New this Month - October 2026

Oct. 19, 4-5:30 p.m.: Exploring Nature’s Timing and Climate Change: Phenology

Presenter: Lorna Shuman, Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Register for Exploring Nature’s Timing and Climate Change: Phenology 

Check out the rest of the Climate Education Strand at https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Science-Standards.aspx. Click until 2027 Professional Development.

2026 - 2027 Illinois Department of Natural Resources Historic Sites Field Trip Grant 
Closed for 2026

2027 - 2028 Application will be available in April, 2027.

2027 Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant application
There is a new option for schools only in Chicago and East St. Louis metro areas that have no soil on their school grounds. Option 3 has strict guidelines and has native plants in pots. Option 3 will open later this month. Application deadline December 2, 2026.

2027 Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant application 
Application deadline February 1, 2027.

Fall is a great season for young children to explore nature! There is so much to see and learn. Join us to discover what nature can tell us in fall. We?ll take a hike to put our knowledge to work and will feature the Field Trip Pack from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. We'll be incorporating several topics. Although targeted to grades prekindergarten through three, all educators are welcome to register for the workshop, but the information may need to be adapted, as appropriate.

Birds are all around us and provide a gateway to learning about the natural world. This workshop for educators of 5th-12th grade provides an introduction to bird biology, identification, and conservation. Dress for spending time in the forest and prairie at Tawny Oaks Field Station. 

Explore early French Fur Trapping History of Illinois. This interdisciplinary teaching unit for educators of grades four through eight focuses on early exploration and settlement, riparian and geography of early Illinois and compares trapping from the past to the present. Both Illinois science and social studies standards are covered. The activities and lessons are designed to supplement Illinois history and science instruction and includes the uses of wildlife by Indigenous peoples and the trappers who came from Europe. Also highlighted is the conservation movement and how it affects views and uses of wildlife today. Educators of other grade levels are welcome to register and attend the workshop but may need to adapt the materials as appropriate.

ENTICE workshops provide background information, networking opportunities, hands-on lessons, supplemental resources on the topic and the opportunity to work with resources professionals. Professional Development Hours are available. Correlations to relevant Next Generation Science Standards and/or Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards are provided. Shown below is a list of upcoming workshops through June 2026. Visit https://www.enticeworkshops.com for details, the complete list of workshops and to register. Experience ENTICE!

Explore the biological tapestry of the Lake Michigan dune ecosystem and understand what biological session is about. How does something take root on the sand and become stable? How do animals survive in this area? How does change happen over time? Learn more about biological session what is happening on the beach at Lake Michigan. This area is the only dune and swale topography in Illinois.

Birds are all around us and provide a gateway to learning about the natural world. This workshop for educators of 5th-12th grade provides an introduction to bird biology, identification, and conservation. Dress for spending time in the forest and prairie at Tawny Oaks Field Station. 

Fall is a great season for young children to explore nature! There is so much to see and learn. Join us to discover what nature can tell us in fall. We?ll take a hike to put our knowledge to work and will feature the Field Trip Pack from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. We'll be incorporating several topics. Although targeted to grades prekindergarten through three, all educators are welcome to register for the workshop, but the information may need to be adapted, as appropriate.

Explore early French Fur Trapping History of Illinois. This interdisciplinary teaching unit for educators of grades four through eight focuses on early exploration and settlement, riparian and geography of early Illinois and compares trapping from the past to the present. Both Illinois science and social studies standards are covered. The activities and lessons are designed to supplement Illinois history and science instruction and includes the uses of wildlife by Indigenous peoples and the trappers who came from Europe. Also highlighted is the conservation movement and how it affects views and uses of wildlife today. Educators of other grade levels are welcome to register and attend the workshop but may need to adapt the materials as appropriate.

The world is full of objects built by animals to help them survive. Attend this workshop for educators of grades prekindergarten through five and learn about beaver dams, spider webs, bird nests and so many other amazing objects constructed by animals in our local environment. Challenge the engineering skills of your students to create similar structures by using the resources provided and activities presented at the workshop. All educators are welcome to register for the workshop, but the information may need to be adapted, as appropriate.

Discover how to bring the fascinating world of Illinois mammals into your early childhood classroom! This hands-on workshop, designed specifically for early childhood educators, will explore ways to connect young learners with local wildlife through observation, play, and exploration. Participants will learn about common mammals found in Illinois, their tracks and signs, and seasonal behaviors. We'll spend time outdoors investigating habitats and modeling activities you can easily replicate with your students.

They dive, screech, and soar! Take a deep dive into the world of raptors as we learn about the hawks, owls, vultures, falcons, and eagles of Illinois. Explore the life history, biology, and habits of these magnificent birds. Learn tricks and tips for identifying different birds of prey. Staff from the Illinois Raptor Center will have live raptors to observe, too. You'll participate in educational activities related to raptors and will receive many resources to incorporate the topic into your curriculum. This workshop is for grades pre-K to 8th, but can be adapted to other grades.

