In-person and virtual school programs are available. To find out more review the programs offered below, then email AskAnEducator@LCFPD.org to begin the registration process.
Field Trips and In-school Programs
In-person school programs are offered after September 1. Use the table below to view all of our field trip and in-school programs. Begin your registration process by filling out this form, emailing AskAnEducator@LCFPD.org or calling 847-367-6640.
Reservations are available beginning July 1. Make reservations now–plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
NOTE: All programs marked with an *asterisk are availble both in-school and field trip.
Virtual Field Trips
Educators are working on curriculum support for teachers. These resources help teachers with their classroom’s e-learning, supporting topics they had chosen as their field trips. History and nature virtual field trips are available, if interested in booking any of these virtual field trips below or learning more please email AskAnEducator@LCFPD.org.
Each program runs 30–45 minutes and supports Illinois Learning Standards.
Browse Virtual Programs
Preschool
Expand all
Age 3
Age 3–Grade 1
Students learn how our local animals have adapted to survive winter. We’ll discover why snow is important, why animals don’t need long underwear and then explore outside for signs of winter life.
Availability
This program is primarily offered at Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods and Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago, December–February.
Cost
Age 3–Grade 1: $40 ($76 nonresident) 1 hour
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 3–Grade 4
Discover the intriguing world of the only flying mammal. Students learn about the unique adaptations that help bats hunt for mosquitoes and other insects in the dark.
Availability
This program is year round, in-school only.
Cost
|
First Program: $60 ($80 nonresidents) |
1 hour |
|
Additional Programs: $40 ($55 nonresidents) |
|
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 3–Grade 2
Learn what makes butterflies and moths different and how these winged wonders survive by tricking predators as you “fly” through a series of activities using preserved specimens. For the finale, students get a chance to live the life of these fragile animals as they experience metamorphosis first-hand.
Availability
This program is year round, in-school only.
Cost
|
First Program: $60 ($80 nonresidents) |
1 hour |
|
Additional Programs: $40 ($55 nonresidents) |
|
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 3–Grade 2
We bring one of our favorite nature stories to life while your students discover the relationship between the needs of different plants and animals.
Availability
This program is year round, in-school only.
Cost
|
First Program: $60 ($80 nonresidents) |
1 hour |
|
Additional Programs: $40 ($55 nonresidents) |
|
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 3 – Grade 8
Learn what makes a bird a bird, and how they use their feathers, beaks, and feet to survive and grow. Students take a look at bird study skins, and then head outdoors to listen for and observe birds.
Availability
This program is primarily offered at Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods and Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago.
It is also offered at the following locations on the dates specified:
|
Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 |
|
Hastings Lake |
Sep 20, 27, Oct 4, 2021; Apr 25, May 2, 9, 2022 |
|
Greenbelt Cultural Center |
Sep 21, 28, Oct 5, 2021; Apr 26, May 3, 10, 2022 |
|
Van Patten Woods Shelter A
|
Sep 24, Oct 1, 8 2021; Apr 29, May 6, 13, 2022
|
Cost
|
Age 3–Grade 2: $40 ($76 nonresident) |
1 hour |
|
Grades 3–12: $50 ($86 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 3 – Grade 2
Take a hands-on look at different animals’ homes and learn that like people—animals use homes to provide shelter, safety and a good place to raise a family. Then it’s into the woods to search for burrows, nests, holes and more.
Availability
This program is primarily offered at Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods and Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago.
It is also offered at the following locations on the dates specified:
|
Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 |
|
Hastings Lake |
Sep 20, 27, Oct 4, 2021; Apr 25, May 2, 9, 2022 |
|
Greenbelt Cultural Center |
Sep 21, 28, Oct 5, 2021; Apr 26, May 3, 10, 2022 |
|
Van Patten Woods Shelter A
|
Sep 24, Oct 1, 8 2021; Apr 29, May 6, 13, 2022
|
Cost
|
Age 3–Grade 2: $40 ($76 nonresident)
|
1 hour
|
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 3 – Grade 8
We're mammals, but what does that mean? We'll look at pelts and skulls to learn similarities and differences between everything from bats to beavers and how these animals are adapted to their habitat. Then we'll go outside to look for animal tracks and signs.
Availability
This program is primarily offered at Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods and Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago.
It is also offered at the following locations on the dates specified:
|
Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 |
|
Hastings Lake |
Sep 20, 27, Oct 4, 2021; Apr 25, May 2, 9, 2022 |
|
Greenbelt Cultural Center |
Sep 21, 28, Oct 5, 2021; Apr 26, May 3, 10, 2022 |
|
Van Patten Woods Shelter A
|
Sep 24, Oct 1, 8 2021; Apr 29, May 6, 13, 2022
|
Cost
|
Age 3–Grade 2: $40 ($76 nonresident) |
1 hour |
|
Grades 3–12: $50 ($86 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 3 - Grade 6
Eeekk! It’s slimy and slithery—or is it? Students compare and contrast reptiles and amphibians through hands-on activities, and discover how specialized body parts help our local reptiles and amphibians grow and survive.
Availability
This program is available at Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods and Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago, September–February and April–early June. This program is also available as an in-school program for Age 3–Grade 2.
Cost
|
Age 3–Grade 3: $40 ($76 nonresidents) |
1 hour |
|
Grades 4–6: $50 ($86 nonresidents) |
1.5 hours |
Concurrent programs are available.
In-Person Cost
|
First Program: $60 ($80 nonresidents) |
1 hour |
|
Additional Programs: $40 ($55 nonresidents) |
|
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 3 – Grade 2
Students use their senses to make outdoor discoveries looking for colors in the rainbow, reaching into mystery boxes to feel objects, or focusing on the sights, sounds, smells and textures of the forest. Most of all, students learn that nature is fun.
Availability
This program is offered at Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods, September–October and April–May.
Cost
|
$20/group ($40/group nonresidents) |
1 hour (suggested time), 20 people/group max |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 4
Age 3–Grade 1
Students learn how our local animals have adapted to survive winter. We’ll discover why snow is important, why animals don’t need long underwear and then explore outside for signs of winter life.
Availability
This program is primarily offered at Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods and Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago, December–February.
Cost
Age 3–Grade 1: $40 ($76 nonresident) 1 hour
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 3–Grade 4
Discover the intriguing world of the only flying mammal. Students learn about the unique adaptations that help bats hunt for mosquitoes and other insects in the dark.
Availability
This program is year round, in-school only.
Cost
|
First Program: $60 ($80 nonresidents) |
1 hour |
|
Additional Programs: $40 ($55 nonresidents) |
|
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 3 – Grade 8
Learn what makes a bird a bird, and how they use their feathers, beaks, and feet to survive and grow. Students take a look at bird study skins, and then head outdoors to listen for and observe birds.
Availability
This program is primarily offered at Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods and Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago.
It is also offered at the following locations on the dates specified:
|
Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 |
|
Hastings Lake |
Sep 20, 27, Oct 4, 2021; Apr 25, May 2, 9, 2022 |
|
Greenbelt Cultural Center |
Sep 21, 28, Oct 5, 2021; Apr 26, May 3, 10, 2022 |
|
Van Patten Woods Shelter A
|
Sep 24, Oct 1, 8 2021; Apr 29, May 6, 13, 2022
|
Cost
|
Age 3–Grade 2: $40 ($76 nonresident) |
1 hour |
|
Grades 3–12: $50 ($86 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 3–Grade 2
Learn what makes butterflies and moths different and how these winged wonders survive by tricking predators as you “fly” through a series of activities using preserved specimens. For the finale, students get a chance to live the life of these fragile animals as they experience metamorphosis first-hand.
