Sub-Logo


TreesWorkshops
Illinois Department of Natural Resourses (IDNR) - Workshops
             


The Illinois Department of Natural Resources' (IDNR) Division of Education sponsors educator workshops through the ENTICE program. These workshops offer Professional Development Hours for teachers.

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:  Introducing Young Children to the Nature of Fall
Program:  ENTICE
Location: Pickerill-Pigott Forest Preserve, Yorkville
Date(s):  October 19, 2024
Time(s):  9:00am-3:00pm

 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.

| Register for this Workshop |


Course Name:  Illinois Reptiles and Amphibians
Program:  ENTICE
Location: Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, Chicago
Date(s):  October 26, 2024
Time(s):  9:00am-3:00pm

 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.

| Register for this Workshop |


Course Name:  Prying into Prions
Program:  ENTICE
Location: Starved Rock State Park, Utica
Date(s):  November 2, 2024
Time(s):  November 2, 2024

 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.

| Register for this Workshop |


Course Name:  Wild Illinois History
Program:  ENTICE
Location: Red Oak Nature Center, North Aurora
Date(s):  November 9, 2024
Time(s):  November 9, 2024

 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.

| Register for this Workshop |


Winter 2025 | Top of Page |

Course Name:  Winter Birds
Program:  ENTICE
Location: The Grove, Glenview
Date(s):  January 18, 2025
Time(s):  9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

 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.

| Register for this Workshop |


Course Name:  Coyote Track
Program:  ENTICE
Location: Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Date(s):  January 25, 2025
Time(s):  9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

 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.

| Register for this Workshop |


Course Name:  Wild Illinois History
Program:  ENTICE
Location: Pere Marquette State Park, Grafton
Date(s):  February 1, 2025
Time(s):  9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

 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.

| Register for this Workshop |


Course Name:  Tracking Animals & Adaptations
Program:  ENTICE
Location: Morton Arboretum, Lisle
Date(s):  February 8, 2025
Time(s):  9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

 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. 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.

| Register for this Workshop |


Course Name:  Coyote Track
Program:  ENTICE
Location: Chicago Botanic Gardens, Glencoe
Date(s):  February 15, 2025
Time(s):  9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

 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.

| Register for this Workshop |


Course Name:  Wildlife Basics: Reptiles & Amphibians
Program:  ENTICE
Location: Hickory Knolls Discovery Center, St. Charles
Date(s):  February 22, 2025
Time(s):  9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

 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

| Register for this Workshop |


Course Name:  Illinois Butterflies
Program:  ENTICE
Location: Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, Chicago
Date(s):  February 22, 2025
Time(s):  9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

 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.

| Register for this Workshop |


Course Name:  Illinois Squirrels
Program:  ENTICE
Location: Giant City State Park Visitor Center, Makanda
Date(s):  March 1, 2025
Time(s):  9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

 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.

| Register for this Workshop |


Course Name:  Wildlife Basics: Mammals
Program:  ENTICE
Location: Camp Wartburg, Waterloo
Date(s):  March 15, 2025
Time(s):  9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

 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.

| Register for this Workshop |


Course Name:  Wait List Registration
Program:  ENTICE
Location: IDNR Springfield
Date(s):  December 31, 2025
Time(s):  9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

 Do not register in this workshop block unless instructed to do so by IDNR Education personnel.

| Register for this Workshop |


Spring 2025 | Top of Page |

Course Name:  Weather, Climate, & Climate Change
Program:  ENTICE
Location: Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Springfield
Date(s):  March 22, 2025
Time(s):  9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

 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. 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.

| Register for this Workshop |


Course Name:  Woodland Basics
Program:  ENTICE
Location: Red Oak Nature Center, North Aurora
Date(s):  March 29, 2025
Time(s):  9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

 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! 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.

| Register for this Workshop |


Course Name:  Coyote Track
Program:  ENTICE
Location: Isle a la Cache, Romeoville
Date(s):  April 12, 2025
Time(s):  9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

 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.

| Register for this Workshop |


Course Name:  Cryptid Connections!
Program:  ENTICE
Location: Red Oak Nature Center, North Aurora
Date(s):  April 19, 2025
Time(s):  9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

 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? 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.

| Register for this Workshop |


Course Name:  Illinois Birds
Program:  ENTICE
Location: Kennekuk Environmental Education Center
Date(s):  April 26, 2025
Time(s):  9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

 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. 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.

| Register for this Workshop |


Course Name:  Pollinators - Ephemerals
Program:  ENTICE
Location: Pickerill-Pigott Forest Preserve
Date(s):  May 3, 2025
Time(s):  9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

 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.

| Register for this Workshop |


Course Name:  Illinois Wetlands
Program:  ENTICE
Location: The Grove, Glenview
Date(s):  May 17, 2025
Time(s):  9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

 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.

| Register for this Workshop |


Course Name:  Aquatic Macroinvertebrates
Program:  ENTICE
Location: Four Rivers Environmental Education Center
Date(s):  June 4, 2025
Time(s):  9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

 Use citizen science and river exploration as models to discover how Universal Design can help your classroom be fully inclusive and reach students of all abilities. Explore new tools to engage all students with the necessity of healthy waterways for humans and wildlife. Discover concrete, actionable ways to connect all students with the important path water must take to reach us safely. Although targeted for educators of grades 4th through 12th, all educators are welcome to register for this workshop. This is a fully inclusive program, welcoming individuals of all abilities.

