New this Month - June 2023

Check out our newly updated webpage and update your links to IDNR, Education. We have recently migrated our webpage. 

Applications are being accepted for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Historic Sites Field Trip Grant, Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant, and Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant. You can access the instructions, application forms and other relevant information for all three grant progams here. Start planning today!

This Web page is updated regularly with new information. Check out the milkweeds and orchids pages in the "Plants" section. Click on the common name/scientific name to see the species page. Visit and explore!

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources' resources trunks and packs are available for loan from locations throughout the state. Trunk topics include wild mammals, trees, prairies, aquatics, invasive species, birds, fossils, pollinators, amphibians and reptiles, state symbols, people and animals from Illinois' past and nature exploration for early childhood students. Teachers, homeschooling educators, scout and youth group leaders, nature center personnel, librarians, day care center staff, camp coordinators and families are among the people who can successfully use these resources. A two-week loan period is suggested. There is no charge to borrow the trunks/packs, although a refundable deposit may be requested. Click here to find the contact information to make a reservation and view the trunk/pack contents lists.

Register soon for ENTICE (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) professional development workshops for educators sponsored by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. 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 August 2023. Visit https://www.enticeworkshops.com for details, the complete list of workshops and to register. Experience ENTICE!

Coyote Track

Giant City State Park, Makanda

June 3, 2023, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Coyote Track is a standards-based, educational program developed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ (IDNR) Division of Wildlife Resources with assistance from the IDNR Division of Education. The program is centered around coyote ecology and behavior related to data collected from radio-collared coyotes in urban and rural areas of Illinois. This workshop will guide participants through the visualization data tool and lessons that support the unit. The workshop is for teachers of Illinois high school and middle school students. Professional Development Hours are available. Register here.

Animal Architects

Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe

June 10, 2023, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

The world is full of objects built by animals to help them survive. Attend this workshop for educators of grades prekindergarten through three and learn about beaver dams, spider webs, mussel shells, 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. Professional Development Hours are available. This class is full. To be added to the waitlist, email lorna.shuman@illinois.gov.

Illinois Pollinators

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Carlyle Lake Visitors’ Center, Carlyle

June 17, 2023, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

They buzz, flutter and crawl and play a critical role in maintaining ecosystems and human food supply. Educators of grades kindergarten through eight are invited to register for this workshop to learn about the importance of pollination, the identification of Illinois pollinators and the challenges they face in the modern world. Educators will view an observation hive and take a walk to a pollinator garden on the visitors’ center grounds. You will participate in activities and take home many resources to add to your curriculum. Professional Development Hours are available. Register here.

Illinois Birds for Junior High and High School Teachers

Sagawau Environmental Learning Center, Lemont

June 21, 2023, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Bring the biodiversity of Illinois birds into your classroom. Targeted for educators of junior high school and high school, this workshop will focus on the ecology of birds. We will spend time in the field studying avian behavior and participating in a bird banding demonstration. We will also provide bird banding data sets for two species of birds to take back to your classroom for students to analyze and interpret. You will leave feeling confident leading students in observing and interpreting birds while meeting Next Generation Science Standards.  Educators of other grade levels are welcome to register for the workshop, but the information may need to be adapted, as appropriate. Professional Development Hours are available. Register here.

Wildlife Basics: Illinois Wild Mammals

Vermilion County Conservation District, Danville

July 6, 2023, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

This workshop for educators of grades prekindergarten through 12 will provide an introduction to and educational resources about the wild mammals in our state. We will focus on the life history of these species, and we will go on a hike to look for mammals and their signs. We will show you how to use the topic of “Illinois wild mammals” to support the teaching of several of the Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards for science and Next Generation Science Standards with your students. Professional Development Hours are available. Register here.

Illinois Raptors

Illinois Raptor Center, Decatur

August 26, 2023, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Educators of grades prekindergarten through eight are invited to register for this workshop to learn about the hawks, owls, vultures, falcons and eagles of Illinois at the Illinois Raptor Center in Decatur. Life history and identification information will be provided. 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 help you incorporate the topic into your curriculum. Teachers of other grade levels are welcome to register and attend the workshop but may need to adapt the information as appropriate. Professional Development Hours are available. Register here.

Illinois Tree Squirrels

Hickory Knolls Discovery Center, St. Charles

September 16, 2023

How much do you really know about squirrels? Come to this workshop and learn about the life history of Illinois tree squirrels. We will go for a hike to observe squirrels and evidence of their presence. We will look at how you can use squirrel observations to help you meet some of the Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards in science and Next Generation Science Standards. Although targeted to teachers of grades prekindergarten through four, all educators are welcome to register for this workshop but may need to adapt the materials for their students, as appropriate. Supplemental resources will be provided. Professional Development Hours are available. This workshop is part of the ENTICE (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) program from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Register here.

Tree Homes

The Morton Arboretum, Lisle

September 23, 2023

From the camouflage of a walking stick insect to the nest of a great horned owl, animals of all shapes and sizes rely on the natural habitat created by trees for their daily needs. Learn about some of these amazing tree dwellers and how they use trees in a variety of ways as we explore the woodlands, wetlands and prairie at The Morton Arboretum. Although targeted to teachers of grades prekindergarten through four, other educators are welcome to register and attend the workshop but may need to adapt the materials as appropriate. Supplemental resources will be provided. Professional Development Hours are available. This workshop is part of the ENTICE (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) program from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Register here.

