Teacher Resources

Teachers, you're an important link to reconnect our kids with nature! Here are some resources to give you ideas and inspiration to lead children outside and make sure they get the most out of their outdoor time.

Programs

• The Teacher Portal on the Illinois Environmental Education Database can be sorted by Chicago Wilderness partners, and provides program information and contacts for various Chicago Wilderness agencies that have Teacher Education programs.
• Mighty Acorns is a Chicago Wilderness program that connects students in grades four, five, and six with the outdoors.
• The Dunes Learning Center offers residential environmental education programs within the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Programs are available year-round for 4th grade students through adults.
• The Northwest Indiana Teacher Training Hub connects teachers with quality professional development opportunities.
• The Illinois State Board of Education has information on their Service Learning program for high school students.

Resources and Grants

• The Environmental Education and Training Partnership is a national organization that provides a clearinghouse of resources for teachers interested in environmental education.
• The North American Association for Environmental Education provides information on environmental education grants across the country. The association also offers a national clearinghouse of resources, programs and initiatives.
• The Environmental Education Association of Illinois is our Statewide Environmental Education association. Their annual conference is a good training opportunity for teachers in the region.
• The Environmental Protection Agency's Region V website lists resources and grant opportunities.
• The Web Ranger Challenge is an online interactive game.
• The Acorn Naturalists specialize in environmental education products.
• This website on gardening with children has a section devoted to classroom activities.
• The website of the National Wildlife Federation includes information on starting a schoolyard habitat.

Publications

• "Edens Lost & Found" is a multi-part PBS series that highlights practical solutions to improve the environment and quality of life in cities. Curriculum publications are available on the series' website.
• The Illinois Department of Natural Resources' Division of Education provides supplemental materials, field trip and schoolyard habitat development grants and professional development for teachers.
• Natural Wonders is an online publication that is a guide to early childhood theory and educational approaches applied to environmental education.

Research

• The Children and Nature Network is the official site based on Richard Louv's 2005 book, Last Child In the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder. It includes information on the nationwide effort to connect children with nature, as well as a detailed listing of the studies that document the benefits to children of outdoor play and exploration.
• Other research websites include the Children, Youth, and Environments journal, the Natural Learning Initiative, and the Association for the Study of Play.