| Register for this Workshop |


Course Name:  Wonderful World of Insects
Program:  ENTICE
Location: Chicago Botanic Garden
Date(s):  June 7, 2025
Time(s):  9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

 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.

| Register for this Workshop |


Course Name:  Neighborhood Nature
Program:  ENTICE
Location: Morton Arboretum, Lisle
Date(s):  June 14, 2025
Time(s):  9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

 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. 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.

| Register for this Workshop |


Summer 2025 | Top of Page |

Course Name:  Livers of the Rivers
Program:  ENTICE
Location: Urban Stream Research Center
Date(s):  June 21, 2025
Time(s):  9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

 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. 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.

| Register for this Workshop |


Course Name:  Butterflies & Moths
Program:  ENTICE
Location: Saguwau Environmental Learning Center
Date(s):  June 25, 2025
Time(s):  9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

 Learn about butterflies and moths in Illinois. This workshop is geared towards educators from 6th ? 12th grade, but all are welcome. Learn about identification, life cycle, conservation, and adaptations. Learn about Monarch Watch and other butterfly conservation programs. Lab and field methods will be demonstrated. We?ll go outside to observe and identify butterflies in native habitats. Continuing Professional Development Units 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 IDNR, this workshop is part of the ENTICE (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) program.

| Register for this Workshop |


Course Name:  Coyote Track
Program:  ENTICE
Location: Kennekuk Environmental Education Center
Date(s):  June 28, 2025
Time(s):  9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

 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.

| Register for this Workshop |


Course Name:  Exploring an Endangered Species: Black-crowned Night-herons
Program:  ENTICE
Location: Lincoln Park Zoo
Date(s):  July 10, 2025
Time(s):  9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

 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 state 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.

| Register for this Workshop |


Course Name:  Native Bees
Program:  ENTICE
Location: Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Date(s):  July 12, 2025
Time(s):  9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

 What is all the buzz? Native bees are where 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. 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.

| Register for this Workshop |


Course Name:  Invasive Carp
Program:  ENTICE
Location: Dickson Mounds State Museum, Lewiston
Date(s):  July 16, 2025
Time(s):  9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

 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.

| Register for this Workshop |


Course Name:  Wildlife Basics: Birds
Program:  ENTICE
Location: Hoover Forest Preserve
Date(s):  July 19, 2025
Time(s):  9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

 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.

| Register for this Workshop |


Course Name:  Wild Illinois History
Program:  ENTICE
Location: Isle a la Cache, Romeoville
Date(s):  July 23, 2025
Time(s):  9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

 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.

| Register for this Workshop |


Course Name:  Illinois Raptors
Program:  ENTICE
Location: Illinois Raptor Center
Date(s):  August 23, 2025
Time(s):  9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

 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.

| Register for this Workshop |


Course Name:  Galls, Pests, & Trees
Program:  ENTICE
Location: Morton Arboretum, Lisle
Date(s):  September 13, 2025
Time(s):  9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

 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.

| Register for this Workshop |


Course Name:  Illinois Wetlands
Program:  ENTICE
Location: Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, Chicago
Date(s):  September 13, 2025
Time(s):  9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

 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.

| Register for this Workshop |


Course Name:  Illinois Bobcats
Program:  ENTICE
Location: Giant City State Park
Date(s):  September 20, 2025
Time(s):  9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

 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.

| Register for this Workshop |


Fall 2025 | Top of Page |

Course Name:  Wildlife Basics: Mammals
Program:  ENTICE
Location: Red Oak Nature Center, North Aurora
Date(s):  October 4, 2025
Time(s):  9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

 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.

| Register for this Workshop |


Course Name:  Urban Nature
Program:  ENTICE
Location: Chicago Botanic Garden
Date(s):  October 11, 2025
Time(s):  9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

 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.

| Register for this Workshop |


Course Name:  Oak Ecosystems
Program:  ENTICE
Location: Pickerill-Pigott Forest Preserve
Date(s):  October 18, 2025
Time(s):  9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

 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?

| Register for this Workshop |


Course Name:  Coyote Track
Program:  ENTICE
Location: Giant City State Park
Date(s):  November 1, 2025
Time(s):  9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

 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.

| Register for this Workshop |


Course Name:  Introducing Young Children to the Nature of Winter
Program:  ENTICE
Location: Hickory Knolls Discovery Center, St. Charles
Date(s):  November 8, 2025
Time(s):  9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

 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.

| Register for this Workshop |


ABOUT THE WORKSHOPS
ENTICE workshops provide natural resources information, instructional methods and supplemental educational materials. When incorporated into lessons with students, the materials provided encourage and promote stewardship of our state’s natural resources. ENTICE also offers participants the opportunity to network with other educators in a friendly, cooperative, learning environment.

Illinois ENTICE provides the following items for participants.

  • free workshop/resource materials
  • meals during the workshop
  • opportunities to connect with natural resources and education professionals
  • lesson plans and activities correlated to the Illinois Learning Standards
  • for teachers, Professional Development Hours.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Workshops are open to all educators and are designed for targeted grade levels. Maximum enrollment for each course is 30 participants.


Have questions? Contact the IDNR Division of Education at dnr.teachkids@illinois.gov or 217-524-4126.

 

Top of Page