Additional Resources | STEM Education Research Center | SIU

Growing UP Wild is an early childhood program written primarily for children ages 3-7. It is designed to connect young learners with nature, inviting them to build upon their sense of wonder with the natural world through a wide range of activities and experiences. Find out more details about Growing Up Wild.

Project WILD is a wildlife-focused conservation education program for K-12 educators and their students. Several different programs within the program designed to connect students with wildlife, the natural world and natural resources. Find out more details about Project Wild.

Project Learning Tree, for students PreK-12, uses trees and forests for windows of the world to increase students’ understanding of the environment and learn about actions they can take to conserve it. Its activities are practical, hands-on and fun, and aligned with dozens of state and national academic standards. Find out more information about Project Learning Tree.

Aquatic WILD is a curriculum within Project WILD, which introduces students K-12 to the wonderful world of water in all its forms and associated activities. Find out more information about Aquatic Wild.

Flying WILD is all about our feathered friends. The program mainly targets middle school children, and offers practical hands-on classroom and outdoor field investigation experiences in a whole-school approach to environmental education, using birds as its focus. Find out more information about Flying Wild.

Project WET’s mission is to reach children, parents, teachers and community members of the world with water education that promotes awareness of water and empowers community action to solve complex water issues. It does this by offering training workshops to educators at all levels, offering and inspiring community water events, and much more. Find out more information about Project WET.

Leave No Trace's mission is to use the power of science, education and stewardship to ensure a sustainable future for the outdoors and the planet. More about Leave No Trace and their youth curriculum.

Touch of Nature Outdoor Center is one of eleven Leave No Trace Master Educator Certification providers and the only one located in the Midwest. Find out more information about Touch of Nature. 

   Outdoor Play: Learn About Conservation!"  Great resources on soil, water, land and wildlife conservation with information on protecting nature. Find out more at Playground Equipment.com.

Do Your Part Recycling, located in Benton, is a recycling program started by a Benton community member after the city run recycling program was closed. To schedule a field trip, contact Andy Lamont. For more information on Do Your Part Recycling, visit their Facebook page. 

Giant City State Park, located in Makanda, is one of the publicly owned spaces here in southern Illinois. To schedule a field trip, contact Jennifer Randolph-Bollinger. It is strongly recommended that teachers contact her a couple months in advance as trips fill fast. 

Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center located in Makanda, IL has been offering hands-on learning opportunities for southern Illinois schools for seven decades. Find more information here.

Southern Illinois Recycling located in Carbondale, IL offers an hour long tour of their facility, allowing students to get a first hand look at what happens to recycled items after they've been picked up or dropped off.

Biodiversity Grant

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources offers the Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant each year. Their website is filled with resources including commonly asked questions, tips and tricks and even a podcast walking step-by-step through the grant writing process. 

EEAI Mini Grant

The Environmental Education Association of Illinois is a non-profit dedicated to environmental education opportunities for groups of all ages throughout the state of Illinois. Guidelines are available in a PDF document on their website. Each successful application is awarded up to $350.

Friends of Giant City

Friends of Giant City is a non-profit supporting the state park located in Makanda, IL. Part of their mission includes helping fund school group trips out to Giant City State Park.For more information, contact Jennifer Randolph-Bollinger, Natural Resource Coordinator for details about funding and trip opportunities. It is recommended that this be done a couple months in advance.

Historic Sites

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources offers the Illinois Historic Sites Field Trip Grant each year. Similar to the Biodiversity Grant, their website is filled with resources including commonly asked questions, tips and tricks and even a podcast walking step-by-step through the grant writing process. 

Schoolyard Habitat Grant

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources also offers the Schoolyard Habitat Grant. While this grant is not aimed towards field trips, it is an excellent way to obtain funding for extension opportunities to plant native plants to create and maintain pollinator gardens. As always, the IDNR website offers a wealth of information on the grant such as commonly asked questions, tips and tricks and even a podcast walking step-by-step through the grant writing process.