School Programs and Teacher Resources / 2024–2025 by Lake County Forest Preserve District

School Programs and Teacher Resources

A Message from the Director of Education

First off, let me say this: thank you for all you do for our communities. We appreciate you!

The Lake County Forest Preserves is here as a resource for you and your students. As the principal guardian of Lake County’s natural areas and open space since 1958, the Forest Preserves sets the standard in nature and history education.

We know curriculum alignment is one of the most important factors teachers consider when choosing a field trip for their students. Our school programs support Illinois Learning Standards.

Teachers like you know the value of hands-on, real-world experiences. Our field trips and in-school programs led by talented educators give students the opportunity for authentic experiences to learn, discover and apply what they know.

Engaging programs immerse your students in the natural and human history of Lake County, using historical objects, artifacts, biofacts and live animals. Our programs incorporate topics such as animal adaptations, life cycles, sustainability, American Indian cultures, dinosaurs, habitat restoration, Illinois’ glacial history and connections to people who came before us.

Bus costs can make taking students on a field trip cost-prohibitive. Ease that burden by choosing a high-quality, affordably priced field trip right here in Lake County.

Programs are offered at several locations countywide. That makes your bus ride shorter and less expensive. If transportation is still a barrier, let us come to you. Book our educators to visit your classroom in person or virtually. The Gateway Grants program is available for Lake County public schools with limited financial resources.

Inclusivity is a key value for all our education experiences. We’re happy to accommodate different languages you or your students may speak, provide diverse teaching methods and work to complement your school’s unique culture. We look forward to working with you.

Sincerely,

Alyssa Firkus Director of Education

Lake County Forest Preserves

PHOTOGRAPHY AND ILLUSTRATION

Melissa Alderson, Pat Bradley, Luke Ciancio, Joyce Dever, Tim Elliott, Liz Rose Fisher, Getty Images, John D. Kavc, Kimberly Kingen, R. Scott McNeill, Andy Raupp, Larry Reis, Merlin Tuttle, John Weinstein, Carrie Werner, Chip Williams

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?

Digital Resources

Scan the code below or visit LCFPD.org/resources.

Education Resources Webpage: Find videos, printable activities and curricula you can use in your classroom.

Nature and History Blogs: Visit the Lake County Nature Blog and Lake County History Blog to find information on local history and nature.

DunnTV: The Dunn Museum’s YouTube channel, DunnTV, provides content on local history and museum-related topics you can use in your classroom.

Visit the Dunn Museum Virtually: See virtual highlights of special exhibitions at LCFPD.org/museum

Find Primary Sources: Check out the Dunn Museum on the Illinois Digital Archives website to find primary sources on local history from the Museum’s archives at LCFPD.org/collections

Podcast: Listen to our award-winning Words of the Woods podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you prefer to listen at LCFPD.org/podcast. Hear interviews with experts discussing local nature and history.

Educator Loan Boxes

To book a box, email AskAnEducator@LCFPD.org.

Check out an educator loan box and bring fresh, interactive science lessons to the classroom. Each loan box includes hands-on group learning activities, educational items and reference materials.

Illinois Learning Standards are supported, making it easy to incorporate each box into your curriculum. Six themes available: Birds; Ecosystems; Geology; Insects; Mammals; and Plants, Seeds and Trees.

Pick-up and return available at Ryerson Conservation Area (Riverwoods) or at our General Offices (Libertyville).

Gateways Grants

Schools that qualify receive a letter in the mail addressed to their principal.

Our Gateways Grants program helps reduce the cost of programs for Lake County public schools with limited financial resources. The grant provides a fee waiver for field trips and a $150 bus stipend. A fee discount is applied for in-school and virtual programs. Hundreds of students benefit from field trips each year thanks to Gateways Grants, made possible by private donations.

Additional Resources

Educator Inbox

Email nature and history questions to AskAnEducator@LCFPD.org. Connect With Us

Check our calendar of events for additional opportunities at LCFPD.org/calendar

Trainings

Educators are available to provide training for teachers during an in-service day. Email AskAnEducator@LCFPD.org or call 847-968-3321 to schedule a training.

FIELD TRIPS

Pre–K and Kindergarten

Visit a forest preserve or the Dunn Museum (Libertyville) for an in-person program guided by an educator.

