About Us

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 We manage the Callie Mae Spraggins Savanna Nature Preserve, ensuring that one of the last large-scale high-quality ecosystems in Illinois remains protected. Our team facilitates scientific research, environmental stewardship, and community engagement. 

 Biodiversity Defense-We actively manage the "Callie Mae Spraggins Savanna" to protect 13 state-listed species. By removing invasive brush and performing controlled burns, we ensure that the Yellow Wild Indigo and Primrose Violet—species found almost nowhere else in Illinois—continue to thrive.  

Habitat Connectivity-Serving as a "conservation bridge," our 5-acre dedicated nature preserve links the Carl N. Becker Savanna with IDNR lands, creating a contiguous 43-acre landscape of protected habitat for migratory birds and rare wildlife. 

Destination Development: By establishing high-quality trails and the region’s only "unplugged" cabin retreats, we tap into a growing 2026 market for sustainable travel, drawing overnight visitors who invest in the local economy.

Sustainable Job Creation: CESLC provides direct employment in land management, equestrian services, and park administration. We prioritize local hiring, turning conservation expertise into a viable career path for Pembroke residents.

Honoring Our Roots: Pembroke Township is the largest historically Black farming community north of the Mason-Dixon line. Our initiative celebrates this history by integrating traditional land-stewardship techniques with modern environmental science.

Ancestral Stewardship: We utilize the ingenuity of the formerly enslaved people who first settled this land, showcasing how they thrived in sandy soil and reinforcing the deep, historical identity tied to the Kankakee Sands.

Science-First Programming: In partnership with organizations like Openlands and Illinois Audubon, we provide a technical curriculum for K-12 students. Our programs turn the savanna into a laboratory for botany, floristic inventory, and climate resilience study.

Interactive Seed Beds: We maintain specialized seed beds used to teach sustainable horticulture. This program not only educates but also helps propagate native species to be used in restoration projects across the county.

Youth Empowerment: Through our partnership with Catalyst, we offer leadership training and after-school programs that provide a safe, constructive environment for local youth to develop professional skills.

Wellness & Recreation: By providing free access to residents of Kankakee County, we offer a natural space for physical exercise, mental health "unplugging," and family-centered recreational activities like horse-riding and hiking.

Eco-Modular Homes: We advocate for "Small-Footprint" modular homes designed specifically for sandy terrain. These units utilize pier-foundation systems that preserve the native ground cover and rare root systems of the savanna, minimizing the ecological disruption traditional basements cause.

Solar-First Infrastructure: Recognizing the rural nature of Pembroke, our initiative prioritizes off-grid or hybrid solar arrays for every unit. This eliminates high utility burdens for low-income residents and ensures energy resilience during regional power fluctuations.

Recycled & Local Components: We promote the use of fire-resistant, sustainable materials that can withstand the unique dry-mesic conditions of the area. By utilizing reclaimed wood and "green" insulation, we reduce the carbon footprint of the construction phase while providing superior thermal regulation.

Passive Solar Heating: Homes are oriented to maximize natural light and heat during Illinois winters, significantly lowering the "cost of living" for community members on fixed incomes.

Integrated Food Forests: Every housing cluster includes a community-managed "Sand Prairie Garden." These gardens provide residents with access to fresh produce grown in specialized raised beds, addressing the "food desert" challenges often faced by distressed rural communities.

Water Conservation Systems: Our initiative implements advanced greywater recycling and rainwater harvesting. This protects the delicate high water table of the Kankakee Sands while providing free irrigation for resident gardens.

"Build-to-Own" Training: In partnership with local trade organizations, we offer a vocational component where community members can participate in the construction of their own homes. This provides valuable "green-collar" job skills in solar installation and sustainable carpentry.

Equitable Land Stewardship: We work with the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission to identify "buffer zones" outside of core protected areas where sustainable housing can be placed, ensuring that low-income families have the dignity of living in a world-class natural environment.

Land Trust Partnerships: To prevent predatory speculation and ensure permanent affordability, this initiative utilizes a Community Land Trust (CLT) model. This keeps the land in the hands of the nonprofit or the community while allowing residents to build equity in the home structures.

Educational Integration: Residents of the SSHP become "Savanna Stewards," receiving specialized training from CESLC on how to live in harmony with rare species like the Ornate Box Turtle, turning the community into a living example of sustainable cohabitation.

Regional Advocacy: We serve as a key member of the Kankakee Sands Conservation Opportunity Area, working alongside the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission to secure state and federal grants that benefit the entire township.

B2B Synergies: We work with local hotels, restaurants, and vendors to provide "all-inclusive" experiences for our visitors, ensuring that the revenue generated at the preserve flows directly back into Pembroke’s small businesses.