New this Month - December 2023

Coyote Tracks: Explore the 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. https://coyotetrack.org/

Wild Illinois History: Explore Wild Illinois History online interactive student activity and lessons focusing on early Illinois wildlife history and fur-trapping. https://wildillinois.org/

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

Have you felt that you needed a little more understanding of what to do when applying for an IDNR Education Grant for your classroom? Please join us to learn some tips and how to do on our grants. All of the training will be online. You must sign up with this link! The training sessions will last less than one hour.

December 19 2023 at 3:30 p.m.

January 16, 2023 at 3:30 p.m.

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 May 2024. Visit https://www.enticeworkshops.com for details, the complete list of workshops and to register. Experience ENTICE!

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.

Winter is a wonderful season for young children to explore nature! There is so much to see and learn,  you just have to look for the signs. Join us to discover what nature can tell us in winter. 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 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’ll 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.

This workshop for educators of grades prekindergarten through 12 will provide an introduction to and educational resources about the wild reptiles and amphibians in our state. We will focus on the life history of these species, and we will go on a hike to look for reptiles and amphibians, and their signs. We will show you how to use the topic of “Illinois wild reptiles and amphibians” 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. 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.

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. 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.

In urban, suburban and rural locations in Illinois, oaks carry special significance as reminders of our history and drivers of biodiversity. Teachers of grades PK-8 can join us to explore the various species of oaks, and the characteristics of the ecosystems in which they are found, including forests, woodlands, savannas, and barrens. Why are oak ecosystems special, and what is being done in Illinois to conserve them? Teachers of other grade levels are welcome to register for this workshop but may need to adapt the materials for their students, 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.

Often when exploring nature, instead of seeing an animal, we find what it left behind. Join us in this exploration of animal signs and how they relate to habitats. We'll be practicing our skills on an outdoor field trip, too. We'll show you how to incorporate the topic into your lessons and provide resources to help you do so. 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.  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.

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. 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.

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.

This workshop for educators of grades prekindergarten through 12 will provide an introduction to and educational resources about the wild reptiles in our state. We will focus on the life history of these species, and we will go on a hike to look for reptiles and their signs. We will show you how to use the topic of "Illinois wild reptiles" 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. 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.

Join other educators of grades prekindergarten through four as we learn what wetlands are and explore the fascinating organisms that live in them. We will discuss the life history, adaptations and identification of wetland species and will put the skills to practice as we visit and sample several wetlands on the grounds, comparing the types of organisms found in the different habitats. Hands-on activities will be conducted, and you will receive supplemental educational resources. Educators of other grade levels are welcome to register and attend the workshop but may need to adapt the materials as appropriate. 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.

Mosquitos and ticks are often looked at as the scourge of summer. These fascinating creatures fill an important niche. Explore how they live, the various types, diseases they carry, and where they are found. Participants will be seeing how scientist sample and study them. Hands-on activities will be conducted, and you will receive supplemental educational resources. Educators of all grade levels are welcome to register and attend the workshop but may need to adapt the materials as appropriate. 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.

Join other educators of grades prekindergarten through four as we learn what wetlands are and explore the fascinating organisms that live in them. We will discuss the life history, adaptations and identification of wetland species and will put the skills to practice as we visit and sample several wetlands on the grounds of The Grove, comparing the types of organisms found in the different habitats. Hands-on activities will be conducted, and you?ll receive supplemental educational resources. Educators of other grade levels are welcome to register and attend the workshop but may need to adapt the materials as appropriate. 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.

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 PK-8 can learn about the collections of the Museum and what they can teach us about changes in Illinois ecosystems over time. 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. Educators will be pinning dead invertebrates as part of this workshop. Teachers of other grade levels are welcome to register for this workshop but may need to adapt the materials for their students, as appropriate. Register here.

The Wood-warbler T-Shirt from the State Fair is available for purchase. Proceeds go to support and bird and other environmental education for teachers. Check out what is available at https://www.bonfire.com/il-wood-warblers/.

Free Angler and Aquatic Education Programs for students: Teachers across the state are encouraged to contact their regional Urban Fishing Program Coordinator to learn more about how they can schedule free angler and aquatic education programs.

Chicago: Jonathan Schlesinger at DNR.urbanfishing.Chicago@Illinois.gov. Interested in Programs in Chicago, please fill out this form.

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

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. 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.

Planning a trip to Starved Rock and Matthiessen State Parks? Check out the Parks new K-2nd Teacher Resource Packet for field trips.

Volo Bog State Natural Area in Ingleside offers eighteen different nature/science programs for students PK – High School. All registration is by phone at 815-344-1294. Maximum group size is 72 including adults. For the Fall, programs are offered only Wednesdays and Thursdays. Explore the different programs here!

The Illinois State Board of Education and Illinois Green Alliance are have launched the application process for the 2023-24 Illinois Green Ribbon Schools award.  This program is designed to recognize and celebrate the unwavering commitment of Illinois schools, districts, and institutions of higher education to environmental education and sustainability.  Visit the ISBE program webpage to learn more about requirements for the Green Ribbon Schools program. Interested applicants are encouraged to participate in ISBE's informational webinar on Wednesday, Sept. 26, to gain insights into the awards process and explore how their school communities can engage with ISBE's Green Ribbon Schools program. All application materials must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Dec. 22, 2023. Please contact greenribbon@isbe.net if you have questions about the awards program.