Educators
What's Available Near/Around Midewin
Mighty Acorns
Mighty Acorns is an environmental education program that connects students to multiple, meaningful and sustained interactions with their local ecosystem. The program is designed for 3rd - 5th grade students and can be modified for other grade levels. Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie is a Partner Provider with the program, working with schools to facilitate field study trips and host stewardship field trips.
Midewin offers the Mighty Acorns Youth Training sessions throughout the year. during these sessions volunteer interpreters are trained to lead nature lessons and stewardship activities for local elementary school students.
Leave No Child Inside
The Chicago Wilderness Leave No Child Inside initiative promotes a culture in which children enjoy and are enocuraged to be outside in nature, and as a result are healthier, have a sense of connection to their place, and become supporters and stewards of local nature. For more information visit the Chicago Wilderness website.
Environmental Education Association of Illinois
The Environmental Education Associaton of Illinois (EEAI) is a group of concerned citizens who are interested in educating people of all ages to the importance of understanding and protecting the environment. EEAI provides a variety of training for programs such as Project Learning Tree (PLT) and Growing up WILD. For more information visit their website.
ENTICE Educator Workshops
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) created the Illinois Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education (ENTICE) to support incorporating long-term, standards-based, natural resource education into Illinois classrooms.These workshops offer Professional Development Hours for teachers. To find out about upcoming courses visit the ENTICE website.
Illinois Natural History Survey
This is a resource for information on Illinois biological resources. The site provides data, outreach and education opportunities, programs and research. For more information visit the INHS website.
National Resources
US Forest Service Specific
- Urban Connections
- Smokey Bear
- Woodsy Owl
- Conservation Education
- Junior Ranger Programs
- Junior Forest Ranger (English, PDF, 23.8MB)
- Junior Forest Ranger (Español, PDF, 4.59MB)
- Junior Snow Ranger (English, PDF, 13.4MB)
Interactive
Get Outside!
- Every Kid in a Park
- National Get Outdoors Day
Lesson Plan/Activity Resources
- North American Association for Environmental Education
- Project Learning Tree
- Growing up WILD
- National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
- Why Would Anyone Cut a Tree Down - Book