Illinois Biodiversity 101

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, Chicago

September 30, 2023

What is biodiversity? Does Illinois have much biodiversity? How are plants and animals adapted for survival in the four major habitat types in the state? Can some species live in all these habitats? We will answer these questions and provide much more information about aquatic, woodland, wetland and urban habitats and their inhabitants in this introduction to the natural resources of our state. Numerous supplemental educational items will be provided. Although targeted to educators of grades kindergarten and three, educators of other grade levels are welcome to register but may need to adapt the materials as appropriate. Professional Development Hours are available. Sponsored by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, this workshop is part of the ENTICE (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) program. Register here.

Introducing Young Children to the Nature of Fall

Chicago Botanic Garden

Glencoe, October 7, 2023

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 will take a hike to put our knowledge to work and will feature the Field Trip Pack from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). We will be incorporating animal tracks, animal signs, seeds and changes in leaves, too. We will show you how to support the teaching of several of the Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards for science and Next Generation Science Standards with your students. Although targeted to grades prekindergarten through two, all educators are welcome to register for the workshop, but the information may need to be adapted, as appropriate. You will take away numerous resources to use with young children when learning about nature. Professional Development Hours are available. This workshop is part of the ENTICE (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) program from the IDNR. Register here.

Birds of Illinois

Jubilee Farms, New Berlin

October 28, 2023

Bring the biodiversity of Illinois birds into your classroom by taking a closer look at birds.  See how birds use their physical characteristics to adapt to the environment and how each species has a unique niche in the ecosystem. The class will be working with the Lincoln Land Association of Bird Banders to see science in action and explore how and what scientists do in the field. Explore why we track and band birds. Come dressed to spend some time outside and take a walk on the prairie identifying birds in their natural habitat. Educators will learn first-hand by participating in educational activities related to birds. This workshop is targeted at teachers of grades PreK through 12th. Some materials may need to be adapted as appropriate. Supplemental resources will be provided. Professional Development Hours are available. This workshop is part of the ENTICE (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) program from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Register here.

Coyote Track

Sagawau Environmental Learning Center, Lemont

November 4, 2023

Explore Coyote Track interactive visualization tool. This online site centers around coyote ecology and behavior related to data collected from radio-collared coyotes in urban and rural areas of Illinois. Using real data, this workshop will guide participants through the visualization data tool and standard-based lessons that support the unit. Participants will learn about how and why scientists are studying coyotes in Illinois including learning about telemetry and how the information is gathered. The workshop is for teachers of Illinois high school and middle school students. Professional Development Hours are available. Sponsored by the IDNR, this workshop is part of the ENTICE (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) program. Register here.

Wild Illinois History

Starved Rock State Park, Utica

November 11, 2023

Wild Illinois History is a self-contained teaching unit for educators of grades four through eight. The online interactive student activity and lessons are designed to supplement Illinois history instruction by focusing on information regarding early exploration and settlement, riparian and geography in what was to become Illinois and the uses of wildlife by Indigenous peoples and the trappers who came from Europe. The activity also highlights 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. Supplemental resources will be provided. Professional Development Hours are available. This workshop is part of the ENTICE (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) program from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Register here.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources' Biodiversity of Illinois Species Search Web page allows you to find information quickly and easily. Give it a try!

Ever wonder where the big bass, plentiful panfish or massive muskie in your local lake come from? Come to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources' Jake Wolf Memorial Fish Hatchery in Topeka, Illinois, and find out! Now is a great time to visit Illinois' largest fish hatchery to see where many of your favorite sportfish begin their life. Jake Wolf Fish Hatchery accepts requests for scheduled tours, by appointment only, Monday-Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Tour groups are limited to 15 people. All ages are welcome. For more information on public tours please call the hatchery at 309-968-7531 or email site coordinator Frank Sladek at Frank.Sladek@illinois.gov. For more information on the hatchery, visit https://ifishillinois.org/programs/hatchery.html or follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JakeWolfHatchery/.

Thank you for choosing Starved Rock and Matthiessen State Parks as a field trip destination for your students, scouts and classmates! What better location to engage students in their natural surroundings than the trails, canyons and sandstone overlooks of these two state parks. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) offers FREE guided hikes/programs by request through the Natural Resources Coordinator. Can't make it to the park for an on-site field trip? The IDNR has educational trunks and packs available for loan to educators on topics such as mammals, birds, trees, insects, people of Illinois' past and more. Further information can be found here. Not comfortable using the educational trunks and curriculum? No problem, the Natural Resources Coordinator can come to you! Schedule a Classroom Visit or a Virtual Visit with a Naturalist here. Call or email to set up your field trip today! Lisa Sons, Natural Resources Coordinator, lisa.sons@illinois.gov, 815-667-5356

Love Our River Day, June 11, 2023 

dnr.volobog@illinois.gov