Three schools in State Senator Mike Porfirio’s 11th district will receive grants totaling $3,650 to take students on biodiversity field trips this fall, part of a statewide program that has funded nearly 7,000 student visits to Illinois nature sites since 2001.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Biodiversity Field Trip Grant program provides funding for transportation, substitute teachers, and other trip expenses. The competitive grants support hands-on learning in ecology, conservation, and biodiversity, topics aligned with state science standards.
The program has distributed more than $1.7 million to schools serving pre-kindergarten through high school students across 34 counties statewide over the past 25 years.
Congress Park School in Brookfield, Forest Road School in La Grange Park, and Harry E. Fry School in Burbank were among 108 schools statewide to receive funding from the grant program.
“Educating students on the importance of conserving the earth and its ecosystems is vital to our state,” Porfirio said. “These grants empower students to take field trips that will leave them with lasting memories of nature and will inspire the next generation of scientists in Illinois.”
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources awarded more than $101,000 in grants that will allow nearly 7,000 students in 34 counties to visit state parks, natural areas, museums, and other natural resource sites.
Congress Park School received $1,000 and was to take second-grade students to the Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center in Willow Springs. Due to a booking conflict, students are now going to Palos Park’s “The Center,” which features a Children’s Farm and Nature Discovery School on May 20.
The IDNR grant is a way to expose Congress Park Elementary School’s second grade students to new experiences outside the classroom, 2nd grade Dual-Spanish teacher Karina De Casas said.
“This opportunity brings students closer to nature and to each other,” she said. “It gives students the chance to connect with nature, build awareness of the environment and inspire them to take an active role in protecting nature. We’re so grateful for the opportunity!”
Forest Road School got $2,000 for fourth-graders to visit Lincoln Marsh in Wheaton in October 2026 and Harry E. Fry School received $650 for fifth-graders to visit Matthiessen State Park.
The grants cover transportation, substitute teachers, and other trip expenses. Teachers apply competitively for funding to support hands-on learning in ecology, conservation, and biodiversity — topics aligned with Illinois science standards.
At Congress Park, students will explore outdoor trails and learning spaces to study how Earth’s surface changes over time and how wildlife and plant life are affected by natural forces.
“Students will explore outdoor trails and learning spaces, making observations and describing changes in the land caused by natural forces such as wind and moving water,” said Marisa Lopez, communications specialist for LaGrange School District 102. “This experience will continue to support classroom learning by reinforcing Unit 8 Benchmark concepts through hands-on observation of how Earth’s surface changes over time and how wildlife and plant life are affected.”
The field trips also expose students to managed environments where they can observe how human activity affects ecosystems, she said.
“In addition to natural areas, the new site also includes managed environments that will allow students to observe how human activity interacts with ecosystems, which will support their understanding of environmental stewardship and ways to care for native species and habitats,” Lopez said.
The program prioritizes experiential learning and environmental literacy, connecting students directly with Illinois’ natural environments while strengthening cross-curricular learning in science, social studies, and language arts.