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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. 2023-2024 Workshop Schedule | Spring 2023 | Summer 2023 | Fall 2023 | Winter 2024 | Spring 2024 |Spring 2023 | Top of Page |
Course Name: Coyote Track Registration for this workshop is closed.
Course Name: Animal Architects **THIS CLASS IS FULL. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE PLACED ON A WAITING LIST, PLEASE EMAIL DNR.TEACKKIDS@ILLINOIS.GOV.** The world is full of objects built by animals to help them survive. Attend this workshop for educators of grades prekindergarten through three and learn about beaver dams, spider webs, mussel shells, bird nests and so many other amazing objects constructed by animals in our local environment. Challenge the engineering skills of your students to create similar structures by using the resources provided and activities presented at the workshop. All educators are welcome to register for the workshop, but the information may need to be adapted, 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 IDNR.
Course Name: Illinois Pollinators 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 view an observation hive and take a walk to a pollinator garden on the visitors center grounds. You will participate in activities and take home many resources to add to your curriculum. 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.
Summer 2023 | Top of Page |
Course Name: Illinois Birds for Junior High and High School Teachers Bring the biodiversity of Illinois birds into your classroom. Targeted for educators of junior high school and high school, this workshop will focus on the ecology of birds. We will spend time in the field studying avian behavior and participating in a bird banding demonstration. We will also provide bird banding data sets for two species of birds to take back to your classroom for students to analyze and interpret. You will leave feeling confident leading students in observing and interpreting birds while meeting Next Generation Science Standards. Educators of other grade levels are welcome to register for the workshop, but the information may need to be adapted, 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: Illinois Wild 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: Wildlife Basics: Illinois Wild 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: 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 will 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: Illinois Tree 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. 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. 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.
Fall 2023 | Top of Page |
Course Name: Tree Homes ** THIS CLASS IS FULL. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED TO THE WAIT LIST, PLEASE EMAIL DNR.TEACHKIDS@ILLINOIS.GOV. ** From the camouflage of a walking stick insect to the nest of a great horned owl, animals of all shapes and sizes rely on the natural habitat created by trees for their daily needs. Learn about some of these amazing tree dwellers and how they use trees in a variety of ways as we explore the woodlands, wetlands and prairie at The Morton Arboretum. Although targeted to teachers of grades prekindergarten through four, other educators 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: Birds of Illinois Fly into this workshop and take a closer look at how birds use their physical characteristics to adapt to the environment and how each species has a unique niche in the ecosystem. Many visual aids as well as mounted bird specimens will be on hand for observation. Come dressed to take a walk along the Kaskaskia River identifying birds in their natural habitat. Educators will learn first-hand by participating in educational activities related to birds and will receive many resources to incorporate into the curriculum. Although targeted to teachers of grades three through six, other educators 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 Biodiversity 101 What is biodiversity? Does Illinois have much biodiversity? How are plants and animals adapted for survival in the four major habitat types in the state? Can some species live in all of these habitats? We will answer these questions and provide much more information about aquatic, woodland, wetland and urban habitats and their inhabitants in this introduction to the natural resources of our state. Numerous supplemental educational items will be provided. Although targeted to educators of grades kindergarten and three, educators of other grade levels are welcome to register but may need to adapt the materials as appropriate. 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 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 be incorporating animal tracks, animal signs, seeds and changes in leaves, too. 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 will 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.
Course Name: Birds of Illinois Bring the biodiversity of Illinois birds into your classroom by taking a closer look at birds. See how birds use their physical characteristics to adapt to the environment and how each species has a unique niche in the ecosystem. The class will be working with the Lincoln Land Association of Bird Banders to see science in action and explore how and what scientists do in the field. Explore why we track and band birds. Come dressed to spend some time outside and take a walk on the prairie identifying birds in their natural habitat. Educators will learn first-hand by participating in educational activities related to birds. This workshop is targeted at teachers of grades PreK through 12th. Some materials may need to be adapted 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: Coyote Track Coyote Track is a standards-based, educational program developed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Division of Wildlife Resources with assistance from the IDNR Division of Education. The program is centered around coyote ecology and behavior related to data collected from radio-collared coyotes in urban and rural areas of Illinois. This workshop will guide participants through the visualization data tool and lessons that support the unit. 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.
Winter 2024 | Top of Page |
Course Name: Wait List Registration Do not register in this workshop block unless instructed to do so by IDNR Education personnel.
Course Name: Coyote Tracks 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: Introducing Young Children to the Nature of Winter Class description coming soon.
Course Name: Wildlife Basics: Reptiles and 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: Wildlife Basics: Illinois 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: IL 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? 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: Wildlife Basics: Illinois 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.
Spring 2024 | Top of Page |
Course Name: Wildlife Basics: Reptiles This workshop for educators of grades prekindergarten through 12 will provide an introduction to and educational resources about the wild reptiles 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 their signs. We will show you how to use the topic of ?Illinois wild reptiles? 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 Wetlands Description to come
Course Name: Illinois Mosquitos and Ticks Description to come
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