Temperatures below freezing and snow on the ground might mean warm hot chocolate by the fire for us, but what about the animals that call Illinois home? Have you thought about where the animals go in winter and how they survive the cold? Explore the amazing ways that animals survive in winter, what adaptations they have, and where they are hiding. Discover which animals stay and which ones go! This workshop is for grades PreK-12.

You may know that the white-tailed deer is the state mammal, but did you know it is Illinois' largest herbivore?  But what does it eat, and how does it survive the winter? Discover the answers to these questions and many more as we spend a year with a deer. Explore the life history and biology of this ungulate, hoofed mammal in Illinois. Join us as we discuss deer hunting and population management, and challenges faced by deer, including various diseases. This workshop is for grades 6-12, but can be adapted to other grades.

Have you ever wondered about keeping a collection and how to use one in your teaching? For more than 160 years, the Chicago Academy of Sciences/Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum has been assembling and maintaining a variety of natural history specimens and collections. Teachers of grades PreK-8 can learn about the collections of the Museum and how they can be used to learn more about the past and present of local ecosystems. We will discuss how the museum builds and maintains our collections, and provide guidelines for collecting natural materials and using living and preserved specimens in the classroom. Teachers of other grade levels are welcome to register for this workshop but may need to adapt the materials for their students, as appropriate.  Correlations between the information presented and Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards and Next Generation Science Standards will be addressed.

Check out these field trip sites and ways to connect with IDNR. See what they offer for teachers during this school year! 

Chicago: Jonathan Schlesinger at DNR.urbanfishing.Chicago@Illinois.gov. Chicago teachers who are interested in Urban Fishing Program can fill out this interest form https://forms.gle/ynb8PqtmBdy5S8fu6  

Northern Illinois: north of I-80, includes cities surrounding Chicago, Rockford, Moline, and Rock Island, Frank Sladek at Frank.Sladek@Illinois.gov.

Central Illinois: south of I-80 and north of I-70 (not including Alton/Grafton), includes cities of Quincy, Macomb, Peoria, Springfield, Champaign, Decatur, Danville, and Bloomington, Van Grissom at Van.Grissom@Illinois.gov.

Southern Illinois: South of I-70, including Alton, Edwardsville, Mt. Vernon, Carbondale, East Cape Girardeau, and Cairo please contact Scott Isringhausen at Scott.Isringhausen@Illinois.gov

In addition to scheduled tours, our walk-in visitor’s center is open every day from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm, with several informational displays and windows overlooking the production areas of the hatchery. All ages are welcome, and tours are completely free! For more information on public tours, please call the hatchery at 309-968-7531.

For more information on the hatchery, visit https://ifishillinois.org/programs/hatchery.html or follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JakeWolfHatchery/.

Check out family and children programs at https://www.illinoisstatemuseum.org/welcome-ism-springfield/ism-springfield-upcoming-events.html

Everything is free, vetted by educators and scientists, and aligned to state standards. Check it out at https://illinoisclimateeducation.org/ Check out the 3 free climate modules and other professional development at https://illinoisclimateeducation.org/professional-development.

You can find the  October 2026 DoIT STEAM Newsletter Volume 709 online now. You can view this volume as well as previous volumes directly on the DoIT STEAM Newsletter webpage. Additional resources can be found on the DoIT STEAM website.  

Additional resources can be found on the DoIT STEAM website.   If you have any questions or comments, please email DoiT STREAM at DoIT.Steam@Illinois.gov.  

Check out their three FREE and virtual trainings at https://www.ianetwork.org/distance-learning-sessions-2/. They have resources and other information available at https://www.ianetwork.org/. For more information, please contact Gwyndolyn Moss at gmoss@ianetwork.org. 

Make an impact in your community. Gain professional experience for your resume and college. Receive mentorship.

Develop an environmental, climate, or sustainable project. Submit a video pitch for Round One judging. Finalists pitch their project live with a chance to make your idea a reality!

Who should apply? Team of 1-6 open to all high school students. Future engineers, artists, politicians, scientists, marketers, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and more. Applications are open until November 8, 2026.

Students can complete the interest form and sign up for an info session if they aren’t quite ready to apply.

For more details, visit the Changemaker Green Challenge webpage and for more opportunities for your students, visit the Building Leadership Around Sustainable Transformation (BLAST) page.

The Changemaker Green Challenge is brought to you by Building Leadership Around Sustainable Transformation (BLAST), the youth program of Accelerate Climate Solutions

Two weeks left to sign up for the 2026–27 Illinois Green Schools Project, a program that helps schools lead hands-on sustainability projects with students and staff. Schools are paired with a sustainability mentor, receive resources and support, and can apply for up to $1,000 in mini-grant funding. Watch this video to learn more about the program and register by October 9!

Please contact Twyla Neely-Streit at tneelystreit@illinoisgreenalliance.org