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Please register for workshops through the link shown with each workshop description. A nonrefundable registration fee is required. The fee is $10.00 per person plus a $1.00 convenience fee per registration unless stated otherwise in the workshop description. Should you have questions about workshop registration please email (dnr.teachkids@illinois.gov) or call (217-524-4126) the IDNR Division of Education. Should the IDNR cancel a workshop, registrants will be asked if they want to transfer their registration to another ENTICE workshop or receive a refund. Some restrictions apply. ENTICE workshops are available to teachers, home-schooling educators, nonformal educators and youth-group leaders in Illinois only. 2024-2025 Workshop Schedule | Fall 2024 | Winter 2025 | Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 |Fall 2024 | Top of Page |
Course Name: Birds and Butterflies FULL. If you would like to be placed on the waitlist, please email dnr.teachkids@illinois.gov. Soar on down to The Morton Arboretum this summer and gather ideas, resources, and activities for your classroom. This workshop will help educators bring the classroom outdoors and connect with green spaces in their community. Participants will identify birds, track butterflies, investigate the role of both in different habitats, and learn to utilize the natural world to bring science curriculum to life. Although targeted to teachers of pre-K through second grade, all educators are welcome to register for the workshop, but the information may need to be adapted, as appropriate. Your curriculum will 'take flight' with the resources you take home! Click here to see the agenda.
Course Name: Illinois Urban Wildlife Wildlife is all around us, in large urban areas or small towns! Educators of grades prekindergarten through four are invited to participate as we learn where to look for urban wildlife, what you can expect to find, how to identify species, and how to improve urban wildlife habitat at your school. Natural resources professionals and educators will instruct about these topics and more, including how species adapt to the urban environment, how humans affect urban wildlife, and how to use urban wildlife topics as the foundation for locally relevant, place-based teaching. Receive supplemental educational materials to enhance your teaching. Click here to see the draft agenda.
Course Name: Aquatic Biodiversity Join us for this workshop that will have you sampling and observing the components of four aquatic habitats at Red Oak Nature Center: river; lake; stream; and spring. We will discuss what the results show and talk about how to incorporate this type of activity into your curriculum to support Next Generation Science Standards. Although targeted to teachers of grades five through eight, teachers of other grade levels are welcome to register for and attend the workshop but may need to adapt the materials, as appropriate. Professional Development Hours are available. This workshop is part of the ENTICE (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) program from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Course Name: Wildlife Basics-Birds This workshop for educators of grades prekindergarten through 12 will provide an introduction to and educational resources about the wild birds in our state. We will focus on the life history of these species, and we will go on a hike to look for birds and their signs. We will show you how to use the topic of 'Illinois wild birds' to support the teaching of several of the Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards for science and Next Generation Science Standards with your students. Professional Development Hours are available. Sponsored by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, this workshop is part of the ENTICE (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) program.
Course Name: Introducing Young Children to the Nature of Fall Fall is a great season for young children to explore nature! There is so much to see and learn. Join us to discover what nature can tell us in fall. We'll take a hike to put our knowledge to work and will feature the Field Trip Pack from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). We'll be incorporating several topics. Although targeted to grades prekindergarten through three, all educators are welcome to register for the workshop, but the information may need to be adapted, as appropriate. You'll take away numerous resources to use with young children when learning about fall nature. Professional Development Hours are available. This workshop is part of the ENTICE (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) program from the IDNR.
Course Name: Illinois Reptiles and Amphibians Illinois is home to a variety of slimy and scaly animals which inhabit all types of sensitive ecosystems. Educators of grades prekindergarten through eight will learn about their unique life histories, features and behaviors, and will take a hike around the Nature Museum to look for examples in our urban habitat. We will observe living and preserved specimens, provide you with resources and activities, and discuss regulations regarding keeping these animals in the classroom. Teachers of other grade levels are welcome to register for this workshop but may need to adapt the materials for their students, as appropriate.
Course Name: Prying into Prions Prying into Prions: Investigating Chronic Wasting Disease is a supplemental, educational unit for high school students that assists in studying prion diseases, including chronic wasting disease. Explore and learn about transmissible spongiform encephalopathies by examining the role of proteins in organisms, the chemistry and properties of proteins, the genetic processes that create proteins, and how proteins can become pathogenic. Study how chronic wasting disease affects Illinois' white-tailed deer herd and what control measures are being taken.
