New this Month - April 2025

They buzz, flutter, and crawl and play a critical role in maintaining ecosystems and human food supply. Educators of kindergarten through eighth grade are invited to register for this workshop to learn about the importance of pollination, identify Illinois pollinators, look at spring ephemerals, and learn about the challenges they face in the modern world. Educators will take a walk to a pollinator garden on the visitors' center grounds. 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.

Explore the biodiversity of Illinois bird species during spring migration season! See birds up-close with a bird netting activity and learn about current bird research being conducted in east central Illinois. Bird adaptations and life history will also be discussed. Dress appropriately for a hike to search for birds and their signs. Discussions and activities will target grades K - 6, however, all educators are welcome to register for the workshop and can adapt the information 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.

Join us at the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center to explore the importance of pollinators and prairies in Illinois. Participants will hear from a native bee expert. Explore activities that bring pollinator science to the classroom. The workshop will include a tour of the Palisades Nature Preserve, where National Great Rivers, forest ecology lab is completing a botanical inventory of the loess hill prairies found there. 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.

The 2025 - 2026 IDNR Historic Sites Field Trip Grant application is open! The application deadline is September 30, 2025.

The 2026 Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant and the Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant applications are both open, too.

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 2025. Visit https://www.enticeworkshops.com for details, the complete list of workshops and to register. Experience ENTICE!

Need an out of the box way to engage your students in ecology? Looking for a creative way to engage your learners in scientific principles while also investigating local habitats? This class will cover how using a charismatic enigma can get your students to be passionately curious about Illinois and the flora and fauna. When there are no perceived experts, how far can your students go to answer questions? 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.

Explore the biodiversity of Illinois bird species during spring migration season! See birds up-close with a bird netting activity and learn about current bird research being conducted in east central Illinois. Bird adaptations and life history will also be discussed. Dress appropriately for a hike to search for birds and their signs. Discussions and activities will target grades K - 6, however, all educators are welcome to register for the workshop and can adapt the information 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.

They buzz, flutter, and crawl and play a critical role in maintaining ecosystems and human food supply. Educators of kindergarten through eighth grade are invited to register for this workshop to learn about the importance of pollination, identify Illinois pollinators, look at spring ephemerals, and learn about the challenges they face in the modern world. Educators will take a walk to a pollinator garden on the visitors' center grounds. 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.

Join other educators of grades second through ninth 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. 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.

Join us at the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center to explore the importance of pollinators and prairies in Illinois. Participants will hear from a native bee expert. Explore activities that bring pollinator science to the classroom. The workshop will include a tour of the Palisades Nature Preserve, where National Great Rivers, forest ecology lab is completing a botanical inventory of the loess hill prairies found there. 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.

Use citizen science and river exploration as models to discover how Universal Design can help your classroom be fully inclusive and reach students of all abilities. Explore new tools to engage all students with the necessity of healthy waterways for humans and wildlife. Discover concrete, actionable ways to connect all students with the important path water must take to reach us safely. Although targeted for educators of grades 4th through 12th, all educators are welcome to register for this workshop. This is a fully inclusive program, welcoming individuals of all abilities. 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.

Investigate some of the amazing insects that call Illinois home. PreK through 12th grade educators will learn sampling techniques and how to identify various insects, and some non-insects, too. Explore the life histories of some common insects, including some that begin life in the water and look for patterns in habitat preferences. Discuss how to develop wildlife habitat on your school grounds to attract insects to study. All educators are welcome to register for the workshop, but the information may need to be adapted, as appropriate. 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.

Sometimes a weed growing in the cracks of a sidewalk, or pigeons nesting in the eaves of a building are better teachers than we realize. Learn more about how urban flora and fauna can be just as impactful as visiting a forest preserve. Educators will be introduced to strategies to utilize nature in their neighborhood to bring their science curriculum to life. Although targeted to teachers of pre-K through second grade, all educators are welcome to register for the workshop, but the information 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.

Join us for a day learning about the most imperiled aquatic organisms in our community, freshwater mussels. Explore the life cycle of freshwater mussels, their ecological value, the challenges they face in the wild, and the cutting-edge science happening to help keep common mussels common at the Urban Stream Research Center in Blackwell Forest Preserve. We will end with a freshwater mussel experience in a local stream that includes identifying local freshwater mussels. 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.

Learn about butterflies and moths in Illinois. This workshop is geared towards educators from 6th - 12th grade, but all are welcome. Learn about identification, life cycle, conservation, and adaptations. Learn about Monarch Watch and other butterfly conservation programs. Lab and field methods will be demonstrated. We'll go outside to observe and identify butterflies in native habitats. Continuing Professional Development Units are available. Teachers of other grade levels are welcome to register for this workshop but may need to adapt the materials for their students, as appropriate. Sponsored by the IDNR, this workshop is part of the ENTICE (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) program.

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.

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/.

Choose 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 IDNR offers FREE guided hikes/programs by request through the Natural Resources Coordinator. Check out what the park has to offer for teachers at https://dnr.illinois.gov/parks/interpret/park.starvedrock.html. Call or email to set up your field trip today Lisa.sons@illinois.gov, 815-667-5356.

Check out the “Nature’s Make and Take” series of workshops starting in March  Simple Composting, Backyard Landscaping for Wildlife - Natures Make and Take Series, Natures Make and Take Series - Discovering Fungi

Spring Field Trip Registration has begun! This unique site in far northeastern Illinois offers 19 different nature & environment programs for school age students including Animal Adaptations, Aqua Safari, Birds, and of course the always-favorite Bog Life. Programs cover a variety of topics including natural science, social studies, history, and more. Check out offerings here! Scheduling is by phone only – call Naturalist Stacy Iwanicki at 815-344-1294.

Here, There: New Perspectives from the Collection is the most recent art exhibition at the Illinois State Museum Lockport Gallery in Lockport, Illinois. Here, There is a guest-curated exhibit by Mariela Acuña, Sheridan Tucker Anderson, and Allison Lacher. The collection acts as a storyteller, presenting both good and bad memories from the artists’ experiences, challenging visitors to think about how stories are remembered. If you are an educator interested in visiting Here, There with your students, please take advantage of our new Teaching Guide which provides conversation starters, activities, and strategies for educators to engage with the art with their students. The teaching guide can be accessed before your visit!

The following items are provided for your information only. They are not programs of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Should you have questions about them, please use the contact information provided with the items.

Friends of Moraine Hills State Park are offering scholarships to college students for in McHenry, Lake, Boone, or Kane counties. The deadline is April 30, 2025. To learn more details, please check out Friends of Moraine Hills State park’s scholarship page.

Saturday, April 5, 2025, 9 am – 4 pm

Join us on April 5 for the inaugural Green Teacher Gathering, hosted by the Green Teacher Network! This year’s gathering will be at the Academy for Global Citizenship, and we will have a full day of fantastic facilitators providing exciting workshops to inspire your journey as a green educator. You’ll be able to try worm composting, West African Dance, a cooking “competition,” nature play, and more. 7 CPDU’s will be provided for those who request them. Register here.

You can find the March DoIT STEAM Newsletter Volume 51 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.  

We hope that you find this newsletter to be informative and we welcome any feedback or suggestions that would make it more useful to you.  Please feel free to email to Mary Reynolds (Mary.Reynolds3@Illinois.gov) with ideas.  

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/. Check out their Annual conference, March 29, 2025, https://www.ianetwork.org/39th-annual-in-person-conference-2025/.  For more information, please contact Gwyndolyn Moss at gmoss@ianetwork.org.