IDNR awards historic sites field trip grants to Illinois schools

IDNR awards historic sites field trip grants to Illinois schools

SPRINGFIELD – More than 740 students will visit Illinois state historic sites this school year thanks to grant funding through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) State Historic Sites Field Trip Grant program.

More than $6,740 in donated funds were awarded for 14 field trip grants. Grantees represent 12 Illinois counties. The entire amount awarded for the 2025-2026 school year was made possible by private donations to IDNR state historic sites.

“Students should have opportunities to experience Illinois’ historical resources in person and be in the places where history happened in our state,” IDNR Director Natalie Phelps Finnie said. “We are pleased to be able to support learning about historic sites in the classroom with these grants.”

Calhoun County

Calhoun High School, ninth through 12th grade trip to Jarrot Mansion State Historic Site in Cahokia. Grant Award: $500

Douglas County

Villa Grove School District CUSD 302, eighth-grade trip to Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site and War Memorials in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield. Grant award: $500

DuPage County

Evergreen Elementary, fourth-grade trip to Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site and War Memorials in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield. Grant award: $500

Jo Daviess County

East Dubuque Junior High School, eighth-grade trip to Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site and War Memorials in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield. Grant award: $500

Macon County

Meridian Elementary School, third-grade trip to Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site and War Memorials in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield. Grant award: $500

Massac County

Joppa Maple Grove School District 38, seventh through 12th grade trip to Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site and War Memorials in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield. Grant Award: $500

McLean County

Lexington CUSD 7, seventh-grade trip to Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site and War Memorials in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield. Grant award: $240

Montgomery County

Beckemeyer Elementary School, fourth-grade trip to Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site in Petersburg. Grant award: $500

Piatt County

Deland-Weldon Elementary School, fourth- and fifth-grade trip to Lincoln’s Log Cabin State Historic Site in Lerna. Grant award: $500

St. Clair County

East Alton Middle School, seventh-grade trip to Vandalia State House State Historic Site in Vandalia. Grant award: $500

Union County

Jonesboro Elementary School, seventh-grade trip to Lewis and Clark State Historic Site in Hartford. Grant award: $500 Jonesboro Elementary School, eighth-grade trip to Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site and War Memorials in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield. Grant award: $500

Jonesboro Elementary School, seventh- and eighth-grade trip to Dana-Thomas House State Historic Site in Springfield. Grant award: $500

Warren County

Immaculate Conception School, eighth-grade trip to Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site and War Memorials in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield. Grant award: $500

The IDNR State Historic Sites Field Trip Grant program was initiated in the 2020-2021 school year. Grant recipients for the 2025-2026 school year represent students from third grade through high school. This year marks the most grants awarded by the program.

The competitive grant program allows Illinois teachers to apply for funds to take students on a field trip to visit and learn at select Illinois state historic sites. Learning activities must directly relate to the school’s curriculum. Funding covers bus transportation.

The annual application deadline is Sept. 30. The 2026-2027 school year application form will be available online in the spring of 2026.

For more information about the IDNR State Historic Sites Field Trip Grant program, contact the IDNR Division of Education at dnr.teachkids@illinois.gov or 217-524-4126. The Illinois Conservation Foundation gladly accepts donations for the IDNR State Historic Sites Field Trip Grant program.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is celebrating 100 years of conservation and service to the people of Illinois throughout 2025. The department was established July 1, 1925, as the Illinois Department of Conservation, bringing under one umbrella oversight of fish and game, forestry, public works, and lakes.

Today, IDNR’s work encompasses management of about 400 sites across Illinois, including state parks and historic sites; wildlife, fisheries, forestry, and natural heritage; Lake Michigan water allocation and coastal management; conservation police; mines and minerals; oil and gas; issuance of licenses, permits, and numerous grants; the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta; and the Illinois State Museum. Visit https://dnr.illinois.gov for more information.

Latest Stories

Latest Podcast

Quandra-Urban Market Exchange