Availability
This program is year round, in-school only.
Cost
|
First Program: $60 ($80 nonresidents) |
1 hour |
|
Additional Programs: $40 ($55 nonresidents) |
|
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 3 – Grade 8
We're mammals, but what does that mean? We'll look at pelts and skulls to learn similarities and differences between everything from bats to beavers and how these animals are adapted to their habitat. Then we'll go outside to look for animal tracks and signs.
Availability
This program is primarily offered at Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods and Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago.
It is also offered at the following locations on the dates specified:
|
Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 |
|
Hastings Lake |
Sep 20, 27, Oct 4, 2021; Apr 25, May 2, 9, 2022 |
|
Greenbelt Cultural Center |
Sep 21, 28, Oct 5, 2021; Apr 26, May 3, 10, 2022 |
|
Van Patten Woods Shelter A
|
Sep 24, Oct 1, 8 2021; Apr 29, May 6, 13, 2022
|
Cost
|
Age 3–Grade 2: $40 ($76 nonresident) |
1 hour |
|
Grades 3–12: $50 ($86 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 3–Grade 2
We bring one of our favorite nature stories to life while your students discover the relationship between the needs of different plants and animals.
Availability
This program is year round, in-school only.
Cost
|
First Program: $60 ($80 nonresidents) |
1 hour |
|
Additional Programs: $40 ($55 nonresidents) |
|
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 4 – Grade 2
Meet our live sheep and chickens. Use puppets to distinguish farm and wild animals, and food containers to learn what products come from farms. Note: For our animals’ health, they are not always outside. Food provided for feeding animals.
Availability
This program is available September–October and late April–July at Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods.
Cost
|
$20/group ($40/group nonresident) |
1 hour (suggested time), 20 people/group max |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 4 – Grade 12
Students learn how trees turn water, the sun's energy and air into sap. Then it’s into the sugarbush to practice drilling and watch the sap flow. A stop at the evaporator shows how sap becomes syrup. Everyone gets a chance to compare sap and taste real Ryerson Woods maple syrup.
Availability
This program is held at Ryerson Woods throughout March.
Cost
|
Age 4–Grade 6: $55 ($91 nonresident) |
1 hour |
|
Grades 7–12: $65 ($101 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 4 – Grade 12
Students get a taste of the syrup-making process from start to finish. Every student has a chance to practice drilling holes, see sap collecting in buckets and taste fresh Ryerson Woods maple syrup. Teacher materials provided.
Availability
This program is available at Ryerson Woods throughout March.
Cost
|
$25/group ($50/group nonresidents) |
1 hour (suggested time), 20 people/group max |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 1 – 8
Look at the world through an insect’s eyes and discover the differences and similarities between insects and spiders. Netting and close-up observation allows students to explore a variety of local insects and spiders.
Availability
This program is primarily offered at Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods and Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago, September–mid-October and mid-May–early June.
It is also offered at the following locations on the dates specified:
|
Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 |
|
Hastings Lake |
Sep 20, 27, Oct 4, 2021; Apr 25, May 2, 9, 2022 |
|
Greenbelt Cultural Center |
Sep 21, 28, Oct 5, 2021; Apr 26, May 3, 10, 2022 |
|
Van Patten Woods Shelter A
|
Sep 24, Oct 1, 8 2021; Apr 29, May 6, 13, 2022
|
Cost
|
Grades 1–2: $40 ($76 nonresident) |
1 hour |
|
Grades 3–8: $50 ($86 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 4 – Grade 2
Discover the job of a paleontologist and what makes an animal a dinosaur through a story and hands-on activities.
Availability
This program is available year-round at the Dunn Museum in Libertyville. This program is also available as an in-school program.
Cost
|
$2/student ($4/student nonresident) |
45 minutes, 30 people/group max |
Concurrent programs are available.
In-Person Cost
|
First Program: $60 ($80 nonresidents) |
1 hour |
|
Additional Programs: $40 ($55 nonresidents) |
|
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 4 – Grade 2
Explore the lives of early settler children by learning about their chores, entertainment, and community through object-based inquiry and hands-on experiences.
Availability
This program is available year-round at the Dunn Museum in Libertyville. This program is also available as an in-school program.
Cost
|
$2/person ($4/person nonresident) |
45 minutes, 30 people/group max |
Concurrent programs are available.
In-Person Cost
|
First Program: $60 ($80 nonresidents) |
1 hour |
|
Additional Programs: $40 ($55 nonresidents) |
|
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 4 – Grade 2
Do you know the difference between a mastodon and a mammoth? Find out as you explore Lake County during the last Ice Age through a story and hands-on activities.
Availability
This program is available year-round at the Dunn Museum in Libertyville. This program is also available as an in-school program.
Cost
|
$2/person ($4/person nonresident) |
45 minutes, 30 people/group max |
Concurrent programs are available.
In-Person Cost
|
First Program: $60 ($80 nonresidents) |
1 hour |
|
Additional Programs: $40 ($55 nonresidents) |
|
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 4 – Grade 2
Learn about the Potawatomi in our area through hands-on activities and a traditional oral story.
Availability
This program is available year-round at the Dunn Museum in Libertyville. This program is also available as an in-school program.
Cost
|
$2/person ($4/person nonresident) |
45 minutes, 30 people/group max |
Concurrent programs are available.
In-Person Cost
|
First Program: $60 ($80 nonresidents) |
1 hour |
|
Additional Programs: $40 ($55 nonresidents) |
|
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Elementary School
Expand all
Grades 1-2
Age 3–Grade 1
Students learn how our local animals have adapted to survive winter. We’ll discover why snow is important, why animals don’t need long underwear and then explore outside for signs of winter life.
Availability
This program is primarily offered at Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods and Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago, December–February.
Cost
Age 3–Grade 1: $40 ($76 nonresident) 1 hour
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 1–4
This program is a great introduction or review for your unit on animal groups. Using fun riddles, animal study skins and live animals, your students classify common Lake County animals based on their unique physical features.
Availability
This program is year round, in-school only.
Cost
|
First Program: $60 ($80 nonresidents) |
1 hour |
|
Additional Programs: $40 ($55 nonresidents) |
|
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 3–Grade 4
Discover the intriguing world of the only flying mammal. Students learn about the unique adaptations that help bats hunt for mosquitoes and other insects in the dark.
Availability
This program is year round, in-school only.
Cost
|
First Program: $60 ($80 nonresidents) |
1 hour |
|
Additional Programs: $40 ($55 nonresidents) |
|
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 3 – Grade 8
Learn what makes a bird a bird, and how they use their feathers, beaks, and feet to survive and grow. Students take a look at bird study skins, and then head outdoors to listen for and observe birds.
Availability
This program is primarily offered at Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods and Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago.
It is also offered at the following locations on the dates specified:
|
Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 |
|
Hastings Lake |
Sep 20, 27, Oct 4, 2021; Apr 25, May 2, 9, 2022 |
|
Greenbelt Cultural Center |
Sep 21, 28, Oct 5, 2021; Apr 26, May 3, 10, 2022 |
|
Van Patten Woods Shelter A
|
Sep 24, Oct 1, 8 2021; Apr 29, May 6, 13, 2022
|
Cost
|
Age 3–Grade 2: $40 ($76 nonresident) |
1 hour |
|
Grades 3–12: $50 ($86 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 3–Grade 2
Learn what makes butterflies and moths different and how these winged wonders survive by tricking predators as you “fly” through a series of activities using preserved specimens. For the finale, students get a chance to live the life of these fragile animals as they experience metamorphosis first-hand.
