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"This generous contribution from the
Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Foundation allows students in 32 Illinois
schools to get hands-on experience outside the classroom," said Joel
Brunsvold, director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
"The additional $9,293 brings to more than $17,000 the total in
grants for this important education program during the fall
application period." The
Biodiversity Field Trip Grant Program, which began in 2001, allows
Illinois teachers to apply for grants to take students to the
outdoors to study some aspect of Illinois' biodiversity. The
learning activities must be related to the Illinois Learning
Standards of the Illinois State Board of Education. Two application
periods are available each year, with the fall deadline being Oct.
15 and the spring deadline Feb. 15. Funding is administered by the
Illinois Conservation Foundation and covers expenses such as
transportation and substitute teachers.
"We were able to fund 31 of the 49
applications received for the fall grant period," said Jeff Vose,
administrator of the Division of Education of the Department of
Natural Resources. "These schools are located throughout Illinois
and represent students from first grade through high school. We
greatly appreciate the continued sponsorship of this popular program
by both the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Foundation of Skokie and the
Independence Tube Corporation of Chicago."
Forms for the Feb. 15, 2005, field
trip grant application deadline are available. They can be
downloaded at
http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/education/
classrm/grants.htm
or requested by phone, (217) 524-4126, or by e-mail:
teachkids@dnrmail.state.il.us.
For more information about the
Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant Program, contact Jeff
Vose at
jvose@dnrmail.state.il.us or (217)
524-9505.
* * *
Fall 2004 grants, second award
period
Carl Sandburg High School, Orland
Park, Cook County. Grades
11-12. Students will visit Volo Bog State Park in an introduction to
the biodiversity and habitat composition of bogs. Grant award: $928.
Lake Louise School, Palatine, Cook
County. Grade 4. Students
will go to Spring Valley Nature Center to become familiar with the
history and preservation of prairies. Grant award: $296.
Community High School, West Chicago,
Du Page County. Grades 9-12.
Students will travel to Tri-County State Park to observe prairie
management and restoration activities. Grant award: $287.
Hadley Junior High, Glen Ellyn, Du
Page County. Grade 7.
Students will visit Morton Arboretum to study relationships and
interactions within an ecosystem. Grant award: $1,271.
[to top of second column in
this article] |
 Vandalia Elementary
School, Vandalia, Fayette County.
Grade 4. Students will learn about the habitats and adaptations of
native birds while on a visit to the Ballard Nature Center in
Altamont. Grant award: $630.
Unity Point School, Carbondale, Jackson
County. Grade 6. At the
Cache River State Natural Area and Shawnee National Forest, students
will study macroinvertebrates to help in understanding the value of
wetlands. Grant award: $1,150.
Dundee Crown High School,
Carpentersville, Kane County.
Grades 9-12. Students will tour Brookfield Zoo to learn about career
opportunities and the role of the zoo in education and conservation.
Grant award: $896.
St. Mary School of Buffalo Grove,
Buffalo Grove, Lake County.
Grade 7. At the Lake County Forest Preserve, students will prepare
and analyze soil and water samples to learn about the water cycle.
Grant award: $500.
Harristown Elementary School,
Harristown, Macon County.
Grades 2-3. Students will visit Wildlife Prairie State Park near
Peoria to learn about the habitats and adaptations of native
wildlife. Grant award: $980.
Zion Lutheran School, Staunton,
Macoupin County. Grades 5-8.
Students will travel to Waterloo to develop an awareness of
groundwater and topography. Grant award: $415.
Zion Lutheran School, Staunton,
Macoupin County. Grade 1.
Students will visit Cahokia Mounds to observe the natural
environment and changes that occur in it. Grant award: $235.
Collinsville Middle School,
Collinsville, Madison County.
Grade 7. Students will travel to Silver Lake to observe a lake
ecosystem and how it changes. Grant award $690.
Columbus School, Edwardsville,
Madison County. Grade 3. On
a field trip to the Watershed Nature Center, students will receive
an introduction to wetlands and the plant and animal adaptations
suited for survival in this habitat. Grant award: $665.
Oak Grove East, Bartonville, Peoria
County. Grade 1. Students
will tour Dickson Mounds Museum and the Emiquon Trail to learn how
native Illinois cultures used natural resources. Grant award: $350.
[Illinois
Department of Natural Resources news release] |
