New this Month - March 2026

Almost full! What is weather and climate, and how does it relate to climate change? How are Illinois species being affected? Learn more about the science behind climate, weather, and climate change. Explore which species will be the losers and the winners with what is happening. Explore ways to help students understand this challenging and complicated topic that is in the headlines. Learn some ways you can incorporate some citizen science in your classroom to help students explore what is going on in their backyard. Targeted for grades PreK-12. Professional Development Hours are available.

Hop on over to The Morton Arboretum and join us for this workshop about Illinois frogs and toads. Designed for educators of grades prekindergarten through four, you'll learn about these amazing creatures and receive many Illinois-specific resources. Anuran life history, identification, relationships to other organisms and adaptations will be among the topics covered. Although targeted to teachers of grades PreK through fourth, all educators are welcome to register for the workshop, but the information may need to be adapted, as appropriate. You'll take away several resources to use in your classroom. Professional Development Hours are available.

Explore early French Fur Trapping History in 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. Supplemental resources will be provided. Professional Development Hours are available.

Learn about the ecology of Illinois woodland habitats. We will learn how plants, animals, and trees interact and depend on each other to create a healthy forest woodland ecosystem through classroom discussions and a 1-mile hike. Although targeted to educators of grades 3 through 8, 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. 

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

Almost full! Bobcats in Illinois? How do scientist study this elusive native feline and its growing population. Once listed as a threatened species, their numbers have rebound and increased, allowing them to be delisted and recovered. Learn about bobcat ecology and behavior and what lead to the bobcat flourishing. Participants will learn about how and why scientists are studying bobcats in Illinois including learning about telemetry and how the information is gathered. Professional Development Hours are available.

What makes a bird a bird? Designed for educators working with students from prekindergarten through 5th grade, this workshop offers an engaging introduction to the wild birds of Illinois and provides educational resources to support classroom instruction. Participants will learn about Illinois birds, take a guided hike to observe birds and signs of their presence, and learn a variety of hands-on activities to bring back to their classrooms. The workshop will also demonstrate how the topic of Illinois wild birds can be used to support both the Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards for science and the Next Generation Science Standards. Professional Development Hours will be provided.

Explore early French Fur Trapping History in 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. Supplemental resources will be provided. Professional Development Hours are available.

What is weather and climate, and how does it relate to climate change? How are Illinois species being affected? Learn more about the science behind climate, weather, and climate change. Explore which species will be the losers and the winners with what is happening. Explore ways to help students understand this challenging and complicated topic that is in the headlines. Learn some ways you can incorporate some citizen science in your classroom to help students explore what is going on in their backyard. Targeted for grades PreK-12. Professional Development Hours are available.

Hop on over to The Morton Arboretum and join us for this workshop about Illinois frogs and toads. Designed for educators of grades prekindergarten through four, you'll learn about these amazing creatures and receive many Illinois-specific resources. Anuran life history, identification, relationships to other organisms and adaptations will be among the topics covered. Although targeted to teachers of grades PreK through fourth, all educators are welcome to register for the workshop, but the information may need to be adapted, as appropriate. You'll take away several resources to use in your classroom. Professional Development Hours are available.

Learn about the ecology of Illinois woodland habitats. We will learn how plants, animals, and trees interact and depend on each other to create a healthy forest woodland ecosystem through classroom discussions and a 1-mile hike. Although targeted to educators of grades 3 through 8, 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. 

What makes a reptile a reptile? Explore the wild reptiles of Illinois, learning their life history and taxonomy. Discover through a hike how to look for reptiles and their signs. 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 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. 

What do bald cypress, bog goldenrod, dragonflies, bluegill, and mallard ducks have in common? They are all part of a healthy wetland ecosystem. Discover the fascinating world hidden within Illinois' wetlands and explore the interesting organisms that live in them. We will discuss the life history, adaptations, and identification of wetland species. Get hands-on experience through wetland sampling and comparing the types of organisms found in the different habitats in the wetlands found at The Grove. This workshop is for grades 2nd to 9th, but can be adapted for other grades.

When does spring start? When do the flowers bloom? How does nature know when to start a different time of year? It's all about the phenology or timing. Learn about this concept and how you can bring it to your students in your classroom. Explore different ways to collect data with students of all ages and help them understand nature in new ways.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to float down the Mississippi River on a barge? Well, now is your chance! Join us as ENTICE takes on the mighty Mississippi aboard the Living Lands and Waters floating river barge, tied up, of course. Discover what animals live in and around the mighty Mississippi River. Explore the fish, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and invertebrates that call this river home during the summer months.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources Historic Sites Field Trip Grant is now open for the 2026 - 2027 School year! Click here for the IHSFTG information and application page.

2027 Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant application will be available soon.

2027 Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant application will be available soon.

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

Chicago: Interested in Programs in Chicago, Jonathan Schlesinger at DNR.urbanfishing.Chicago@Illinois.gov. 

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/.

This year’s theme is: Together for Healthier Air! inviting students to think about creative ways that everyone can help keep air healthy individually and community-wide. The 2026 contest theme highlights the issue of air pollution, how it can adversely affect our health, and things that we all can do for healthier air. For full competition details and curricular resources, please visit the Illinois EPA’s contest website.

For more information and questions, please reach out to Kristi Morris at kristi.morris@illinois.gov or Eli Dollarhide at eli.dollarhide@illinois.gov. 

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.

March 12, 2026, 9:00 am to 3:30 pm (CT). Chicago, Illinois

Registration required: https://registration.extension.illinois.edu/start/hands-on-h2o

Join IL/IN SeaGrant and National Great Rivers research & Education Center for a six professional development hour, hands-on workshop, creating kits for Project WET’s most common activities.

Together, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant and National Great Rivers Research & Education Center are offering a make-and-take Project WET workshop. Educators can earn 6 professional development hours during this hands-on, interactive workshop and will leave with activity kits to use with their learners immediately. All activities are aligned with the Common Core and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Project WET, an award-winning, multidisciplinary program, teaches about water resources and the role water plays in various ecosystems and human life through hands-on, investigative activities that encourage teamwork, problem-solving, and critical thinking. After completing the workshop, participants will receive the Project WET Foundations of Water Education Guide. The guide includes 12 updated activities from the Project WET 2.0 guide.

Learn more and register here: https://iiseagrant.org/education/professional-learning/

You can view the current DoIT STEAM Newsletter and previous volumes online on the DoIT STEAM Newsletter webpage. 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.