Availability
This program is year round, in-school only.
Cost
|
First Program: $60 ($80 nonresidents) |
1 hour |
|
Additional Programs: $40 ($55 nonresidents) |
|
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 3 – Grade 8
We're mammals, but what does that mean? We'll look at pelts and skulls to learn similarities and differences between everything from bats to beavers and how these animals are adapted to their habitat. Then we'll go outside to look for animal tracks and signs.
Availability
This program is primarily offered at Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods and Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago.
It is also offered at the following locations on the dates specified:
|
Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 |
|
Hastings Lake |
Sep 20, 27, Oct 4, 2021; Apr 25, May 2, 9, 2022 |
|
Greenbelt Cultural Center |
Sep 21, 28, Oct 5, 2021; Apr 26, May 3, 10, 2022 |
|
Van Patten Woods Shelter A
|
Sep 24, Oct 1, 8 2021; Apr 29, May 6, 13, 2022
|
Cost
|
Age 3–Grade 2: $40 ($76 nonresident) |
1 hour |
|
Grades 3–12: $50 ($86 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 3–Grade 2
We bring one of our favorite nature stories to life while your students discover the relationship between the needs of different plants and animals.
Availability
This program is year round, in-school only.
Cost
|
First Program: $60 ($80 nonresidents) |
1 hour |
|
Additional Programs: $40 ($55 nonresidents) |
|
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 4 – Grade 2
Meet our live sheep and chickens. Use puppets to distinguish farm and wild animals, and food containers to learn what products come from farms. Note: For our animals’ health, they are not always outside. Food provided for feeding animals.
Availability
This program is available September–October and late April–July at Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods.
Cost
|
$20/group ($40/group nonresident) |
1 hour (suggested time), 20 people/group max |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 4 – Grade 12
Students learn how trees turn water, the sun's energy and air into sap. Then it’s into the sugarbush to practice drilling and watch the sap flow. A stop at the evaporator shows how sap becomes syrup. Everyone gets a chance to compare sap and taste real Ryerson Woods maple syrup.
Availability
This program is held at Ryerson Woods throughout March.
Cost
|
Age 4–Grade 6: $55 ($91 nonresident) |
1 hour |
|
Grades 7–12: $65 ($101 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 4 – Grade 12
Students get a taste of the syrup-making process from start to finish. Every student has a chance to practice drilling holes, see sap collecting in buckets and taste fresh Ryerson Woods maple syrup. Teacher materials provided.
Availability
This program is available at Ryerson Woods throughout March.
Cost
|
$25/group ($50/group nonresidents) |
1 hour (suggested time), 20 people/group max |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 1 – 8
Look at the world through an insect’s eyes and discover the differences and similarities between insects and spiders. Netting and close-up observation allows students to explore a variety of local insects and spiders.
Availability
This program is primarily offered at Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods and Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago, September–mid-October and mid-May–early June.
It is also offered at the following locations on the dates specified:
|
Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 |
|
Hastings Lake |
Sep 20, 27, Oct 4, 2021; Apr 25, May 2, 9, 2022 |
|
Greenbelt Cultural Center |
Sep 21, 28, Oct 5, 2021; Apr 26, May 3, 10, 2022 |
|
Van Patten Woods Shelter A
|
Sep 24, Oct 1, 8 2021; Apr 29, May 6, 13, 2022
|
Cost
|
Grades 1–2: $40 ($76 nonresident) |
1 hour |
|
Grades 3–8: $50 ($86 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades K–2
Learn how specialized feathers, beaks, and talons help owls rule the food chain. Get a close-up look at local owl study skins and our live education owl.
Availability
This program is year round, in-school only.
Cost
|
First Program: $60 ($80 nonresidents) |
1 hour |
|
Additional Programs: $40 ($55 nonresidents) |
|
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 1–2
Take an up-close look at seeds. Discover their needs and examine plant life cycles. By examining burrs, nuts and other seeds, learn how seeds are dispersed. Find developing seeds and learn more about their needs with an outside walk.
Availability
This program is primarily offered at Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods and Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago, September–mid October and April–June.
It is also offered at the following locations on the dates specified:
|
Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 |
|
Hastings Lake |
Sep 20, 27, Oct 4, 2021; Apr 25, May 2, 9, 2022 |
|
Greenbelt Cultural Center |
Sep 21, 28, Oct 5, 2021; Apr 26, May 3, 10, 2022 |
|
Van Patten Woods Shelter A
|
Sep 24, Oct 1, 8 2021; Apr 29, May 6, 13, 2022
|
Cost
|
$40 ($76 nonresident) |
1 hour |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 4 – Grade 2
Do you know the difference between a mastodon and a mammoth? Find out as you explore Lake County during the last Ice Age through a story and hands-on activities.
Availability
This program is available year-round at the Dunn Museum in Libertyville. This program is also available as an in-school program.
Cost
|
$2/person ($4/person nonresident) |
45 minutes, 30 people/group max |
Concurrent programs are available.
In-Person Cost
|
First Program: $60 ($80 nonresidents) |
1 hour |
|
Additional Programs: $40 ($55 nonresidents) |
|
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 4 – Grade 2
Learn about the Potawatomi in our area through hands-on activities and a traditional oral story.
Availability
This program is available year-round at the Dunn Museum in Libertyville. This program is also available as an in-school program.
Cost
|
$2/person ($4/person nonresident) |
45 minutes, 30 people/group max |
Concurrent programs are available.
In-Person Cost
|
First Program: $60 ($80 nonresidents) |
1 hour |
|
Additional Programs: $40 ($55 nonresidents) |
|
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 4 – Grade 2
Explore the lives of early settler children by learning about their chores, entertainment, and community through object-based inquiry and hands-on experiences.
Availability
This program is available year-round at the Dunn Museum in Libertyville. This program is also available as an in-school program.
Cost
|
$2/person ($4/person nonresident) |
45 minutes, 30 people/group max |
Concurrent programs are available.
In-Person Cost
|
First Program: $60 ($80 nonresidents) |
1 hour |
|
Additional Programs: $40 ($55 nonresidents) |
|
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 4 – Grade 2
Discover the job of a paleontologist and what makes an animal a dinosaur through a story and hands-on activities.
Availability
This program is available year-round at the Dunn Museum in Libertyville. This program is also available as an in-school program.
Cost
|
$2/student ($4/student nonresident) |
45 minutes, 30 people/group max |
Concurrent programs are available.
In-Person Cost
|
First Program: $60 ($80 nonresidents) |
1 hour |
|
Additional Programs: $40 ($55 nonresidents) |
|
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 3-4
Age 3 – Grade 8
Learn what makes a bird a bird, and how they use their feathers, beaks, and feet to survive and grow. Students take a look at bird study skins, and then head outdoors to listen for and observe birds.
Availability
This program is primarily offered at Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods and Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago.
It is also offered at the following locations on the dates specified:
|
Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 |
|
Hastings Lake |
Sep 20, 27, Oct 4, 2021; Apr 25, May 2, 9, 2022 |
|
Greenbelt Cultural Center |
Sep 21, 28, Oct 5, 2021; Apr 26, May 3, 10, 2022 |
|
Van Patten Woods Shelter A
|
Sep 24, Oct 1, 8 2021; Apr 29, May 6, 13, 2022
|
Cost
|
Age 3–Grade 2: $40 ($76 nonresident) |
1 hour |
|
Grades 3–12: $50 ($86 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 1–4
This program is a great introduction or review for your unit on animal groups. Using fun riddles, animal study skins and live animals, your students classify common Lake County animals based on their unique physical features.
Availability
This program is year round, in-school only.
