In-school programs
Virtual programs, in-school programs and field trips are available Tuesdays through Fridays for your students. Program registration for the 2026-2027 school year is now open.
In-school programs are available for Will County schools to assist you in your teaching. These programs are STEM strong and aligned with Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards. If you have questions pertaining to these standards as they relate to school programs, please contact Four Rivers Environmental Education Center, Hidden Oaks Nature Center, Isle a la Cache Museum or Plum Creek Nature Center. All programs are presented by our team of professional and knowledgeable naturalists.
Requests are time stamped and queued in the order they are received. Please note that submission of a request form does not guarantee a reservation. Request forms are processed in a first-come, first-served order.
In-school programs are available for Will County schools. The fee is $40 for the first program per day and $10 for the second and third programs held on the same day. Payment is due 10 working days from the issuance of the program permit packet unless other arrangements are made.
Getting Ready for Winter
Grades: K-3
Time: 1 hour
Your students will discover the changes that take place in nature from fall to winter and learn how animals adapt to these changes. Through this program, students will understand the methods and adaptations animals use to survive winter.
Nature: A Symphony of Sounds
Grades: 1-6
Time: 1 hour
Turn up the volume on nature! In this program, students will discover different groups of animals and how and why they make sounds. They will learn to describe what they hear using musical and scientific terms while fine-tuning their species identification skills. At the end, the class will perform a symphony using instruments inspired by wildlife. For the 2025-26 school year, there is no fee for this in-school program.
When Two Worlds Meet
Grades: 3-4
Time: 1 hour
Students will take a hands-on look at the Great Lakes fur trade. They will discuss the value of beaver pelts to the French and trade goods to the Native Americans. They will also explore how these two cultures used different tools and materials to address similar needs.
Birds, Beaks, and Big Appetites
Grades: 3-5
Time: 1 hour
Through trial and error, students will explore bird beak adaptations while discovering how diet and environment affect beak shapes and sizes. Using tools that mimic bird beaks, students attempt to “eat” a variety of foods such as seeds, insects, and nectar. As each tool is tested, they will decide which beaks are better suited for particular diets and how these adaptations help birds fill their big appetites.
Whoose Bones?
Grades: 3-5
Time: 1 hour
Turn your classroom into a forensic lab for dissecting and reconstructing the mystery of owl pellets. Students will reveal a food chain and predator-prey relationships right on their desks.
Jolliet & Marquette: Quest for the Mississippi
Grades: 3-6
Time: 1 hour
This program revisits the travels of Father Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet in their expedition down the Mississippi River. Students examine what these two men needed to survive their 2,500-mile voyage and use critical problem-solving skills to learn how their travels and discoveries led to the fur trade era in the Illinois region.
Mammal Mysteries
Grades: 4-6
Time: 1 hour
Calling all student investigators — we need your help! We've uncovered a pile of bones and fur, but who do they belong to? In this hands-on program, students will explore which mammals call Illinois home and discover the unique traits that define mammals. They'll examine real fur and skull specimens, learn how to identify an animal's diet by looking at its teeth, and piece together clues to solve our exciting mammal mysteries!
Winged Wonders
Grades: 4-6
Time: 1 hour
It’s Superman, it’s a plane, it’s a BIRD! These wonderful wonders are around our neighborhood, just waiting to be identified. But do your students know their local birds? Spend an hour with a naturalist learning all about bird adaptations and how to use resources to help ID some common visitors. Wrap it up with a fun trivia game to test their feathered facts.
Native American Uses of Nature
Grades: 5-6
Time: 1 hour
Students learn about the Native peoples of this region, including the Potawatomi and other Nations whose homelands include Will County. Through hands-on exploration, students examine how Native peoples used natural resources to meet their needs, the roles within their families and communities, and their enduring relationship with the land. Students also consider how life changed after European settlement while recognizing that Native nations continue to thrive and preserve their cultures today.