2026 Biodiversity Field Trip Grants will help almost 7000 Illinois students learn about state’s natural heritage

SPRINGFIELD – Almost 7,000 students will visit Illinois state parks, natural areas, museums and other natural resource sites this year to learn about nature and conservation thanks to grant funding through the Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant Program.

Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director Natalie Phelps Finnie today announced the awarding of more than $101,000.00 in donated funds for 108 field trip grants. Grant recipients represent 34 counties in the state.

“Getting our students outdoors to learn about our natural world is what this program does. It gives students the opportunity to visit natural, outdoor locations throughout Illinois to see firsthand what they’ve been learning about in the classroom,” Finnie said. “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.”

The more than $101,000.00 awarded for 2026 was 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.

Since its inception in 2001, the grant program has distributed more than $1.7 million and more than 146,000 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 a field trip to study Illinois’ natural resources. Learning activities must directly relate to the school’s curriculum. The annual application deadline is Jan. 31. Funding administered by the Illinois Conservation Foundation covers expenses such as transportation and substitute teachers.

For more information about the Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant Program, contact the IDNR Division of Education at dnr.teachkids@illinois.gov or 217-524-4126. The Illinois Conservation Foundation gladly accepts donations for the program. Visit https://ilconservation.org/ for additional information.

For a list of this year’s grant recipients, visit:
Grant Awardee List

The 2026 application form will be available soon:
Application Information

List of Grants

Champaign County

• Faith & Reason Learning Community, Urbana – Grades 4–12 – The Nature Institute (Godfrey) – $1,315.00

Clark County

• Monroe Elementary, Casey – Grades 5–6 – Fox Ridge State Park (Charleston) – $685.85

Cook County

• ACE Amandla Charter School, Chicago – Grades 9–12 – Starved Rock State Park (Utica) – $500.00
• Bell Elementary School, Chicago – Grades 3–6 – LaBagh Woods & Wild Mile – $910.00
• Bret Harte Elementary School, Chicago – Grades 3 & 5 – Steelworkers Park – $1,000.00
• Bret Harte Elementary School, Chicago – Grade 4 – Steelworkers Park – $1,000.00
• Congress Park School, Brookfield – Grade 2 – Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center – $1,000.00
• Forest Road School, La Grange Park – Grade 4 – Lincoln Marsh – $2,000.00
• Harry E. Fry School, Burbank – Grade 5 – Matthiessen State Park – $650.00
• Lane Technical College Prep, Chicago – Grades 9–12 – Humboldt Park – $1,000.00
• Locke Elementary School, Chicago – Grade 5 – Chicago Botanic Garden – $825.00
• Lorca Elementary School, Chicago – Grade 6 – Chicago River – $1,000.00

• Loyola Academy, Wilmette – Grades 10–11 – Skokie Lagoons – $1,500.00
• Loyola Academy, Wilmette – Grades 10–11 – Skokie Lagoons – $1,500.00
• Loyola Academy, Wilmette – Grades 10–11 – Dixon Prairie & Chicago Botanic Garden – $600.00

• Loyola Academy, Wilmette – Grade 11 – Munz Campus Prairie – $1,000.00
• Loyola Academy, Wilmette – Grade 11 – Munz Campus Prairie – $1,000.00
• Loyola Academy, Wilmette – Grade 11 – Munz Campus Prairie – $1,000.00
• Loyola Academy, Wilmette – Grade 11 – Munz Campus Prairie – $1,000.00

• Loyola Academy, Wilmette – Grade 12 – Munz Campus Prairie – $600.00
• Loyola Academy, Wilmette – Grade 12 – Munz Campus Prairie – $600.00
• Loyola Academy, Wilmette – Grade 12 – Munz Campus Prairie – $600.00
• Loyola Academy, Wilmette – Grade 12 – Munz Campus Prairie – $600.00

• Loyola Academy, Wilmette – Grade 12 – Illinois Beach State Park – $1,000.00
• Loyola Academy, Wilmette – Grade 12 – Illinois Beach State Park – $1,000.00

• Loyola Academy, Wilmette – Grade 12 – West Fork Chicago River at Munz Campus – $600.00
• Loyola Academy, Wilmette – Grade 12 – West Fork Chicago River at Munz Campus – $600.00

• Maine West High School, Des Plaines – Grades 10–12 – Linne Woods – $500.00
• McGaw YMCA Children’s Center, Evanston – Pre-K – Emily Oaks Nature Center – $1,390.00
• North River Elementary, Chicago – Grades 3–4 – Chicago Botanic Garden – $520.00
• Our Lady of Tepeyac High School, Chicago – Grades 9–10 – Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum – $700.00
• Palmer, Chicago – Grade 3 – North Park Village Nature Center – $1,000.00
• St. Thomas the Apostle School, Chicago – Grades 3–5 – Steelworkers Park – $720.00
• The Chicago Academy Elementary, Chicago – Kindergarten – North Park Village Nature Center – $367.13
• University of Chicago Charter School (NKO Campus), Chicago – Grade 3 – Steelworkers Park – $1,000.00
• West Ridge Elementary School, Chicago – Kindergarten – North Park Village Nature Center – $550.00
• William H. Ryder Math & Science Specialty School, Chicago – Grade 5 – Edward L. Ryerson Conservation Area – $1,000.00

DeWitt County

• Ruth M. Schneider Elementary, Farmer City – Grade 2 – Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve – $499.55

Douglas County

• Villa Grove CUSD #302 – Grades 7–8 – Fox Ridge State Park – $631.22
• Villa Grove High School – Grades 9–12 – Vermillion River Rafting – $1,000.00