Cost
|
First Program: $60 ($80 nonresidents) |
1 hour |
|
Additional Programs: $40 ($55 nonresidents) |
|
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 3–Grade 4
Discover the intriguing world of the only flying mammal. Students learn about the unique adaptations that help bats hunt for mosquitoes and other insects in the dark.
Availability
This program is year round, in-school only.
Cost
|
First Program: $60 ($80 nonresidents) |
1 hour |
|
Additional Programs: $40 ($55 nonresidents) |
|
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 3–8
What do playing dead and cheek pouches have in common? Both are adaptations animals use for survival. Students search for camouflaged animals during an outdoor walk. A variety of animal skins show how well wildlife is suited for its habitat. Outdoor activities illustrate unique behavioral adaptations.
Availability
This program is primarily offered at Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods and Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago.
It is also offered at the following locations on the dates specified:
|
Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 |
|
Hastings Lake |
Sep 20, 27, Oct 4, 2021; Apr 25, May 2, 9, 2022 |
|
Greenbelt Cultural Center |
Sep 21, 28, Oct 5, 2021; Apr 26, May 3, 10, 2022 |
|
Van Patten Woods Shelter A
|
Sep 24, Oct 1, 8 2021; Apr 29, May 6, 13, 2022
|
Cost
|
$50 ($86 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 3 – Grade 8
We're mammals, but what does that mean? We'll look at pelts and skulls to learn similarities and differences between everything from bats to beavers and how these animals are adapted to their habitat. Then we'll go outside to look for animal tracks and signs.
Availability
This program is primarily offered at Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods and Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago.
It is also offered at the following locations on the dates specified:
|
Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 |
|
Hastings Lake |
Sep 20, 27, Oct 4, 2021; Apr 25, May 2, 9, 2022 |
|
Greenbelt Cultural Center |
Sep 21, 28, Oct 5, 2021; Apr 26, May 3, 10, 2022 |
|
Van Patten Woods Shelter A
|
Sep 24, Oct 1, 8 2021; Apr 29, May 6, 13, 2022
|
Cost
|
Age 3–Grade 2: $40 ($76 nonresident) |
1 hour |
|
Grades 3–12: $50 ($86 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 1 – 8
Look at the world through an insect’s eyes and discover the differences and similarities between insects and spiders. Netting and close-up observation allows students to explore a variety of local insects and spiders.
Availability
This program is primarily offered at Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods and Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago, September–mid-October and mid-May–early June.
It is also offered at the following locations on the dates specified:
|
Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 |
|
Hastings Lake |
Sep 20, 27, Oct 4, 2021; Apr 25, May 2, 9, 2022 |
|
Greenbelt Cultural Center |
Sep 21, 28, Oct 5, 2021; Apr 26, May 3, 10, 2022 |
|
Van Patten Woods Shelter A
|
Sep 24, Oct 1, 8 2021; Apr 29, May 6, 13, 2022
|
Cost
|
Grades 1–2: $40 ($76 nonresident) |
1 hour |
|
Grades 3–8: $50 ($86 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 3–12
Take a closer look at this influential and important figure in United States political history by visiting the place he fondly called home. Students will examine his 1952 and 1956 campaigns to learn more about the presidential election process.
Availability
This program is available year-round at the Adlai E. Stevenson Historic Home in Mettawa.
Cost
|
$3/person ($5/person nonresident) |
1 hour and 15 mins, 30 people/group max |
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 3–5
Why is there no fossil record of dinosaurs in Lake County? Uncover clues to this period of Lake County's past as you learn about the fascinating work of paleontologists.
Availability
This program is available year-round at the Dunn Museum in Libertyville. This program is also available as an in-school program.
Cost
|
$2/student ($4/student nonresident) |
1 hour, 30 people/group max |
Concurrent programs are available.
In-Person Cost
|
First Program: $60 ($80 nonresidents) |
1 hour |
|
Additional Programs: $40 ($55 nonresidents) |
|
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 4 – Grade 12
Students learn how trees turn water, the sun's energy and air into sap. Then it’s into the sugarbush to practice drilling and watch the sap flow. A stop at the evaporator shows how sap becomes syrup. Everyone gets a chance to compare sap and taste real Ryerson Woods maple syrup.
Availability
This program is held at Ryerson Woods throughout March.
Cost
|
Age 4–Grade 6: $55 ($91 nonresident) |
1 hour |
|
Grades 7–12: $65 ($101 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 4 – Grade 12
Students get a taste of the syrup-making process from start to finish. Every student has a chance to practice drilling holes, see sap collecting in buckets and taste fresh Ryerson Woods maple syrup. Teacher materials provided.
Availability
This program is available at Ryerson Woods throughout March.
Cost
|
$25/group ($50/group nonresidents) |
1 hour (suggested time), 20 people/group max |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 3–5
Examine the important people and events that have shaped our county into what it is today. From dinosaurs, to the Civil War, to the industrial boom and beyond, students will come away with a deeper understanding of the area's long and rich history.
Availability
This program is available year-round at the Dunn Museum in Libertyville. This program is also available as an in-school program.
Cost
|
$2/student ($4/student nonresident) |
1 hour, 30 people/group max |
Concurrent programs are available.
In-Person Cost
|
First Program: $60 ($80 nonresidents) |
1 hour |
|
Additional Programs: $40 ($55 nonresidents) |
|
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 3–5
Discover the magnificent, massive mammals that lived in Lake County during the Last Ice Age.
Availability
This program is available year-round at the Dunn Museum in Libertyville. This program is also available as an in-school program.
Cost
|
$2/person ($4/person nonresident) |
1 hour, 30 people/group max |
Concurrent programs are available.
In-Person Cost
|
First Program: $60 ($80 nonresidents) |
1 hour |
|
Additional Programs: $40 ($55 nonresidents) |
|
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 3–5
Utilize primary sources, objects and inquiry skills to discover how colonialism impacted local Native peoples. Students will examineNative daily life in the early 19th century, the impact of the 1833 Treaty of Chicago and the continuance of Native cultures today.
Availability
This program is available year-round at the Dunn Museum in Libertyville. This program is also available as an in-school program.
Cost
|
$2/person ($4/person nonresident) |
1 hour, 30 people/group max |
Concurrent programs are available.
In-Person Cost
|
First Program: $60 ($80 nonresidents) |
1 hour |
|
Additional Programs: $40 ($55 nonresidents) |
|
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 3–5
How do we know what happened in the past? Become a historian and investigate objects, photos, and primary sources to determine who the first settlers in Lake County were, what their daily lives were like, and how they adapted the land around them.
Availability
This program is available year-round at the Dunn Museum in Libertyville. This program is also available as an in-school program.
Cost
|
$2/student ($4/student nonresident) |
1 hour, 30 people/group max |
Concurrent programs are available.
In-Person Cost
|
First Program: $60 ($80 nonresidents) |
1 hour |
|
Additional Programs: $40 ($55 nonresidents) |
|
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 3–8
Discover the unique adaptations of Illinois prairie plants. Examine plants to learn how sun, wind and water affect prairies and the wildlife found there.
Availability
This program is available exclusively at Old School in Libertyville, September–early October.
Cost
|
Grade 3, $40 ($76 nonresident) |
1 hour |
|
Grade 4–8, $50 ($86 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 3–12
Learn food chain basics with an outdoor simulation of predator and prey interactions. Dissect owl pellets to determine what happens to prey. A face-to-face meeting with a live predator reveals its special role in nature.
Availability
This program is primarily offered at Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods and Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago.
