2021 Windy City Coop Tour Host Application
The 11th Annual Windy City Coop (& Eco-Yards) Tour is back this Sat Sept 25 & Sun Sept 26!

APPLICATION DEADLINE: FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 3, 2021

Since 2010, over 100 Tour Hosts have shared their examples of backyard livestock and "eco-yards" with hundreds of Tour Visitors eager to see area coops and flocks, other critters, and innovative urban sustainability practices.

This year's tour is made possible through partnership with Advocates for Urban Agriculture. Advocates for Urban Agriculture (AUA) empowers urban growers to foster thriving communities through sustainable agriculture and equitable food systems.

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COVID-19 Delta Variant Precautions
Cook County is considered a SUBSTANTIAL RISK AREA for contraction of the Delta variant surging in the US currently. In order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 Delta, we STRONGLY ENCOURAGE all hosts and guests to wear masks and practice social distancing in accordance with the current recommendations from the CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/about-face-coverings.html

It is strongly advised that Hosts and Guests:
• Use hand sanitizer and/or wash hands with soap and water between sites/guests.
• Put 3ft distance or more between yourself, hosts and other guests.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a mask, especially if you are unvaccinated.
• Monitor your health and if you are experiencing any symptoms of illness as the Tour approaches, please inform us immediately.

NOTE: Hosts reserve the right to require masks for guests and to refuse entry to any visitors who do not agree to the Host's requirements. Hosts may (and are encouraged to) limit the number of guests in their private spaces.

Sanitation Stations:
We strongly encourage tour hosts to have a "sanitation station" as part of your biosecurity this year. To protect all hosts and attendees, extra masks and hand sanitizer should be made available to guests. Thanks to funding through the AUA, the Coop Tour organizers have access to a limited supply of single-use masks, bleach for foot baths and hand sanitizer. Please indicate when prompted if you would like to be provided a small quantity of these supplies, courtesy of AUA.


How To Apply
APPLY BY FRIDAY AUGUST 27 TO HOST THE 2021 TOUR
1) Fill out the online form, 2021 WCCT Host Application
2) Email one or more good photos of your coop/run, surrounding yard, and urban eco-examples you want to highlight to windycitycooptour@gmail.com.

Guidelines and tips:
~ Host Sites should offer a good demonstration of the care of urban poultry/livestock and/or other sustainability practices, in a space that can accommodate a flow of foot traffic.
~ The Tour is also open to Hosts who may not have poultry but DO have other examples to share: intensive food production, water collection, solar and other renewable energy, etc.
~ Indicate the dates that you are able/willing to host. You can Host on either or both days of the Tour, and any or all of the 4 time slots (10AM-1PM and/or 1PM-4PM each day).
~ Organizers will review applications and confirm approved Hosts BY SUNDAY AUGUST 2.
~ If you previously hosted the Tour, please do fill out the Application and send new photos for complete and accurate Site Info.

By applying to Host, you agree to open your property to Visitors on your selected date(s), and to allow your site address and description to be shared publicly on print and online Tour materials. Tour site info and map WILL NOT include Hosts' names or contact info.

Tour organizers use the information you provide to approve Host Sites and to plan and promote the Tour. We urge all Hosts to attend the pre-Tour orientation in early Sept (Date TBD) to review logistics and prep with other Hosts, and pick up signs and materials.

MANY THANKS to all for your generosity and commitment to demonstrating urban ecology and food production!
1. BASIC INFORMATION
Please provide detailed contact information for Tour organizers' use. The public will NOT have access to this information.
First Name: *
Last Name: *
Preferred phone number (especially for day of the Tour): *
Preferred email address: *
Do you speak a language other than English (enough to speak with Visitors)? *
what language/s? we will include this in Site Info that goes out for the Tour
Coop Location
Full street address (number and name) *
Municipality *
Zipcode *
If in Chicago, what is your neighborhood? *
Put N/A if not in Chicago
If in Chicago, what is your ward? *
Participation Dates
You can host one or both days of the Tour during any or all of the time windows. Please check YES for the date(s) and time(s) that you want to Host and NO for those you do not.
Would you like to host Visitors on Saturday, Sept 25 from 10AM to 1PM? *
Required
Would you like to host Visitors on Saturday, Sept 25 from 1PM to 4PM? *
Required
Would you like to host Visitors on Sunday, Sept 26 from 10AM to 1PM? *
Required
Would you like to host Visitors on Sunday, Sept 26 from 1PM to 4PM? *
Required
2. SITE INFORMATION
Tell us about your chickens and other poultry *
How many birds are in your flock/s, what breeds, other details? If you don't keep poultry, write "None"
Tell us about other livestock *
In addition or instead of poultry...what, how many, breeds...if none, write "None"
Describe livestock structures (coop, run, pens, etc) *
Provide details to share with Tour Visitors, like if you built or bought ready-made, and details about construction, materials, function, etc. If none, write N/A.
Describe your site's Eco-Yard elements and practices *
Examples: intensive food gardens and edible landscaping, rain gardens and native plantings, composting, rainwater collection and/or irrigation, solar or other renewable energy, human-powered equipment, other? If none, write "None"
Other info to share with Visitors?
Site Logistics
Consider the context of your coop for visit by groups of people, including children. NOTE: Dogs are NOT allowed on the Tour.
How many people can you accommodate at one time? *
Consider social distancing, ability to view coop, etc yet not step on/in plants and other fragile aspects of your site
Is your coop/yard wheelchair accessible? *
Answer Yes/No, then give any instructions as needed.
Do you agree to follow mask and social distance guidelines to mitigate spread of COVID-19 as advised by the CDC and strongly requested by ChiChickEns and the AUA? *
Answer Yes/No, then give any instructions as needed.
Would you like to be provided a supply of masks and hand sanitizer, curtesy of the AUA? *
Answer Yes/No, then give any instructions as needed.
3. COOP TOUR PROMOTION
We receive requests from local media to interview Coop Tour Hosts before and/or during the Tour. Interviews may include photography, filming, or audio recording. Note Yes or No below if you are willing to be interviewed by the press.
I am willing to be interviewed by the media *
Required
Please complete the following sentences. *
1) I/We keep backyard chickens because...  2) I/We look forward to hosting the Tour because...  3) I/We love the Tour because...
4. PHOTOS
Your application to Host the Tour is not complete until we receive representative photos of your coop and run, your chickens, and your yard! We use these to review your application AND to make Tour map and materials.
SEND EMAIL including photos to windycitycooptour AT gmail.com.
You can provide brief descriptions of your photos in this window, or in the email accompanying the photos.
If you are approved as a Host, we will link one of the photos to your address on the Tour Map.
Photo Descriptions *
That's it! THANK YOU!
You can reach Tour organizers with ideas, questions, and offers to help by email via windycitycooptour “at” gmail.com.
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