Course Name: Wild Illinois History Wild Illinois History is a self-contained teaching unit for educators of grades four through eight. The online interactive student activity and lessons are designed to supplement Illinois history instruction by focusing on information regarding early exploration and settlement, riparian and geography in what was to become Illinois and the uses of wildlife by Indigenous peoples and the trappers who came from Europe. The activity also highlights the conservation movement and how it affects views and uses of wildlife today. Educators of other grade levels are welcome to register and attend the workshop but may need to adapt the materials as appropriate. Supplemental resources will be provided. Professional Development Hours are available. This workshop is part of the ENTICE (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) program from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Winter 2025 | Top of Page |
Course Name: Winter Birds Learn all about the winter birds that live in Illinois-from songbirds to birds of prey. Participants will learn what adaptations birds have to make them so successful to withstand the harsh Illinois winters. Appropriate for educators in grades K-4, but educators for all grade levels welcome but may need to adapt the activities and resources to be appropriate for older students. Please make sure to dress for the weather, as we will be going on the trails to look for signs of birds in the winter. Supplemental resources will be provided. Professional Development Hours are available. This workshop is part of the ENTICE (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) program from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Course Name: Coyote Track Explore Coyote Track interactive visualization tool. This online site centers around coyote ecology and behavior related to data collected from radio-collared coyotes in urban and rural areas of Illinois. Using real data, this workshop will guide participants through the visualization data tool and standard-based lessons that support the unit. Participants will learn about how and why scientists are studying coyotes in Illinois including learning about telemetry and how the information is gathered. The workshop is for teachers of Illinois high school and middle school students. Professional Development Hours are available. Sponsored by the IDNR, this workshop is part of the ENTICE (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) program.
Course Name: Wild Illinois History Wild Illinois History is a self-contained teaching unit for educators of grades four through eight. The online interactive student activity and lessons are designed to supplement Illinois history instruction by focusing on information regarding early exploration and settlement, riparian and geography in what was to become Illinois and the uses of wildlife by Indigenous peoples and the trappers who came from Europe. The activity also highlights the conservation movement and how it affects views and uses of wildlife today. Educators of other grade levels are welcome to register and attend the workshop but may need to adapt the materials as appropriate. Supplemental resources will be provided. Professional Development Hours are available. This workshop is part of the ENTICE (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) program from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Course Name: Tracking Animals & Adaptations Have some wintry fun this season at The Morton Arboretum! Learn how to utilize the winter season to teach students about how to find and track animals, and their adaptations for the seasons. Educators will be introduced to strategies on how to utilize the seasons to bring their science curriculum to life. Although targeted to teachers of pre-K through third grade, all educators are welcome to register for the workshop, but the information may need to be adapted, as appropriate.
Course Name: Coyote Track Explore Coyote Track interactive visualization tool. This online site centers around coyote ecology and behavior related to data collected from radio-collared coyotes in urban and rural areas of Illinois. Using real data, this workshop will guide participants through the visualization data tool and standard-based lessons that support the unit. Participants will learn about how and why scientists are studying coyotes in Illinois including learning about telemetry and how the information is gathered. The workshop is for teachers of Illinois high school and middle school students. Professional Development Hours are available. Sponsored by the IDNR, this workshop is part of the ENTICE (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) program.
Course Name: Wildlife Basics: Reptiles & Amphibians This workshop for educators of grades prekindergarten through 12 will provide an introduction to and educational resources about the wild reptiles and amphibians in our state. We will focus on the life history of these species, and we will go on a hike to look for reptiles and amphibians, and their signs. We will show you how to use the topic of ?Illinois wild reptiles and amphibians? to support the teaching of several of the Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards for science and Next Generation Science Standards with your students. Professional Development Hours are available. Sponsored by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, this workshop is part of the ENTICE (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) program
Course Name: Illinois Butterflies Flutter in and join other educators of grades prekindergarten through four as we are introduced to the butterflies of Illinois! The emphasis of this workshop will be on butterfly conservation and the related work of staff members of the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in the field and lab. Information on developing butterfly habitat on the school grounds and how to incorporate learning activities related to it will also be included. Correlations between the information presented and Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards and Next Generation Science Standards will be addressed. Supplemental educational resources will be provided. Professional Development Hours are available. Teachers of other grade levels are welcome to register for this workshop but may need to adapt the materials for their students, as appropriate. Sponsored by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, this workshop is part of the ENTICE (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) program.