It is also offered at the following locations on the dates specified:
|
Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 |
|
Hastings Lake |
Sep 20, 27, Oct 4, 2021; Apr 25, May 2, 9, 2022 |
|
Greenbelt Cultural Center |
Sep 21, 28, Oct 5, 2021; Apr 26, May 3, 10, 2022 |
|
Van Patten Woods Shelter A
|
Sep 24, Oct 1, 8 2021; Apr 29, May 6, 13, 2022
|
Cost
|
$70 ($106 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 3 - Grade 6
Eeekk! It’s slimy and slithery—or is it? Students compare and contrast reptiles and amphibians through hands-on activities, and discover how specialized body parts help our local reptiles and amphibians grow and survive.
Availability
This program is available at Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods and Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago, September–February and April–early June. This program is also available as an in-school program.
Cost
|
Age 3–Grade 3: $40 ($76 nonresidents) |
1 hour |
|
Grades 4–6: $50 ($86 nonresidents) |
1.5 hours |
Concurrent programs are available.
In-Person Cost
|
First Program: $60 ($80 nonresidents) |
1 hour |
|
Additional Programs: $40 ($55 nonresidents) |
|
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 3–6
Students study the interactions between organisms and the flow of energy through ecosystems as they work in teams to build food webs with pelts, skulls and artifacts. Explorations show what living things need to survive. The living web activity demonstrates how even the smallest influences are felt throughout the web.
Availability
This program is primarily offered at Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods and Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago, September–November and April–early June.
It is also offered at the following locations on the dates specified:
|
Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 |
|
Hastings Lake |
Sep 20, 27, Oct 4, 2021; Apr 25, May 2, 9, 2022 |
|
Greenbelt Cultural Center |
Sep 21, 28, Oct 5, 2021; Apr 26, May 3, 10, 2022 |
|
Van Patten Woods Shelter A
|
Sep 24, Oct 1, 8 2021; Apr 29, May 6, 13, 2022
|
Cost
|
$50 ($86 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grade 4-5
Grades 4–12
Go back to early Lake County as 18th-century French voyageurs lead activities on land and water. Discover why voyageurs traveled to Illinois in the 1740s and learn their effect on natural and cultural development. Weather permitting, paddle our 34-foot canoe across the lake and back in time.
Forest Preserve education staff realize the excitement and anticipation students and teachers feel when joining us for a floating classroom program, but there are circumstances when it is unsafe to include the canoe portion of the program. In the event that canoe use is not possible, staff is prepared with additional activities to present a complete education program.
Waiver and Release forms are required for all students attending this program. Download the waiver
Availability
Floating classroom programs are primarily held at Independence Grove in Libertyville and typically offered September–early October, and late April–May. It is also offered on Sterling Lake at Van Patten Woods in Wadsworth on May 2, 3, 5, 6.
Cost
|
One group, $140 ($200 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
|
Two groups (must be same day), $160 ($220 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
|
Three groups (must be same day), $205 ($290 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
|
Four groups (must be same day), $220 ($310 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
Group size: 17 people total (students + adults)
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 3 – Grade 8
Learn what makes a bird a bird, and how they use their feathers, beaks, and feet to survive and grow. Students take a look at bird study skins, and then head outdoors to listen for and observe birds.
Availability
This program is primarily offered at Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods and Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago.
It is also offered at the following locations on the dates specified:
|
Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 |
|
Hastings Lake |
Sep 20, 27, Oct 4, 2021; Apr 25, May 2, 9, 2022 |
|
Greenbelt Cultural Center |
Sep 21, 28, Oct 5, 2021; Apr 26, May 3, 10, 2022 |
|
Van Patten Woods Shelter A
|
Sep 24, Oct 1, 8 2021; Apr 29, May 6, 13, 2022
|
Cost
|
Age 3–Grade 2: $40 ($76 nonresident) |
1 hour |
|
Grades 3–12: $50 ($86 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 4–8
Learn about a variety of locally endangered species and their success stories in Lake County through hands-on investigations. Walk in the “boots of a biologist” and test out some of the equipment we use to find and evaluate state endangered turtles in our Blanding’s Turtle Recovery program.
Availability
This program is primarily offered at Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods, Semptember–November and April–early June.
Cost
|
$50 ($86 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grade 4–8
Students participate in hands-on activities to learn about the impacts of non-native plant species on our local biodiversity. Included is a supervised restoration activity, which varies by season.
* High school teachers, call us to learn about restoration opportunities offered for high school students.
Because students will be working with tools as part of the invasive species removal portion of this program, all students are required to sign and return the Waiver and Release form. The only exception is when this program is booked for late April or May, where the target plant species removed during the restoration portion of the program does not call for tool usage.
Availability
This program is primarily offered at Greenbelt in North Chicago, Hastings Lake in Lake Villa, Lakewood in Wauconda, Old School in Mettawa, Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods, and Van Patten Woods in Wadsworth, September–May. Other locations available. Call to inquire about scheduling this program at a specific location or one that may be closer to your school.
Cost
|
$68 ($106 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 3 – Grade 8
We're mammals, but what does that mean? We'll look at pelts and skulls to learn similarities and differences between everything from bats to beavers and how these animals are adapted to their habitat. Then we'll go outside to look for animal tracks and signs.
Availability
This program is primarily offered at Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods and Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago.
It is also offered at the following locations on the dates specified:
|
Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 |
|
Hastings Lake |
Sep 20, 27, Oct 4, 2021; Apr 25, May 2, 9, 2022 |
|
Greenbelt Cultural Center |
Sep 21, 28, Oct 5, 2021; Apr 26, May 3, 10, 2022 |
|
Van Patten Woods Shelter A
|
Sep 24, Oct 1, 8 2021; Apr 29, May 6, 13, 2022
|
Cost
|
Age 3–Grade 2: $40 ($76 nonresident) |
1 hour |
|
Grades 3–12: $50 ($86 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 3–8
What do playing dead and cheek pouches have in common? Both are adaptations animals use for survival. Students search for camouflaged animals during an outdoor walk. A variety of animal skins show how well wildlife is suited for its habitat. Outdoor activities illustrate unique behavioral adaptations.
Availability
This program is primarily offered at Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods and Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago.
It is also offered at the following locations on the dates specified:
|
Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 |
|
Hastings Lake |
Sep 20, 27, Oct 4, 2021; Apr 25, May 2, 9, 2022 |
|
Greenbelt Cultural Center |
Sep 21, 28, Oct 5, 2021; Apr 26, May 3, 10, 2022 |
|
Van Patten Woods Shelter A
|
Sep 24, Oct 1, 8 2021; Apr 29, May 6, 13, 2022
|
Cost
|
$50 ($86 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 4–12
Use nets to catch tadpoles, snails, and dragonfly nymphs. Budding scientists work with microscopes and dichotomous keys to examine their catch and observe the interactions among organisms. Students will use species diversity to assess the pond's health.
Availability
This program is available at Wright Woods in Mettawa, September–early October and late May–early June.
Cost
|
$50 ($86 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 3 - Grade 6
Eeekk! It’s slimy and slithery—or is it? Students compare and contrast reptiles and amphibians through hands-on activities, and discover how specialized body parts help our local reptiles and amphibians grow and survive.
Availability
This program is available at Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods and Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago, September–February and April–early June. This program is also available as an in-school program.
Cost
|
Age 3–Grade 3: $40 ($76 nonresidents) |
1 hour |
|
Grades 4–6: $50 ($86 nonresidents) |
1.5 hours |
Concurrent programs are available.
