March 16, 2025 – More than 7,000 students will visit Illinois state parks, natural areas, museums and other natural resources sites this year to learn about nature and conservation thanks to grant funding through the Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant Program. Dennis Lab School and Mt Zion High School will also benefit from the grants.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources announced more than $99,600 funding was awarded for 113 student field trip grants. Grant recipients represent 32 counties in the state.
The grants are made possible by private donations 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 funding for the grants are coordinated by the Illinois Conservation Foundation (ICF).
“This program allows students to visit natural, outdoor locations throughout Illinois to see firsthand what they’ve been learning about in the classroom,” said IDNR Director Natalie Phelps Finnie. “Our future conservation leaders need the opportunity to experience Illinois’ natural resources in person. We are pleased to be able to support learning outside the classroom with these grants and are grateful to the donors for their support.”
Since its inception in 2001, the grant program has distributed more than $1.6 million, and more than 140,000 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 through high school.
The competitive grant program allows Illinois teachers to apply for funds to take students on field trips to study Illinois’ natural resources. Funding administered by ICF covers expenses such as transportation costs and substitute teachers.
A $1,298 grant will cover a field trip for Dennis Lab School sixth grade classes to visit Miller Park Zoo in Bloomington. A $1000 grant will assist Mt Zion High School stidents visit Camp Ondessonk in Ozark.
