By Greg Bishop/Illinois Radio Network
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources recently awarded more than $98,000 in grants from privately donated funds to bring more students on field trips to the state’s parks.
The Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant Program will provide funding for 102 field trips this year, allowing more than 8,300 students to experience the state’s parks, museums and other natural resource sites.
Valerie Keener, head of the Division of Education for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, is thrilled to see the program grow to reach more students.
“We have added another funder this year which have allowed us to add even more funds,” Keener said.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources partners with the Illinois Conservation Foundation for the donations to the program. Private donations have always helped fund the field trip program and this year’s donors were the Independence Tube Corporation of Bedford Park, the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Foundation of Skokie and the D. F. and M. T. Grohne Family Foundation of Wilmington.
“Last year we had a record number of applications requesting a record amount of money and the funders thought that was outstanding so they gave us more money this year,” Keener said.
Since the launch of the Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant Program in 2001, more than 93,900 students have benefited from $994,000 of total donated funds.
Illinois teachers apply for the grant to cover expenses associated with field trips, like transportation costs.
“Many of the schools can’t take the kids on a field trip without outside funding these days,” Keener said.
Keener is appreciative of the donors investing in both the state’s and children’s futures. She hopes students are inspired by visiting the state’s parks and other sites and grow up with the desire to preserve the natural resources.
“We’re just grateful to be able to have these funds and offer this program to the teachers and students in the state,” Keener said. “We’d like to continue to do that and hope the funders continue to give us money to do so.”