In-Person Cost
|
First Program: $60 ($80 nonresidents) |
1 hour |
|
Additional Programs: $40 ($55 nonresidents) |
|
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 3–12
Take a closer look at this influential and important figure in United States political history by visiting the place he fondly called home. Students will examine his 1952 and 1956 campaigns to learn more about the presidential election process.
Availability
This program is available year-round at the Adlai E. Stevenson Historic Home in Mettawa.
Cost
|
$3/person ($5/person nonresident) |
1 hour and 15 mins, 30 people/group max |
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 5–8
Learn about the American Civil War firsthand as you join Civil War re-enactors and Dunn Museum staff for a day of artillery, infantry and medical demonstrations, along with performances by Harriet Tubman, President and Mrs. Lincoln, and Generals Grant and Lee. Also includes Civil War era music, stories from the Lake County home front, and more.
Availability
This program is available at the Lakewood Forest Preserve in Wauconda.
Cost
|
$4/student ($6 nonresidents) |
3 hours 30 minutes (9:30 am–1 pm) |
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 3–5
Why is there no fossil record of dinosaurs in Lake County? Uncover clues to this period of Lake County's past as you learn about the fascinating work of paleontologists.
Availability
This program is available year-round at the Dunn Museum in Libertyville. This program is also available as an in-school program.
Cost
|
$2/student ($4/student nonresident) |
1 hour, 30 people/group max |
Concurrent programs are available.
In-Person Cost
|
First Program: $60 ($80 nonresidents) |
1 hour |
|
Additional Programs: $40 ($55 nonresidents) |
|
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 4–8
Geologic “time” is relative and usually beyond human experience, but relative dating of rocks and fossils is an essential technique for a geologist. Students develop a timeline of significant events in Earth’s history, and identify rock and fossil samples to determine geological time.
Availability
This program is year round, in-school only.
Cost
|
First Program: $60 ($80 nonresidents) |
1 hour |
|
Additional Programs: $40 ($55 nonresidents) |
|
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 4–8
Through hands-on learning, students learn what a glacier is and how they move. Students become a glacier to explore how water and ice formed the landforms we see in Lake County today.
Availability
This program is year round, in-school only.
Cost
|
First Program: $60 ($80 nonresidents) |
1 hour |
|
Additional Programs: $40 ($55 nonresidents) |
|
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 3–5
Examine the important people and events that have shaped our county into what it is today. From dinosaurs, to the Civil War, to the industrial boom and beyond, students will come away with a deeper understanding of the area's long and rich history.
Availability
This program is available year-round at the Dunn Museum in Libertyville. This program is also available as an in-school program.
Cost
|
$2/student ($4/student nonresident) |
1 hour, 30 people/group max |
Concurrent programs are available.
In-Person Cost
|
First Program: $60 ($80 nonresidents) |
1 hour |
|
Additional Programs: $40 ($55 nonresidents) |
|
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 3–5
Discover the magnificent, massive mammals that lived in Lake County during the Last Ice Age.
Availability
This program is available year-round at the Dunn Museum in Libertyville. This program is also available as an in-school program.
Cost
|
$2/person ($4/person nonresident) |
1 hour, 30 people/group max |
Concurrent programs are available.
In-Person Cost
|
First Program: $60 ($80 nonresidents) |
1 hour |
|
Additional Programs: $40 ($55 nonresidents) |
|
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 1 – 8
Look at the world through an insect’s eyes and discover the differences and similarities between insects and spiders. Netting and close-up observation allows students to explore a variety of local insects and spiders.
Availability
This program is primarily offered at Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods and Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago, September–mid-October and mid-May–early June.
It is also offered at the following locations on the dates specified:
|
Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 |
|
Hastings Lake |
Sep 20, 27, Oct 4, 2021; Apr 25, May 2, 9, 2022 |
|
Greenbelt Cultural Center |
Sep 21, 28, Oct 5, 2021; Apr 26, May 3, 10, 2022 |
|
Van Patten Woods Shelter A
|
Sep 24, Oct 1, 8 2021; Apr 29, May 6, 13, 2022
|
Cost
|
Grades 1–2: $40 ($76 nonresident) |
1 hour |
|
Grades 3–8: $50 ($86 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
Concurrent programs are available.
In-Person Cost
|
First Program: $60 ($80 nonresidents) |
1 hour |
|
Additional Programs: $40 ($55 nonresidents) |
|
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 3–5
Utilize primary sources, objects and inquiry skills to discover how colonialism impacted local Native peoples. Students will examineNative daily life in the early 19th century, the impact of the 1833 Treaty of Chicago and the continuance of Native cultures today.
Availability
This program is available year-round at the Dunn Museum in Libertyville. This program is also available as an in-school program.
Cost
|
$2/person ($4/person nonresident) |
1 hour, 30 people/group max |
Concurrent programs are available.
In-Person Cost
|
First Program: $60 ($80 nonresidents) |
1 hour |
|
Additional Programs: $40 ($55 nonresidents) |
|
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 3–5
How do we know what happened in the past? Become a historian and investigate objects, photos, and primary sources to determine who the first settlers in Lake County were, what their daily lives were like, and how they adapted the land around them.
Availability
This program is available year-round at the Dunn Museum in Libertyville. This program is also available as an in-school program.
Cost
|
$2/student ($4/student nonresident) |
1 hour, 30 people/group max |
Concurrent programs are available.
In-Person Cost
|
First Program: $60 ($80 nonresidents) |
1 hour |
|
Additional Programs: $40 ($55 nonresidents) |
|
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 5–8
Using various historical sources, students piece together what it was like to escape on the Underground Railroad and evaluate whether there is enough evidence to prove it passed through Lake County.
Availability
This program is available year-round at the Dunn Museum in Libertyville.
Cost
|
$3/person ($5/person nonresident) |
1 hour, 30 people/group max |
Concurrent programs are available.
In-Person Cost
|
First Program: $60 ($80 nonresidents) |
1 hour |
|
Additional Programs: $40 ($55 nonresidents) |
|
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Middle School
Expand all
Grade 6
Age 3 - Grade 6
Eeekk! It’s slimy and slithery—or is it? Students compare and contrast reptiles and amphibians through hands-on activities, and discover how specialized body parts help our local reptiles and amphibians grow and survive.
Availability
This program is available at Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods and Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago, September–February and April–early June. This program is also available as an in-school program.
Cost
|
Age 3–Grade 3: $40 ($76 nonresidents) |
1 hour |
|
Grades 4–6: $50 ($86 nonresidents) |
1.5 hours |
Concurrent programs are available.
In-Person Cost
|
First Program: $60 ($80 nonresidents) |
1 hour |
|
Additional Programs: $40 ($55 nonresidents) |
|
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grade 6-8
Grades 3–8
What do playing dead and cheek pouches have in common? Both are adaptations animals use for survival. Students search for camouflaged animals during an outdoor walk. A variety of animal skins show how well wildlife is suited for its habitat. Outdoor activities illustrate unique behavioral adaptations.
Availability
This program is primarily offered at Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods and Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago.
It is also offered at the following locations on the dates specified:
|
Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 |
|
Hastings Lake |
Sep 20, 27, Oct 4, 2021; Apr 25, May 2, 9, 2022 |
|
Greenbelt Cultural Center |
Sep 21, 28, Oct 5, 2021; Apr 26, May 3, 10, 2022 |
|
Van Patten Woods Shelter A
|
Sep 24, Oct 1, 8 2021; Apr 29, May 6, 13, 2022
|
Cost
|
$50 ($86 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 3 – Grade 8
Learn what makes a bird a bird, and how they use their feathers, beaks, and feet to survive and grow. Students take a look at bird study skins, and then head outdoors to listen for and observe birds.
Availability
This program is primarily offered at Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods and Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago.
