Safety Education Instructor Newsletter

Updated: December 2025

Thank you for all you do to keep Illinois boaters, hunters, snowmobilers, and trappers safe, ethical, and responsible. As we look ahead to spring classes, our focus is on improving communication, reducing administrative delays, and supporting you with modern teaching resources.

This issue highlights important reminders, upcoming changes for 2026, and information to help streamline your class preparation.

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you and your families.

• Plan and notify your Volunteer Services Coordinator (VSC) of spring classes
• Authorize staff to make minor paperwork corrections
• Hunter Safety Program: firearms and equipment verification continues
• Volunteers needed for March 21 Field Day
• Policy updates coming in 2026
• Instructor Spotlight: Master Instructor Kerry Jones

Now is the ideal time to plan your spring classes.

Before submitting your class notice:

• Confirm dates with your facility
• Check your class supplies inventory
• Notify your VSC using the Class Notification Form
• Hunter Safety instructors should also create the class in Event Manager

Quick Action: If you know your dates, notify your VSC today. Five to ten minutes now helps prevent delays later.

As a reminder, please provide 45 days’ notice for classes.

This allows time to:

• Request a CPO
• Allow the CPO to contact the instructor
• Ensure materials and class supplies orders are processed

Please remember that CPO attendance may vary based on operational needs and emergencies.

Please remember to review your class materials shipment upon arrival and contact your VSC immediately if any materials are missing or incorrect.

To prevent delays, save staff time, and reduce mailing costs, instructors are asked to authorize Safety Education staff to correct minor issues on submitted class information sheets, volunteer time forms, and class rosters, such as:

• Missing signatures
• Small clerical errors
• Incomplete fields

Instructors may authorize Safety Education staff to make these corrections by:

• Emailing dnr.safetyed@illinois.gov with your name and the statement: "I acknowledge and authorize the Safety Education Office to make signature additions and content corrections to my submitted class paperwork. This paperwork includes the class information sheet, volunteer time forms, and class rosters."
• OR submitting the completed authorization form to the same email address

Verification is underway for loaned Hunter Safety Program:

• Live-firing firearms
• Inert training firearms

Please confirm possession of any loaned Safety Education Program:

• Laptops
• Projectors
• Equipment with inventory numbers (tree stand safety gear, other Hunter Safety Program teaching aids)

If you possess any Hunter Safety Program firearms or equipment and haven't heard from your VSC to verify, please reach out to them as soon as possible.

We are organizing a Hunter Safety Field Day at the IDNR Headquarters in Springfield on March 21 and are looking for volunteer instructors to help run stations throughout the day.

This event is part of a Region 3 and 4 initiative to hold centralized field day classes, making it easier for students to attend and ensuring a high-quality, hands-on learning experience.

What we need from instructors:

• Lead or assist a station for the full day
• Bring your expertise, teaching skills, and enthusiasm for hands-on Hunter Safety

Event details:

• Goal: 75-100 students
• Location: IDNR Headquarters, Springfield
• Date & Time: March 21, 7:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. (class runs from 8:00 a.m.–2 p.m.)

Sign-up/Contact

If you're available to help, please contact Shelli Jones at shelli.jones@illinois.gov or 217-494-7320 by January 31 to confirm your station assignment. Your participation makes these field days successful and ensures students receive hands-on instruction from experienced instructors.

Safety Education policies and procedures are being updated to reflect current laws, technology, and program practices. Over time, our processes have evolved, and these updates will ensure that written policies align with current program operations.

Once completed:

• Updated policies and procedures will be mailed to instructors
• Instructors will need to verify they have received and reviewed the updates
• Instructor contact information will be confirmed or updated at the same time

More details to follow in upcoming newsletters.

Master Hunter Safety Instructor

Kerry began teaching Hunter Safety in 1980 alongside Ken Hart after attending hunter education classes with his sons in 1978 and 1979. Recognizing the program's importance, he became a Master Instructor in early 1983.

Throughout his career, Kerry has witnessed numerous department and agency changes, including the transition from the Illinois Department of Conservation to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. He has primarily instructed in Saline County and has also taught classes in Williamson and Hardin counties.

The year 2025 marks Kerry's 45th year as a volunteer Hunter Safety instructor. His guiding principle remains:

“Every firearm is loaded—treat it like it is.”

Kerry Jones

Region 5, Saline County

Thank you for the time and effort you put into every class. Your work directly reduces incidents and educates thousands of new outdoor participants each year. We appreciate your flexibility as the program modernizes and processes evolve. Illinois remains a leader in in-person safety education, teaching more than 8,788 students in 2024 and helping preserve the outdoor traditions that matter to so many of us across our state.

• ✔️ Confirm any firearms or equipment with inventory numbers with your VSC
• ✔️ Authorize paperwork corrections

This newsletter is sent to volunteer instructors to share important program updates and resources. If you know an instructor who is not currently receiving these emails, please share this page with them.

Send an email to: subscribe-dnr-volunteerinstructors@lists.illinois.gov

• No subject line or message needed
• You will receive an email and must click the link in the email to confirm your subscription (be sure to check your junk or spam folder)

Send an email to: unsubscribe-dnr-volunteerinstructors@lists.illinois.gov

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• You will receive a confirmation email (be sure to check your junk or spam folder)

If you have any issues subscribing or unsubscribing, contact:

Hunter Nikolai

📧 hunter.nikolai@illinois.gov