The
Forest Preserve District of Will County is proud to be a part of Will
County's educational system, and we value our relationship with Will
County's educators. Please check this page often for our latest
environmental education news, updates on field trip and educational grants, information about the in-service
workshops we offer, and details about our Resource Loan
Kits. Environmental Education
NewsTransition to Common Core Standards The Forest Preserve District of Will County is working with the Will County Regional Office of Education's Professional Development Alliance to develop program correlations for the District's 42 school programs available to Will County teachers. The transition was launched in August with a District staff workshop. Staff will be working diligently to select school programs and develop correlations. The first phase of correlations includes 13 of our newest and most popular programs, including "Hooo's Bones," "Forest Invaders," and "Sleuths on Snowshoes." Our goal is to have correlations completed for all school programs by the 2013-2014 school year.
Field Trip and Environmental Education
Grants
Target Field Trip
Grants
As part of the
Target Field
Trip Grants program, each Target store will award three grants to K-12
schools nationwide, enabling one in 25 schools throughout the U.S. to send a classroom on a field trip. Will County schools successful in receiving
past grants include Carl Sandburg Elementary School (Joliet) and Oak Prairie Junior High School (Homer Glen). For more information and to apply for a grant, visit the Target
Web
site.
Captain Planet Foundation Grants
The Captain Planet Foundation promotes and supports high-quality educational programs that enable youth to understand and appreciate the natural world through learning experiences that engage them in active, hands-on projects to improve the environment in their schools and communities. The Foundation offers grants for projects that support this mission.
For more information and to apply for a grant, visit the Captain Planet Foundation
Web
site.
Environmental Education Association of Illinois Mini-Grants
 The Environmental Education Association of Illinois (EEAI) awards Illinois formal and non-formal educators funding of up to $200 as part of the EEAI mini-grant program. The mini-grant program is designed to support, enhance, and expand the implementation of environmental education throughout the state of Illinois.
For more information and to apply for a mini-grant, visit the EEAI
Web
site.
Illinois Department of Natural Resources Grants
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has two grants available to Illinois teachers for 2012-2013: the Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant and the Schoolyard Wildlife Habitat Action Grant.
For more information and to apply for a grant, visit the Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Web
site.
Nickelodeon Big Help Grant Program
The Nickelodeon Big Help Grant Program awards grants to schools and community organizations to support projects that inspire children to take care of the environment, lead active and healthy lives, engage in community service, and/or improve their educational experience. For more information and to apply for a grant, visit the Big Help Grant Program
Web
site.
The Land Conservancy of Will County High School Conservation Award
The Land Conservancy of Will County High School Conservation Award is annually presented to two deserving groups involved in local conservation projects that protect and restore habitat, encourage sustainable community development, or protect and manage open space for the future viability of the Will County ecosystem. For more information, visit The Land Conservancy of Will County
Web
site.
In-Service
WorkshopsForest Preserve
District staff will conduct a variety of in-service trainings on
institute days, school days, or after-school hours for formal
educators. Workshops are offered free of charge to schools serving Will County residents. One
month advance notice is required. CPDU Hours are available. For
information, call 815.722.5890.
Flying
WILD
Interactive, interdisciplinary,
standards-based activities have been field tested in classrooms around
the nation. Topics center on basic bird biology, identification and
ecology, bird conservation, and service learning. These activities are
designed to engage students in real-world learning to understand the
importance of migratory birds and their conservation. All participants
completing the workshop will receive an Educator Training Certificate
of Completion, and the Flying WILD manual. (3-6 CPDU
Hours)
Habitats for
Schools
 Create
an outdoor learning space at your school. Explore types of schoolyard
habitats, cross-curriculum and multiple intelligence applications, and
funding sources. Each participant will receive a binder of resources.
District staff will visit your school to plan your site. We will also
discuss how to form a team to implement your ideas and get your
principal on board. Follow-up visits will help see the project through
completion. (2-4 CPDU Hours)
EE
DeliveredRemove
the barriers to incorporating environmental education (EE) into your
curriculum. Teachers will receive an overview of what the District has
to offer to support your classroom through programs, facilities,
workshops, and materials. Teachers will learn about the EE community
and the organizations and opportunities that await educators. District
staff will also present the basics of how to teach in the outdoors and
to bring the outdoors in. (2 CPDU Hours) Resource Loan
KitsWe
have resource loan kits available to teachers across the county, and
this workshop is designed to spend time with each kit and its contents,
allowing you to explore the materials and participate in activities.
The workshop will be held both indoors and outdoors, so please dress
for the weather. (2 CPDU Hours) Project Learning TreeProject Learning Tree (PLT) is an award-winning, multi-disciplinary environmental education program for PreK-12 teachers. PLT is a program of the American Forest Foundation. It is one of the most widely used environmental education programs in the United States and abroad, and continues to set the standard for environmental education excellence. During the workshop, teachers will participate in several hands-on, forest-themed activities ready to take to the classroom. Every educator will receive a copy of the Project Learning Tree Activity Guide that details 96 interdisciplinary activities. Resource Loan
KitsTopic-themed kits are available to teachers and home school parents provided by the Forest Preserve District and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
These Resource Loan Kits are a collection of educational materials that include games, videos, equipment, and field guides that help students explore a specific subject. Each kit has enough supplies for 30 students and is available for a two-week loan period. There are no rental fees at this time, but lost, broken, or missing items will be paid for by rentee.
Click any of the Resource Loan Kit titles below to open a checklist of kit contents. To reserve kits and arrange pick up and drop off, contact the Sugar Creek Administration Center at 815.727.8700.
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