It is also offered at the following locations on the dates specified:
|
Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 |
|
Hastings Lake |
Sep 20, 27, Oct 4, 2021; Apr 25, May 2, 9, 2022 |
|
Greenbelt Cultural Center |
Sep 21, 28, Oct 5, 2021; Apr 26, May 3, 10, 2022 |
|
Van Patten Woods Shelter A
|
Sep 24, Oct 1, 8 2021; Apr 29, May 6, 13, 2022
|
Cost
|
Age 3–Grade 2: $40 ($76 nonresident) |
1 hour |
|
Grades 3–12: $50 ($86 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 4–8
Learn about a variety of locally endangered species and their success stories in Lake County through hands-on investigations. Walk in the “boots of a biologist” and test out some of the equipment we use to find and evaluate state endangered turtles in our Blanding’s Turtle Recovery program.
Availability
This program is primarily offered at Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods, September–November and April–early June.
Cost
|
$50 ($86 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grade 4–8
Students participate in hands-on activities to learn about the impacts of non-native plant species on our local biodiversity. Included is a supervised restoration activity, which varies by season.
* High school teachers, call us to learn about restoration opportunities offered for high school students.
Because students will be working with tools as part of the invasive species removal portion of this program, all students are required to sign and return the Waiver and Release form. The only exception is when this program is booked for late April or May, where the target plant species removed during the restoration portion of the program does not call for tool usage.
Availability
This program is primarily offered at Greenbelt in North Chicago, Hastings Lake in Lake Villa, Lakewood in Wauconda, Old School in Mettawa, Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods, and Van Patten Woods in Wadsworth, September–May. Other locations available. Call to inquire about scheduling this program at a specific location or one that may be closer to your school.
Cost
|
$68 ($106 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 4–8
Geologic “time” is relative and usually beyond human experience, but relative dating of rocks and fossils is an essential technique for a geologist. Students develop a timeline of significant events in Earth’s history, and identify rock and fossil samples to determine geological time.
Availability
This program is year round, in-school only.
Cost
|
First Program: $60 ($80 nonresidents) |
1 hour |
|
Additional Programs: $40 ($55 nonresidents) |
|
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 3 – Grade 8
We're mammals, but what does that mean? We'll look at pelts and skulls to learn similarities and differences between everything from bats to beavers and how these animals are adapted to their habitat. Then we'll go outside to look for animal tracks and signs.
Availability
This program is primarily offered at Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods and Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago.
It is also offered at the following locations on the dates specified:
|
Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 |
|
Hastings Lake |
Sep 20, 27, Oct 4, 2021; Apr 25, May 2, 9, 2022 |
|
Greenbelt Cultural Center |
Sep 21, 28, Oct 5, 2021; Apr 26, May 3, 10, 2022 |
|
Van Patten Woods Shelter A
|
Sep 24, Oct 1, 8 2021; Apr 29, May 6, 13, 2022
|
Cost
|
Age 3–Grade 2: $40 ($76 nonresident) |
1 hour |
|
Grades 3–12: $50 ($86 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 6–8
Examine the fossil record and develop a time line of significant events. Investigate igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks; identify rock and fossil samples to determine their place in geological time, and explore how water and ice formed the landscape of Lake County. Students apply knowledge by taking soil core samples and interpreting the results. Through data collection and field work, learn the continuing effects of glaciation.
Availability
This program is primarily offered at Independence Grove in Libertyville and Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago, late October–early November and late March - early April.
Cost
|
$96 ($134 nonresident) |
4 hours, 30 students, 3 adults/group max |
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 1 – 8
Look at the world through an insect’s eyes and discover the differences and similarities between insects and spiders. Netting and close-up observation allows students to explore a variety of local insects and spiders.
Availability
This program is primarily offered at Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods and Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago, September–mid-October and mid-May–early June.
It is also offered at the following locations on the dates specified:
|
Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 |
|
Hastings Lake |
Sep 20, 27, Oct 4, 2021; Apr 25, May 2, 9, 2022 |
|
Greenbelt Cultural Center |
Sep 21, 28, Oct 5, 2021; Apr 26, May 3, 10, 2022 |
|
Van Patten Woods Shelter A
|
Sep 24, Oct 1, 8 2021; Apr 29, May 6, 13, 2022
|
Cost
|
Grades 1–2: $40 ($76 nonresident) |
1 hour |
|
Grades 3–8: $50 ($86 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 6–12
Students take on the role of Limnologists and study abiotic and biotic factors to determine water quality. Paddle our 34-foot canoe and use specialized tools to collect water samples and do chemical tests. Study watersheds and their impact on water quality while taking a one-mile walk around the lake. Students use the information gathered to formulate a solution to a lake water quality issue. Collect, identify and categorize the animal life in the lake to form a complete picture of overall water quality.
Forest Preserve education staff realize the excitement and anticipation students and teachers feel when joining us for a floating classroom program, but there are circumstances when it is unsafe to include the canoe portion of the program. In the event that canoe use is not possible, staff is prepared with additional activities to present a complete education program.
Waiver and Release forms are required for all students attending this program. Download the waiver »
Availability
Floating classroom programs are primarily held at Independence Grove in Libertyville and is typically offered September–early October, and late April–May. It is also offered on Sterling Lake at Van Patten Woods in Wadsworth on May 2, 3, 5, 6.
Cost
|
$218 ($290 nonresident) |
4.5 hours, 45 students, 6 adults/group max |
New This Year
If the full 4.5 hour program is not the right fit for your group, contact our staff at 847-968-3321 to discuss a customized, shortened Lake Ecology field trip to meet your specific curriculum needs and time constraints.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 4–12
Go back to early Lake County as 18th-century French voyageurs lead activities on land and water. Discover why voyageurs traveled to Illinois in the 1740s and learn their effect on natural and cultural development. Weather permitting, paddle our 34-foot canoe across the lake and back in time.
Forest Preserve education staff realize the excitement and anticipation students and teachers feel when joining us for a floating classroom program, but there are circumstances when it is unsafe to include the canoe portion of the program. In the event that canoe use is not possible, staff is prepared with additional activities to present a complete education program.
Waiver and Release forms are required for all students attending this program. Download the waiver
Availability
Floating classroom programs are primarily held at Independence Grove in Libertyville and is typically offered September–early October, and late April–May. It is also offered on Sterling Lake at Van Patten Woods in Wadsworth on May 2, 3, 5, 6.
Cost
|
One group, $140 ($200 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
|
Two groups (must be same day), $160 ($220 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
|
Three groups (must be same day), $205 ($290 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
|
Four groups (must be same day), $220 ($310 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
Group size: 17 people total (students + adults)
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 4 – Grade 12
Students learn how trees turn water, the sun's energy and air into sap. Then it’s into the sugarbush to practice drilling and watch the sap flow. A stop at the evaporator shows how sap becomes syrup. Everyone gets a chance to compare sap and taste real Ryerson Woods maple syrup.
Availability
This program is held at Ryerson Woods throughout March.
Cost
|
Age 4–Grade 6: $55 ($91 nonresident) |
1 hour |
|
Grades 7–12: $65 ($101 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 4 – Grade 12
Students get a taste of the syrup-making process from start to finish. Every student has a chance to practice drilling holes, see sap collecting in buckets and taste fresh Ryerson Woods maple syrup. Teacher materials provided.
Availability
This program is available at Ryerson Woods throughout March.
Cost
|
$25/group ($50/group nonresidents) |
1 hour (suggested time), 20 people/group max |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 3–8
Discover the unique adaptations of Illinois prairie plants. Examine plants to learn how sun, wind and water affect prairies and the wildlife found there.
