Through its State Historic Sites Field Trip Grant program, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has made significant progress in educating local kids about history. For the 2024–2025 school year, the program will take more than 350 fourth–eighth students on an experiential trip through time, visiting various state historic sites, thanks to an infusion of $4,376 in privately given cash. These trips are intended to enhance classroom instruction and provide students a hands-on look at the state’s rich history.
In support of the initiative, IDNR Director Natalie Phelps Finnie said, “This program allows students to visit state historic sites throughout the state to see first-hand what they’ve been learning about in the classroom and to visit a place where the notable historic events happened.” This program gives students the opportunity to connect directly with history in addition to observing it, giving them the opportunity to confront the tangible and the stories that have defined Illinois.
Schools from six counties received the funding, which funded field trips to a number of noteworthy places. Among these locations are the David Davis Mansion, Lewis and Clark State Historic Site, Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site and War Memorials, and Apple River Fort. Schools from DuPage, Madison, Peoria, and Union counties, as well as Cook County’s St. Frances of Rome School and Hamlin Upper-Grade Center and Douglas County’s Villa Grove School District CUSD 302, have been selected as recipients of this educational program.
The community’s commitment to its youth’s historical understanding is demonstrated by the fact that all $4,376 for this year came from individual donations, according to the official press release. It expresses the conviction that historical knowledge is essential to a society’s development and demonstrates a dedication to this conviction through real-world assistance. Illinois teachers are still encouraged to apply for funding to pay transportation to these educational institutions under the program, which started in the 2020–2021 school year. Notably, the awards support suggested educational activities that are closely linked to the curriculum, so bridging the gap between historical contexts and textbook learning.
For additional information on the grant program, contact the IDNR Division of Education. Their staff can be contacted by phone at 217-524-4126 or by email at [email protected]. Donations are welcome for future field trip funding from the Illinois Conservation Foundation, which supports historical education and exploration. Regarding the teachers’ planning, the application form for the 2025–2026 school year will open in the summer of 2025, and submissions must be made by September 30.
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