PORTAGE | Environmentalist Lee Botts knows that her recent report, "The Restoration Revolution in Northwest Indiana," probably won't be recreational reading for most region residents.

But a poster unveiled Thursday at the offices of the Northwestern Regional Planning Commission here might bring the words of Botts' report to life to students and adults throughout the area.

"The idea is that restoration is happening in Northwest Indiana and things are getting better," said Botts.

The poster spotlights 169 restoration projects throughout Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties and highlights those involved in the projects.

The poster is designed to be put up on a classroom wall for children to look, read and understand the importance of restoration to the region as a whole and to their community. It also, said Botts, is designed to inspire people, especially children, to get involved in restoration projects or to even think about environmental restoration as an occupation.

The project, which resulted in the report and poster, began as part of her role as senior adviser to the Quality of Life Council. Ten agencies co-sponsored the report, including NIRPC, the Save the Dunes Conservation Fund, Indiana University Northwest Center for Regional Excellence, Northwest Indiana Forum, Shirley Heinze Land Trust, The Nature Conservancy, Wildlife Habitat Council, Coffee Creek Conservancy, Taltree Arboretum and the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore.

The poster was produced through a partnership with the Center for Regional Excellence at Indiana University Northwest and NIRPC. They printed 7,000 copies to be distributed.

Botts' goal is to get it into the hands of those "beyond the conservation community."

"The point is that we don't think the people are aware. All us groupies, we are involved, we are aware. They (the general public) don't realize how much effort is involved in restoration," she said. "We are trying to think of ways to get it out to a much broader audience."