Availability
This program is available exclusively at Old School in Libertyville, September–early October.
Cost
|
Grade 3, $40 ($76 nonresident) |
1 hour |
|
Grade 4–8, $50 ($86 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 5–8
Using various historical sources, students piece together what it was like to escape on the Underground Railroad and evaluate whether there is enough evidence to prove it passed through Lake County.
Availability
This program is available year-round at the Dunn Museum in Libertyville.
Cost
|
$3/person ($5/person nonresident) |
1 hour, 30 people/group max |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 5–8
Learn about the American Civil War firsthand as you join Civil War re-enactors and Dunn Museum staff for a day of artillery, infantry and medical demonstrations, along with performances by Harriet Tubman, President and Mrs. Lincoln, and Generals Grant and Lee. Also includes Civil War era music, stories from the Lake County home front, and more.
Availability
This program is available at the Lakewood Forest Preserve in Wauconda.
Cost
|
$4/student ($6 nonresidents) |
3 hours 30 minutes (9:30 am–1 pm) |
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 4–12
Use nets to catch tadpoles, snails, and dragonfly nymphs. Budding scientists work with microscopes and dichotomous keys to examine their catch and observe the interactions among organisms. Students will use species diversity to assess the pond's health.
Availability
This program is available at Wright Woods in Mettawa, September–early October and late May–early June.
Cost
|
$50 ($86 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 7–12
Explore how water and resource conservation are an important part of the Welcome Center at Ryerson Woods. This green building is a laboratory for discovering how to balance the needs of people and nature. Hands-on activities aid learning.
Availability
This program is exclusively held at Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods, year-round.
Cost
|
$20 ($40 nonresident) |
1.5 hours, 50 people/group max |
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
High School
Expand all
Grades 9-12
Grades 7–12
Explore how water and resource conservation are an important part of the Welcome Center at Ryerson Woods. This green building is a laboratory for discovering how to balance the needs of people and nature. Hands-on activities aid learning.
Availability
This program is exclusively held at Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods, year-round.
Cost
|
$20 ($40 nonresident) |
1.5 hours, 50 people/group max |
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 6–12
Students take on the role of Limnologists and study abiotic and biotic factors to determine water quality. Paddle our 34-foot canoe and use specialized tools to collect water samples and do chemical tests. Study watersheds and their impact on water quality while taking a one-mile walk around the lake. Students use the information gathered to formulate a solution to a lake water quality issue. Collect, identify and categorize the animal life in the lake to form a complete picture of overall water quality.
Forest Preserve education staff realize the excitement and anticipation students and teachers feel when joining us for a floating classroom program, but there are circumstances when it is unsafe to include the canoe portion of the program. In the event that canoe use is not possible, staff is prepared with additional activities to present a complete education program.
Waiver and Release forms are required for all students attending this program. Download the waiver »
Availability
Floating classroom programs are primarily held at Independence Grove in Libertyville and is typically offered September–early October, and late April–May. It is also offered on Sterling Lake at Van Patten Woods in Wadsworth on May 2, 3, 5, 6.
Cost
|
$218 ($290 nonresident) |
4.5 hours, 45 students, 6 adults/group max |
New This Year
If the full 4.5 hour program is not the right fit for your group, contact our staff at 847-968-3321 to discuss a customized, shortened Lake Ecology field trip to meet your specific curriculum needs and time constraints.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 4–12
Go back to early Lake County as 18th-century French voyageurs lead activities on land and water. Discover why voyageurs traveled to Illinois in the 1740s and learn their effect on natural and cultural development. Weather permitting, paddle our 34-foot canoe across the lake and back in time.
Forest Preserve education staff realize the excitement and anticipation students and teachers feel when joining us for a floating classroom program, but there are circumstances when it is unsafe to include the canoe portion of the program. In the event that canoe use is not possible, staff is prepared with additional activities to present a complete education program.
Waiver and Release forms are required for all students attending this program. Download the waiver
Availability
Floating classroom programs are primarily held at Independence Grove in Libertyville and is typically offered September–early October, and late April–May. It is also offered on Sterling Lake at Van Patten Woods in Wadsworth on May 2, 3, 5, 6.
Cost
|
One group, $140 ($200 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
|
Two groups (must be same day), $160 ($220 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
|
Three groups (must be same day), $205 ($290 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
|
Four groups (must be same day), $220 ($310 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
Group size: 17 people total (students + adults)
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 4 – Grade 12
Students learn how trees turn water, the sun's energy and air into sap. Then it’s into the sugarbush to practice drilling and watch the sap flow. A stop at the evaporator shows how sap becomes syrup. Everyone gets a chance to compare sap and taste real Ryerson Woods maple syrup.
Availability
This program is held at Ryerson Woods throughout March.
Cost
|
Age 4–Grade 6: $55 ($91 nonresident) |
1 hour |
|
Grades 7–12: $65 ($101 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Age 4 – Grade 12
Students get a taste of the syrup-making process from start to finish. Every student has a chance to practice drilling holes, see sap collecting in buckets and taste fresh Ryerson Woods maple syrup. Teacher materials provided.
Availability
This program is available at Ryerson Woods throughout March.
Cost
|
$25/group ($50/group nonresidents) |
1 hour (suggested time), 20 people/group max |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 4–12
Use nets to catch tadpoles, snails, and dragonfly nymphs. Budding scientists work with microscopes and dichotomous keys to examine their catch and observe the interactions among organisms. Students will use species diversity to assess the pond's health.
Availability
This program is available at Wright Woods in Mettawa, September–early October and late May–early June.
Cost
|
$50 ($86 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 3–12
Learn food chain basics with an outdoor simulation of predator and prey interactions. Dissect owl pellets to determine what happens to prey. A face-to-face meeting with a live predator reveals its special role in nature.
Availability
This program is primarily offered at Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods and Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago.
It is also offered at the following locations on the dates specified:
|
Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 |
|
Hastings Lake |
Sep 20, 27, Oct 4, 2021; Apr 25, May 2, 9, 2022 |
|
Greenbelt Cultural Center |
Sep 21, 28, Oct 5, 2021; Apr 26, May 3, 10, 2022 |
|
Van Patten Woods Shelter A
|
Sep 24, Oct 1, 8 2021; Apr 29, May 6, 13, 2022
|
Cost
|
$70 ($106 nonresident) |
1.5 hours |
Concurrent programs are available.
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
Grades 3–12
Take a closer look at this influential and important figure in United States political history by visiting the place he fondly called home. Students will examine his 1952 and 1956 campaigns to learn more about the presidential election process.
Availability
This program is available year-round at the Adlai E. Stevenson Historic Home in Mettawa.
Cost
|
$3/person ($5/person nonresident) |
1 hour and 15 mins, 30 people/group max |
Reservations
Reservations are taken by phone at 847-367-6640 or using the button below.
Make reservations now - plan early to help ensure you get a schedule that meets your needs.
View the list of Illinois Science Standards covered by our programs
Teacher Open House
Attend a spring or fall Teacher Open House to learn about programs and resources for your class, and take part in teacher training sessions with Museum and Environmental education staff. Up to two CPDUs available. Check our calendar for dates or sign up for our educator email list.
Ask An Educator
Are you teaching a unit on threatened and endangered species and want to feature local examples? Does your class have questions about pioneer settlers in Lake County? We can help.
Submit questions about Lake County’s natural and human history to AskAnEducator@LCFPD.org and we will respond to your inquiry.
Stay Informed
Sign up to receive our educator e-newsletter to stay up-to-date on educational opportunities for your students and scouts.