Course Name: Illinois Squirrels How much do you really know about squirrels? Come to this workshop and learn about the life history of Illinois? tree squirrels. We will go for a hike to observe squirrels and evidence of their presence. We will look at how you can use squirrel observations to help you meet some of the Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards in science and Next Generation Science Standards and will introduce you to Project Squirrel, a citizen science program that can be incorporated into your teaching. Although targeted to teachers of grades prekindergarten through four, all educators are welcome to register for this workshop but may need to adapt the materials for their students, as appropriate.
Course Name: Wildlife Basics: Mammals This workshop for educators of grades prekindergarten through 12 will provide an introduction to and educational resources about the wild mammals in our state. We will focus on the life history of these species, and we will go on a hike to look for mammals and their signs. We will show you how to use the topic of ?Illinois wild mammals? to support the teaching of several of the Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards for science and Next Generation Science Standards with your students. Professional Development Hours are available. Sponsored by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, this workshop is part of the ENTICE (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) program.
Course Name: Wait List Registration Do not register in this workshop block unless instructed to do so by IDNR Education personnel.
Spring 2025 | Top of Page |
Course Name: Weather, Climate, & Climate Change What is weather and climate, and how does it relate to climate change? How are Illinois species being affected? Learn more about the science behind climate, weather, and climate change. Explore which species will be the losers and the winners with what is happening. Explore ways to help students understand this challenging and complicated topic that is in the headlines. Learn some ways you can incorporate some citizen science in your classroom to help students explore what is going on in their backyard. Targeted for grades PreK-12.
Course Name: Woodland Basics Learn about springtime habitat in the Illinois woods and spring ephemerals that arrive this time of year. Learn about native woodland plants, animals, and trees, their special adaptations and threats they face, and how we humans have benefitted from them through the ages!?
Course Name: Coyote Track Explore Coyote Track interactive visualization tool. This online site centers around coyote ecology and behavior related to data collected from radio-collared coyotes in urban and rural areas of Illinois. Using real data, this workshop will guide participants through the visualization data tool and standard-based lessons that support the unit. Participants will learn about how and why scientists are studying coyotes in Illinois including learning about telemetry and how the information is gathered. The workshop is for teachers of Illinois high school and middle school students. Professional Development Hours are available. Sponsored by the IDNR, this workshop is part of the ENTICE (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) program.
Course Name: Cryptid Connections! Need an out of the box way to engage your students in ecology? Looking for a creative way to engage your learners in scientific principles while also investigating local habitats? This class will cover how using a charismatic enigma can get your students to be passionately curious about Illinois and the flora and fauna. When there are no perceived experts, how far can your students go to answer questions?
Course Name: Illinois Birds Explore the biodiversity of Illinois bird species during spring migration season! See birds up-close with a bird netting activity and learn about current bird research being conducted in east central Illinois. Bird adaptations and life history will also be discussed. Dress appropriately for a hike to search for birds and their signs.? Discussions and activities will target grades K - 6, however, all educators are welcome to register for the workshop and can adapt the information as appropriate.
Course Name: Pollinators - Ephemerals They buzz, flutter, and crawl and play a critical role in maintaining ecosystems and human food supply. Educators of grades kindergarten through eight are invited to register for this workshop to learn about the importance of pollination, the identification of Illinois pollinators, and the challenges they face in the modern world. Educators will take a walk to a pollinator garden on the visitors? center grounds.
Course Name: Illinois Wetlands Join other educators of grades second through ninth as we learn what wetlands are and explore the fascinating organisms that live in them. We will discuss the life history, adaptations, and identification of wetland species and will put the skills to practice as we visit and sample several wetlands on the grounds of The Grove, comparing the types of organisms found in the different habitats. Hands-on activities will be conducted, and you?ll receive supplemental educational resources.
Course Name: Wonderful World of Insects Investigate some of the amazing insects that call Illinois home. PreK through 12th grade educators will learn sampling techniques and how to identify various insects, and some non-insects, too. Explore the life histories of some common insects, including some that begin life in the water and look for patterns in habitat preferences. Discuss how to develop wildlife habitat on your school grounds to attract insects to study. All educators are welcome to register for the workshop, but the information may need to be adapted, as appropriate. Professional Development Hours are available. Sponsored by the IDNR, this workshop is part of the ENTICE (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) program.
