April 15, 2025
SIU-affiliated Eco Festival to raise funds to benefit STEM educators
CARBONDALE, Ill. – A Southern Illinois University Carbondale-affiliated family event aimed at engaging the community in fun science activities while helping science teachers across the region is set for later this month at a local winery.
Teachers from SIU’s River Region Master Teaching Fellows Program will host the Family Eco Festival, set for 1-5 p.m. April 19 at Alto Vineyards, Alto Pass.
The event is a fundraiser for the nonprofit organization Innovations in STEM Education, a charity fund within the Southern Illinois Community Foundation. Money raised will be distributed to Southern Illinois teachers in need of science materials.
Karen Renzaglia, SIU professor emerita in plant biology, said the festival began a few years ago as a leadership exercise for the 13 master teachers supported by the Robert Noyce National Science Foundation grant to SIU, which she led along with several other SIU researchers.
“Because the grant ended in October 2024, the teachers and I started a nonprofit charity to continue community engagement and to support local educators,” Renzaglia said. “SIU grants and the nonprofit have now sponsored four Family Eco Fests, and the event has gained in popularity each year.”
The program offers K-12 educators assistance in developing effective classroom activities related to STEM, environmental sustainability and environmental justice, Renzaglia said. Last year, the fundraiser provided 10 teachers from six counties with grants that impacted more than 1,000 students.
The event includes hands-on science stations focused on environmental education, local conservation efforts, and arts and crafts. SIU presenters include members of Graduate Research Assistants Supporting Science (GRASS), the STEM Education Research Center (SERC) and the NIH Southern Illinois Bridges to the Baccalaureate Program.
The festival also will showcase local vendors and feature live music. Fundraising activities will include a silent auction and donation opportunities.
The sponsors for the event include Alto Vineyards, Southern Illinois Healthcare, StraightUp Solar, and a SCORE Grant with the Illinois Education Association.