DuPage County

• Evergreen Elementary, West Chicago – Grade 2 – Hickory Knolls Discovery Center – $1,900.00
• Evergreen Elementary, West Chicago – Grade 4 – Morton Arboretum – $2,000.00
• Franzen Intermediate School, Itasca – Grade 5 – Stronghold Center – $1,500.00
• Fullerton Elementary, Addison – Grade 3 – Morton Arboretum – $1,010.00
• Georgetown Elementary, Aurora – Grade 2 – Red Oaks Nature Center – $1,000.00
• Lincoln Elementary, Addison – Grade 3 – Morton Arboretum – $812.00
• St. James the Apostle, Glen Ellyn – Grades 2–3 – Morton Arboretum – $825.00
• West Chicago Community High School – Grades 11–12 – Urban Stream Research Center – $655.95

Franklin County

• Christopher High School – Grades 11–12 – Cache River Wetlands Center – $500.00

Hardin County

• Hardin County Elementary – K–5 – Dixon Springs Agricultural Center – $1,000.00

Henderson County

• West Central Elementary, Biggsville – Grade 2 – Wildlife Prairie Park – $963.00

Jackson County

• Carruthers Elementary, Murphysboro – Grade 4 – Lake Murphysboro State Park – $658.75
• Carruthers Elementary, Murphysboro – Grade 4 – Lake Murphysboro State Park – $658.74
• DeSoto Grade School – Grades 6–8 – Camp Manitowa – $2,065.00
• Murphysboro Middle School – Grades 6–8 – Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center – $806.96

Jersey County

• Valley Economic Development Corporation Head Start – Pre-K – The Nature Institute – $1,178.00

Johnson County

• New Simpson Hill, Tunnel Hill – Grade 8 – Cache River State Natural Area – $500.00

Kane County

• Kenyon Woods Middle School – Grade 7 – Starved Rock State Park – $1,000.00
• Long Beach Elementary – Grade 5 – Harris Forest Preserve – $1,361.00
• Vanguard Gifted Academy – K–5 – Morton Arboretum – $715.00

Lake County

• Frassati Catholic Academy – Grades 2–8 & K–1 – Lake County Forest Preserve – Various awards ($276.00–$334.00)
• Little Scouts Preschool, Lake Forest – Pre-K – Danny Cunniff Park – $570.00

Lee County

• Madison Elementary, Dixon – Grade 4 – Byron Forest Preserve – $1,000.00

Livingston County

• Prairie Central Elementary, Fairbury – Grade 2 – Fugate Woods – $1,024.96

Macon County

• Ellsworth Dansby Jr. Magnet School – Grade 3 – 4-H Memorial Camp – $634.00
• Franklin Grove Elementary – Grade 4 – 4-H Memorial Camp – $1,334.00
• Maroa-Forsyth Middle School – Grade 8 – Starved Rock State Park – $1,000.00
• Meridian Elementary – Grade 3 – Griswold Conservation Area – $280.00
• South Shores Elementary – Grade 3 – Illinois Raptor Center – $1,000.00
• South Shores Elementary – Grade 3 – Rock Springs Nature Center – $990.00

Macoupin County

• Carlinville Primary School – Grade 2 – Beaver Dam State Park – $554.38
• Wolf Ridge Education Center – Grade 4 – The Nature Institute – $729.50

Madison County

• Calvary Christian School – Grades 4–7 – The Nature Institute – $307.50
• Roxana High School – Grades 11–12 – Willoughby Heritage Farms – $940.00

Marion County

• Salem Community High School – Grades 9–12 – Illinois Caverns State Natural Area – $750.00

McDonough County

• Edison Elementary, Macomb – Grade 4 – Wildlife Prairie Park – $1,015.00

McLean County

• Carlock Elementary – K–5 – Wildlife Prairie Park – $1,914.48

Monroe County

• Valmeyer Elementary – Grade 5 – Waterloo Sportsman’s Club – $178.48

Peoria County

• Annie Jo Gordon Community Learning Center – Grades 6–8 – Starved Rock State Park – $1,000.00
• Light House Academy – Grades 1–6 – Wildlife Prairie Park – $200.00
• Mossville Junior High & Elementary – Grade 2 – Wildlife Prairie Park – $884.00
• Wilder-Waite Grade School – Grade 3 – Wildlife Prairie Park – $374.00

Piatt County

• DeLand Weldon CUSD #57 – Grades 6–8 – 4-H Memorial Camp – $550.00
• White Heath Elementary – Grades 4–5 – 4-H Memorial Camp – $1,960.00

Pike County

• Pleasant Hill Elementary – Grades 3–4 – The Nature Institute – $847.50
• Pleasant Hill Elementary – Grades 3–4 – The Nature Institute – $957.50

Richland County

• St. Joseph School, Olney – Grade 8 – Camp Ondessonk – $500.00

Saline County

• East Side Intermediate, Harrisburg – Grade 4 – Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center – $3,500.00

Shelby County

• Gregory Intermediate, Moweaqua – Grade 5 – Camp Maranatha – $900.00

Union County

• Lick Creek CCSD #16 – Grade 2 – Ferne Clyffe State Park – $250.00

Washington County

• Trinity Lutheran School, Hoyleton – Grades 5–6 – The Nature Institute – $500.00

Will County

• Brooks Middle School, Bolingbrook – Grade 7 – Four Rivers Environmental Education Center – $1,600.00

Williamson County

• Carterville Intermediate School – Grade 5 – Cache River State Natural Area – $4,080.00
• Carterville Junior High School – Grade 8 – Various Locations (Makanda) – $2,500.00
• Carterville Junior High School – Grade 8 – Various Locations (Makanda) – $2,500.00