Course Name: Neighborhood Nature Sometimes a weed growing in the cracks of a sidewalk, or pigeons nesting in the eaves of a building are better teachers than we realize. Learn more about how urban flora and fauna can be just as impactful as visiting a forest preserve. Educators will be introduced to strategies to utilize nature in their neighborhood to bring their science curriculum to life. Although targeted to teachers of pre-K through second grade, all educators are welcome to register for the workshop, but the information may need to be adapted, as appropriate.
Summer 2025 | Top of Page |
Course Name: Livers of the Rivers Join us for a day learning about the most imperiled aquatic organisms in our community ? freshwater mussels. Explore the life cycle of freshwater mussels, their ecological value, the challenges they face in the wild, and the cutting-edge science happening to help keep common mussels common at the Urban Stream Research Center in Blackwell Forest Preserve. We will end with a freshwater mussel experience in a local stream that includes identifying local freshwater mussels
Course Name: Coyote Track Explore Coyote Track interactive visualization tool. This online site centers around coyote ecology and behavior related to data collected from radio-collared coyotes in urban and rural areas of Illinois. Using real data, this workshop will guide participants through the visualization data tool and standard-based lessons that support the unit. Participants will learn about how and why scientists are studying coyotes in Illinois including learning about telemetry and how the information is gathered. The workshop is for teachers of Illinois high school and middle school students. Professional Development Hours are available. Sponsored by the IDNR, this workshop is part of the ENTICE (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) program.
Course Name: Exploring an Endangered Species: Black Crowned Night Herons When people think of conservation, they typically imagine wild spaces away from urban centers, but cities can also present exciting opportunities for the conservation of rare species. The largest nesting colony of endangered Black Crowned Night Herons in Illinois can be found at Chicago?s Lincoln Park Zoo, where scientists have been studying and protecting these birds for more than ten years. In this workshop, teachers will learn about the ecology of Black Crowned Night Herons and how the concept of OneHealth connects with conservation efforts for this species. They will come away with strategies for teaching about adaptations and ecosystems and ways to help their students develop skills in making observations and collecting data. Although targeted to teachers of third through fifth, all educators are welcome to register for the workshop, but the information may need to be adapted, as appropriate.
Course Name: Native Bees What is all the buzz? Native bees are were its at and there are lots of native bees in Illinois. Explore and learn about bee taxonomy, bees versus other pollinators, mimics, native versus nonnative bees, behavior, and reproduction. Discover ways to help native bees with human-enhanced nesting structures and plant selection for a successful pollinator garden. Good for all grade levels.
Course Name: Invasive Carp Invasive carps also know as Asian Carps, are nonnative fishes that have invaded the waterways of Illinois and many other states. These species are responsible for enormous economic recreational and environmental impacts. At this workshop we will provide an introduction to their life history as well as data to quantify their effects. Containment methods being used in Illinois to keep Asian carp out of Lake Michigan will be discussed.
Course Name: Wildlife Basics: Birds Our feathered wild birds are all around us. We see them every day, but do not always know a lot about them. This workshop for educators of grades prekindergarten through 12 will provide an introduction to, and educational resources about the wild birds in our state. We will focus on the life history of these species, and we will go on a hike to look for birds and their signs.
Course Name: Wild Illinois History Wild Illinois History is a self-contained teaching unit for educators of grades four through eight. The online interactive student activity and lessons are designed to supplement Illinois history instruction by focusing on information regarding early exploration and settlement, riparian and geography in what was to become Illinois and the uses of wildlife by Indigenous peoples and the trappers who came from Europe. The activity also highlights the conservation movement and how it affects views and uses of wildlife today. Educators of other grade levels are welcome to register and attend the workshop but may need to adapt the materials as appropriate. Supplemental resources will be provided. Professional Development Hours are available. This workshop is part of the ENTICE (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) program from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Course Name: Illinois Raptors Educators of grades prekindergarten through eight are invited to register for this workshop to learn about the hawks, owls, vultures, falcons and eagles of Illinois at the Illinois Raptor Center in Decatur. Life history and identification information will be provided. Staff from the Illinois Raptor Center will have live raptors to observe, too. You'll participate in educational activities related to raptors and will receive many resources to help you incorporate the topic into your curriculum. This workshop is part of the ENTICE (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) program from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Professional Development Hours are available. Teachers of other grade levels are welcome to register and attend the workshop but may need to adapt the information as appropriate.
