Earth Day in the Parks promotes natural resources stewardship for students

Washington-Monroe among participants

[April 12, 2013]  SPRINGFIELD -- More than 1,000 students will visit Illinois Department of Natural Resources state parks in April and May for the seventh annual Earth Day in the Parks. The series of events is an initiative of the Department of Natural Resources to introduce students to environmental stewardship.

"Students participating in Earth Day in the Parks will have an opportunity to perform meaningful natural resources stewardship activities, including planting native wildflowers and grasses, building bird feeding stations, and removing invasive, exotic plant species," said IDNR Director Marc Miller.

The events are sponsored by the IDNR Office of Strategic Services and Office of Land Management.

Earth Day in the Parks offers students the opportunity to get outdoors and work in nature. Their hands-on experiences will lead them to develop a sense of ownership of the natural resources in our state while also increasing available wildlife habitat. Students and teachers are encouraged to return to the park to study the effects of their work.

"This is more than just a field trip. It's an investment in a future generation of potential conservationists," Miller said. "We hope these students will continue to visit the parks, not only to witness the success of their projects, but perhaps to volunteer and develop a personal connection to a natural place."

School groups were selected by random drawings from an application process earlier this year. Money from the Illinois Wildlife Preservation Fund through tax checkoff donations helps to support these events at state parks through May 1.

Students from Washington-Monroe Elementary School in Lincoln will visit Weldon Springs State Park on the morning of April 26.

Earth Day in the Parks sites, dates and participating schools are listed below in alphabetical order by site.

• Argyle Lake State Park
  640 Argyle Park Road
  Colchester, IL 62326
  Phone [phone]
  May 2, 9 a.m.-noon
  Southeastern High School, Augusta

• Beall Woods State Park
  9285 Beall Woods Ave.
  Mount Carmel, IL 62863
  Phone [phone]
  May 1, 9-11:30 a.m.
  Red Hill High School, Bridgeport, and
  Lawrenceville High School, Lawrenceville
  May 2, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
  Grayville High School, Grayville

• Cache River Wetlands Center
  8885 State Route 37 S.
  Cypress, IL 62923
  Phone [phone]
  April 12, noon-1:30 p.m.
  Metropolis Elementary School, Metropolis

• Eldon Hazlet State Park
  20100 Hazlet Park Road
  Carlyle, IL 62231
  Phone [phone]
  May 10, 9-11:30 a.m.
  Carlyle High School, Carlyle

• Ferne Clyffe State Park
  State Highway 37 South
  Goreville, IL 62939
  Phone [phone]
  April 25, 9-11 a.m.
  Meridian Elementary School, Mounds

• Fort Massac State Park
  1308 E. Fifth St.
  Metropolis, IL 62960
  Phone [phone]
  April 19, noon-2 p.m.
  Metropolis Elementary School, Metropolis

• Giant City State Park
  235 Giant City Road
  Makanda, IL 62958
  Phone [phone]
  April 18, 9-11 a.m.
  Carbondale Community High School, Carbondale

• IDNR Headquarters
  One Natural Resources Way
  Springfield, IL 62702
  Phone [phone]
  April 25, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
  Carlinville Primary School, Carlinville
  April 26, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
  St. Aloysius School, Springfield

• Jim Edgar Panther Creek SFWA
  10149 County Highway 11
  Chandlerville, IL 62627
  Phone [phone]
  April 11, 9:30 a.m.-noon
  Astoria High School, Astoria

• Lincoln Trail State Park
  16985 E. 1350th Road
  Marshall, IL 62441
  Phone [phone]
  April 25, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
  North Elementary School, Marshall

• Mermet Lake Conservation Area
  1812 Grinnell Road
  Belknap, IL 62908
  Phone [phone]
  April 12, noon-2 p.m.
  Jefferson Elementary School, Metropolis
  

• Pere Marquette State Park
  13112 Visit Center Lane
  Grafton, IL 62037
  Phone [phone]
  April 19, 10:15 a.m.-noon
  Evangelical Elementary School, Godfrey
  April 25, 10 a.m.-noon
  Southwestern High School, Piasa

• Pyramid State Recreation Area
  1562 Pyramid Park Road
  Pinckneyville, IL 62274
  Phone [phone]
  April 17, 9 a.m.-noon
  St. Bruno School, Pinckneyville

• Volo Bog State Natural Area
  28478 W. Brandenburg Road
  Ingleside, IL 60041
  Phone [phone]
  April 18, 9:30 a.m.-noon
  Matthews Middle School, Island Lake

• Weldon Springs State Park
  4734 Weldon Springs Road
  Clinton, IL 61727
  Phone [phone]
  April 26, 10 a.m.-noon
  Washington-Monroe Elementary School, Lincoln, and Monticello Middle School, Monticello
  

• William Powers State Recreation Area
  12949 S. Ave. O
  Chicago, IL 60633
  Phone [phone]
  May 1, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
  Two Chicago schools through the Mighty Acorns program
  

[Text from Illinois Department of Natural Resources file received from the Illinois Office of Communication and Information]