The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and the Illinois Conservation Foundation (ICF) today announced 27 Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grants have been awarded from the fall 2019 application period. A total of $22,477.78 will be distributed.
“The Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant program provides children and educators with an opportunity to increase the use of native plants in Illinois landscapes while benefitting wildlife species,” said IDNR Director Colleen Callahan. “By participating in these projects, students learn their efforts can make a positive difference in the world, and they gain experience in problem-based learning by planning, developing and maintaining the habitat.”
The Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant program supports the development or enhancement of wildlife habitat on the school grounds or other public places. Funding for the program is provided through donations to the ICF. The Jadel Youth Fund and the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Foundation are the major sponsors for the program. More than $294,000 in Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant funding has been distributed since the program’s inception.
Among the projects funded included butterfly gardens, pollinator gardens and various outdoor classrooms across the state. No grants were awarded to schools in Iroquois, Will or Kankakee County.
The next round of applications for the Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant Program are due Nov 30th 2020. You can learn more about the program here.
Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grants – January 2020
Adams County
Colonel George J. Iles
Elementary School, Quincy. Grades: 2 and 5. Project: native prairie
habitat to serve as an outdoor lab. Grant Award: $912.00
Champaign County
Prairieview-Ogden Community
Unit School District #197, Ogden. Grades: 4-6. Project: prairie
habitat. Grant Award: $467.00
Clay County
North Clay Elementary
School, Louisville. Grades: 3, 9-12. Project: pollinator garden.
Grant Award: $780.91
Clinton County
Bartelso Grade School,
Bartelso. Grades: 4-8. Project: butterfly garden. Grant Award:
$990.00
Cook County
Agassiz Elementary School,
Chicago. Grades: kindergarten-8. Project: butterfly garden. Grant
Award: $1,000.00
City Garden Waldorf School,
Chicago. Grades: prekindergarten and kindergarten. Project:
pollinator garden. Grant Award: $883.71
Elizabeth Meyer School,
Skokie. Grades: prekindergarten and kindergarten. Project:
pollinator garden. Grant Award: $697.50
Lindblom Math and Science
Academy, Chicago. Grades: 9-12. Project: pollinator garden. Grant
Award: $855.33
Norwood Park School, Chicago.
Grade: 3. Project: pollinator garden. Grant Award: $888.43.
Prairie Elementary School,
Orland Park. Grades: kindergarten-2. Project: prairie habitat and
rain garden. Grant Award: $1,000.00
St. Viator Elementary
School, Chicago. Grades: 1-5. Project: pollinator garden. Grant
Award: $1,000.00
Du Page County
Little Blossom Montessori
School, Aurora. Grade: prekindergarten. Project: pollinator garden.
Grant Award: $995.88
Kane County
Elgin Math and Science
Academy Charter School, Elgin. Grade: 4. Project: butterfly garden
and pollinator garden. Grant Award: $1,000.00
Green Friends Montessori
School, Elburn. Grades: preschool and kindergarten. Project:
pollinator garden. Grant Award: $403.20
Kendall County
Newark Community
Consolidated School District 66 – Millbrook Junior High, Millbrook.
Grades: 5-8. Project: outdoor classroom. Grant Award: $1,000.00
Plano Middle School, Plano.
Grades: 7-8. Project: wetland habitat. Grant Award: $1,000.00
La Salle County
Dimmick Grade School, La
Salle. Grades: kindergarten-8. Project: pollinator garden. Grant
Award: $592.48
Lake County
Washington Elementary
School, Mundelein. Grades: kindergarten-2. Project: pollinator
garden. Grant Award: $499.53
Macon County
Lutheran School Association,
Decatur. Grades: 3-4, 9-12. Project: pollinator garden. Grant
Award: $1,000.00
McLean County
Lexington Junior High
School, Lexington. Grades: 7-8. Project: pollinator garden. Grant
Award: $179.09
Mulberry School, Normal.
Grades: preschool-3. Project: pollinator garden and outdoor classroom. Grant
Award: $447.44
Ogle County
Forreston Junior Senior High
School, Forreston. Grades: 6-12. Project: pollinator garden. Grant
Award: $893.83
Putnam County
Putnam County Junior High
School District #535, McNabb. Grades: 6-12. Project: pollinator
garden. Grant Award: $1,000.00
Rock Island County
Sherrard Junior/Senior High
School, Sherrard. Grades: 7-12. Project: prairie habitat. Grant
Award: $1,000.00
Sangamon County
Lutheran High School,
Springfield. Grades: 9-12. Project: pollinator garden. Grant Award:
$1,000.00
St. Clair County
Carriel Junior High School,
O’Fallon. Grade: 7. Project: pollinator garden. Grant Award:
$1,000.00
Williamson County
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
School, Herrin. Grades: 6-7. Project: pollinator garden. Grant
Award: $991.45
