Prairie State Wire

More than $40,000 in grants have been allocated for 26 schoolyard habitat projects across Illinois. The funding, provided by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and the Illinois Conservation Foundation (ICF), is aimed at enhancing wildlife habitats on school grounds or public spaces.

"The Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant program provides students and educators with opportunities to create native habitat in their schoolyards and increase the use of native plants in Illinois landscapes while benefitting wildlife species," stated IDNR Director Natalie Phelps Finnie. She added that through these projects, students learn about making a positive impact on the world while engaging in problem-based learning.

The Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Foundation is a key sponsor of this initiative. Since its inception, nearly $394,000 has been distributed through the grant program. Finnie expressed a goal to establish projects in every county and eventually every school in Illinois: "We want school children to learn about nature through hands-on experiences."

The application period for the next round of grants will open this spring and close on December 3rd. Interested parties can apply online via the IDNR education grants website or seek additional information by calling 217-524-4126 or emailing dnr.teachkids@illinois.gov.

A list of recipients includes schools from various counties such as Clinton County's Bartelso School District 57 receiving $2,000 for pollinator plants for fourth and fifth graders; Cook County's Avoca West Elementary School granted $1,215.92 for a pollinator garden for second and third grades; and Belmont-Cragin Elementary in Chicago receiving two separate grants totaling over $3,200 for different grade levels to develop pollinator gardens.

Further recipients include Reavis High School in Burbank with a grant of $1,347 for ninth and tenth-grade prairie pollinator plots; Hinsdale Central High School awarded $1,065 for a pollinator garden; Christopher Unit School District 99 given nearly $2,000 also for high school-level gardening efforts; among others throughout multiple counties including DuPage, Franklin, Fulton, Jackson, Kane, Kendall, Lake LaSalle Livingston McHenry McLean Peoria Whiteside.