Teachers given educational opportunities  

[OCT. 7, 2005]  SPRINGFIELD -- Announcements from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources:

Schoolyard Habitat Grants available

The Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant program from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Division of Education provides a funding opportunity for educators who want to involve students in learning about their environment. Awards of up to $600 per educator are available through a competitive grant application process. Funds are to be used to develop or improve wildlife habitat.

Applications must be postmarked by Oct. 15. Details on the program and an application form can be downloaded at http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/education/
classrm/grants.htm.

Funding is provided by the Jadel Foundation and administered by the Illinois Conservation Foundation.

For more information, contact the IDNR Division of Education by e-mail [e-mail] or call [phone].

Biodiversity Field Trip Grants available

The fall application deadline is arriving soon for the popular Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant program from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Division of Education. Through this competitive grant program, teachers may apply for up to $500 to take their class on a field trip to study aspects of Illinois' natural and cultural heritage.

An application form with instructions may be downloaded at http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/
education/classrm/grants.htm. Applications for the fall deadline must be postmarked by Oct. 15. A second application period has a Feb. 15 deadline.

The program is made possible by the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Foundation and the Independence Tube Corporation. Funding is administered by the Illinois Conservation Foundation.

For more information about the grant program, call [phone] or e-mail [e-mail].

ENTICE workshops

Openings are still available for Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education workshops for schoolteachers this fall. The workshop on Oct. 22, "Incorporating Nature into the Language Arts and Fine Arts," will be at the Regional Environmental Center at Pecatonica. The Nov. 15 session, "Illinois Birds Featuring the Wild Turkey," is at Bass Pro Shops, Gurnee.

To obtain a registration form and to see the complete schedule and workshop descriptions, go to http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/education/
entice/index.htm.

For more information, call [phone] or e-mail [e-mail].

[Illinois Department of Natural Resources news release]