IDNR announces grants for 107 school field trips to state parks, museums, and natural areas. More than 6,600 students will visit Illinois state parks, natural areas, museums, and other natural resources sites this year to learn about nature and conservation thanks to funding through the Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant Program. The Program is administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and the Illinois Conservation Foundation (ICF).

More that $99,600 in donated funds for 107 field trip grants were awarded for 2024. The grant recipients represent 30 Illinois counties.

“This program allows students to visit areas throughout Illinois to see firsthand what they’ve been learning about the great outdoors in the classroom,” Said IDNR Director Natalie Phelps Finnie. “Our future conservation leaders need the opportunity to experience Illinois’ natural resources in person. We’re pleased to be able to support learning outside the classroom with the grants.”

Funding for the 2024 grants was made possible by private donation from the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Foundation of Skokie and the D.F. and M.T. Grohne Family Foundation of Wilmington. The donations and grant funding are coordinated by the ICF.

Since its inception in 2001, the Biodiversity Field Trip Grant program has distributed more than $1.5 million, and more than 128,000 students have been provided the opportunity to take part in a field trip. Grant recipients are located throughout Illinois and represent students from pre-kindergarten trough high school.

The competitive grant program allows Illinois teachers to apply for funds to take students on a field trip to study Illinois’ natural resources. Learning activities must directly relate to the school’s curriculum. Funding covers expenses such as transportation and substitute teachers.

The annual application deadline is Jan. 31. For more information about the program, contact the IDNR Division of Education at [email protected]. The ICF gladly accepts donations for the Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant Program. The recipients for the 2024 Biodiversity Field Trip Grant in Macoupin County are Carlinville Primary School, Carlinville’s first grade will be going to The Nature Institute in Godfrey due to a $770 Grant; Wolf Ridge Education Center, Bunker Hill’s forth grade will be going The Nature Institute in Godfrey due to a $596.15 grant. Madison County’s St. John Neumann Catholic School, Maryville, sixth graders will be going to Camp Ondessonk, Ozark due to a $500 grant.