Course Name: Galls, Pests, & Trees What are those bumps on oak leaves? How did those swirly designs get into the wood? What made the D-shaped hole on this tree trunk? This workshop answers these questions and more. Take a closer look at the role insects play in trees and investigate the differences between commensalism, interdependence, and invasiveness while gaining knowledge and resources for your classroom. Although targeted to teachers of fifth through 12th grade, all educators are welcome to register for the workshop, but the information may need to be adapted, as appropriate.
Course Name: Illinois Wetlands Wetlands are habitats for a wealth of animals. At this workshop, we will visit wetland habitats around the Nature Museum as we learn about adaptations and interactions of organisms in a wetland. We will also explore how humans can help maintain biodiversity in wetlands. Developed for teachers of grades four through middle school, other educators are welcome to register but may need to adapt the information and activities, as appropriate. Correlations between the information presented and Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards and Next Generation Science Standards will be addressed. Supplemental educational resources will be provided. Professional Development Hours are available. Sponsored by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, this workshop is part of the ENTICE (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) program.
Course Name: Illinois Bobcats Bobcats in Illinois? How do scientist study this elusive native feline and its growing population. Learn about bobcat ecology and behavior. Once low in number, bobcat is now flourishing Participants will learn about how and why scientists are studying bobcats in Illinois including learning about telemetry and how the information is gathered. The workshop is for teachers of students in grade 6th-12th but can be adapted for other grades. Professional Development Hours are available. Sponsored by the IDNR, this workshop is part of the ENTICE (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) program.
Fall 2025 | Top of Page |
Course Name: Wildlife Basics: Mammals This workshop for educators of grades prekindergarten through 12 will provide an introduction to and educational resources about the wild mammals in our state. We will focus on the life history of these species, and we will go on a hike to look for mammals and their signs. We will show you how to use the topic of Illinois wild mammals to support the teaching of several of the Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards for science and Next Generation Science Standards with your students. Professional Development Hours are available. Sponsored by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, this workshop is part of the ENTICE (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) program.
Course Name: Urban Nature Nature is all around us, even in the most urban of settings. Kindergarten through 12th grade educators will learn how to utilize the nature and natural phenomena right outside our classrooms to look for patterns, investigate plant and animal needs and preferences, and explore the amazing adaptations of the organisms in our schoolyards and neighborhoods. Receive plants to help enhance the habitat around your learning space. Professional Development Hours are available. Sponsored by the IDNR, this workshop is part of the ENTICE (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) program.
Course Name: Oak Ecosystems In urban, suburban and rural locations in Illinois, oaks carry special significance as reminders of our history and drivers of biodiversity. Teachers of grades PK-8 can join us to explore the various species of oaks, and the characteristics of the ecosystems in which they are found, including forests, woodlands, savannas, and barrens. Why are oak ecosystems special, and what is being done in Illinois to conserve them?
Course Name: Coyote Track Explore Coyote Track interactive visualization tool. This online site centers around coyote ecology and behavior related to data collected from radio-collared coyotes in urban and rural areas of Illinois. Using real data, this workshop will guide participants through the visualization data tool and standard-based lessons that support the unit. Participants will learn about how and why scientists are studying coyotes in Illinois including learning about telemetry and how the information is gathered. The workshop is for teachers of students in 6th-12th grade but can be adapted to other grades. Professional Development Hours are available. Sponsored by the IDNR, this workshop is part of the ENTICE (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) program.
Course Name: Introducing Young Children to the Nature of Winter Winter is a wonderful season for young children to explore nature! There is so much to see and learn, you just have to Look for the signs. Join us to discover what nature can tell us in winter. We will take a hike to put our knowledge to work and will feature the Field Trip Pack from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). We will show you how to support the teaching of several of the Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards for Science and Next Generation Science Standards with your students. Although targeted to grades prekindergarten through two, all educators are welcome to register for the workshop, but the information may need to be adapted, as appropriate. You?ll take away numerous resources to use with young children when learning about nature. Professional Development Hours are available. This workshop is part of the ENTICE (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) program from the IDNR.
ABOUT THE WORKSHOPS
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