & More
Will’s Custom Rings
Wyndie’s Photography
Young Living Essential Oils
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Facebook Post on ConEx: https://www.facebook.com/events/437356473857168/
CONEX 2019
CONEX 2019 was held on Saturday, January 12, 2020, from 12pm - 4pm
CONEX 2019 was Homes4Monarchs' first ever CONEX
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In CONEX 2019, we had representation from around 40 local organizations and small-businesses promoting community awareness, nature protection, and human health.
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Over 1,000 people attended CONEX 2019.
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We had 4 professional speakers in our auditorium, a kids' craft area, and live piano, guitar, and jazz-band performances from Stagg students.
There were also over a dozen info tables scattered throughout CONEX that were run by 55 Stagg student volunteers with subjects such as Wild Mammals, Fossils, and the Eat-a-Bug Station.
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Though we did not have a bona fide food court, the Stagg Athletic Boosters did sell snacks and Doughs Guys sold their world-famous cupcakes.
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VIDEO of CONEX: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Nbp-QZezl0
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Palos Patch Articles on CONEX: https://patch.com/illinois/palos/free-conservation-expo-stagg-high-school-saturday
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https://patch.com/illinois/palos/staggs-first-conex-huge-success
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Facebook Post on ConEx: https://www.facebook.com/events/325587561617595/