Monthly Events

              January 2008
Earth Day in the Parks
A new initiative of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ (IDNR) Offices of Public Services and Land Management, Earth Day in the Parks will be held in April 2008 at 26 Illinois state parks. The program offers the opportunity for students to take part in hands-on natural resources stewardship activities, such as planting native wildflowers and trees, building and installing nesting boxes and removing invasive exotic species. Students and teachers are encouraged to return to the park later to study the wildlife impacted by their actions. Application information is posted at http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/education. Applications will be accepted from January 1 through February 29, 2008. Earth Day in the Parks is made possible in part by a grant from and contributions to the Illinois Conservation Foundation.
Field Trip Grant Application Deadline is January 31
Are you applying for an Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant from the IDNR Division of Education? Remember that your grant application package must be postmarked by January 31, 2008. Applicants may apply for a field trip to be taken in either spring, summer or fall semesters 2008. Awards up to $500 per teacher are made through this competitive program. Funds are administered by the Illinois Conservation Foundation. For instructions and to download the application form, visit http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/education/CLASSRM/grants.htm. If you have questions, contact the IDNR Division of Education at dnr.teachkids@illinois.gov or 217-524-4126.
Spring Semester Online Courses for Graduate or CPDU Credit
The IDNR's Division of Education and the University of Illinois at Springfield (UIS) are offering online courses for graduate credit (4 hours) or Continuing Professional Development Units (60 CPDUs) during Spring Semester 2008 through the UIS Master of Teacher Leadership program.
EDL 588 Introduction to Illinois' Prairie Ecology for Teachers will include the examination, research and practical application of Illinois prairie information with the goals of understanding location, composition, utilization, conservation and issues.
EDL 589 Introduction to Illinois' Geological Resources for Teachers will include the examination, research and practical application of Illinois’ geological resources information with the goals of understanding location, composition, utilization, conservation and issues.
To be eligible to register, students must first contact UIS admissions at 1-888-977-4847. Once students have been admitted to UIS, they may contact Rae Lynne Kynion at 1-217-206-7516 or rkyni1@uis.edu to receive permission to register for the classes.
New! IDNR Division of Education Podcasts Available through the iTunes
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