• Animals in Winter 5

• Dinosaur Tales 6

• Growing Up in Lake County 8

• Homes 8

• Mammals 11

• Maple Syruping* 11

• Mighty Mastodons 11

• Reptiles and Amphibians 13

• Woodland Stories 14

Elementary (Grade 1–5)

• All the Way with Adlai (Grade 3–5) 5

• Animal Adaptations (Grade 3–8) 5

• Animals in Winter (Age 3–Grade 1) 5

• Boots of a Biologist (Grade 4–8) 6

• Dinosaur Tales (Grade 1–2) 6

• Discovering Dinosaurs (Grade 3–5) 6

• Forming Lake County (Grade 3–5) 7

• Glacial Erosion (Grade 3–6) 7

• Growing Up in Lake County (Grade 1–2) 8

• Habitat Heroes (Grade 4–8) 8

• Homes (Age 3–Grade 2) 8

• Ice Age Glaciers (Grade 3–6) 9

• Ice Age Mammals (Grade 3–5) 9

• Insects and Spiders 9

• Lake County During the Civil War (Grade 5) 10

• Lake County: Past to Present (Grade 3–5) 10

• Mammals 11

• Maple Syruping* 11

• Mighty Mastodons (Grade 1–2) 11

• Plant Adaptations (Grade 3–8) 12

• Plant Life Cycles (Grade 1–2) 12

• Pond Study (Grade 4–12) 12

• Potawatomi Lifeways (Grade 3–5) 12

•

• Reptiles and Amphibians

•

• Web of Life (Grade 3–6)

• Woodland Stories (Grade 1–2)

School / Junior High (Grade 6–8)

*Available as a self-guided field trip

Guided field trips are led by professional educators. Self-guided field trips typically have lower fees and allow you to complete activities with your students at your own pace.

IN-SCHOOL PROGRAMS

Pre–K and Kindergarten

Ready to register?

Scan this QR code or visit LCFPD.org/school, then complete an inquiry form. You may also email AskAnEducator@LCFPD.org or call 847-968-3321.

Can’t travel to a preserve? Our history and environmental educators are packed and ready to visit your classroom in person or virtually to deliver engaging programs.

• Bats 15

• Butterflies 15

• Dinosaur Tales 15

• Growing Up in Lake County 16

• Mighty Mastodons 16

• Owls (Kindergarten) 16

• Reptiles and Amphibians 16

• Woodland Stories 16

Elementary (Grade 1–5)

• Animals of Lake County (Grade 1–4) 15

• Bats (Age 3–Grade 4) 15

• Birds of Prey (Grade 3–8) 15

• Butterflies (Age 3–Grade 2) 15

• Dinosaur Tales (Grade 1–2) 15

• Discovering Dinosaurs (Grade 3–5) 15

• Forming Lake County (Grade 3–5) 16

• Geology of Illinois (Grade 4–8) 16

• Growing Up in Lake County (Grade 1–2) 16

• Ice Age Mammals (Grade 3–5) 16

• Lake County Glaciers (Grade 4–8) 16

• Lake County: Past to Present (Grade 3–5) 16

• Mighty Mastodons (Grade 1–2) 16

• Owls (Kindergarten–Grade 2) 16

• Potawatomi Lifeways (Grade 3–5) 16

• Reptiles and Amphibians (Age 3–Grade 2) 16

• Woodland Stories (Grade 1–2) 16

Middle School / Junior High (Grade 6–8)

• Birds of Prey 15

• Geology of Illinois 16

• Lake County Glaciers 16

SELF-GUIDED FIELD TRIPS

• Dunn Museum Self-Guided Field Trips 17 (Age 4–Grade 12)

• Dunn Museum Special Exhibitions 17 (Age 4–Grade 12)

• Maple Syruping 17 (Age 4–Grade 6)

Pre–K and Kindergarten

• Dinosaurs 18

• Early Settlers 18

• Maple Syrup (Kindergarten)—March only 18

• Potawatomi Lifeways 18

• Reptiles and Amphibians 18

• The Ice Age 18

Elementary (Grade 1–5)

• Animal Adaptations (Grade 3–8) 18

• Dinosaurs 18

• Early Settlers 18

• Geology of Illinois (Grade 4–8) 18

• Lake County During the Civil War (Grade 3–5) 18

• Lake County: Past to Present (Grade 3–5) 18

• Maple Syrup—March only 18

• Plant Life Cycles (Grade 1–2) 18

• Potawatomi Lifeways 18

• Reptiles and Amphibians 18

• The Ice Age 18

• Web of Life (Grade 3–6) 18

Middle School / Junior High (Grade 6–8)

• Animal Adaptations 18

• Geology of Illinois 18

• Lake County During the Civil War 18

• Ponding: Biotic Factors with Pond Animals 18

• Reptiles and Amphibians (Grade 6) 18

• Watersheds 18

• Web of Life (Grade 6) 18

High School (Grade 9–12)

• Lake County During WWII 18

• Ponding: Biotic Factors with Pond Animals 18

• The Man from Libertyville 18

• Watersheds 18

Field Trips

Pricing

Visit a forest preserve or the Dunn Museum (Libertyville) for an in-person program guided by a professional educator. Please ask about curriculum adjustments and ADA accommodations. Guided tours of the Dunn Museum are also available.

• Group sizes vary depending on the program topic.

• In most cases, concurrent programs/groups are available.

• Prices vary and are listed with each program.

• For schools eligible for Gateways Grants, the program fee is waived and a $150 bus stipend is issued after the program date.

Animal Adaptations

Available year-round • Grade 3–8 • 1.5 Hours

All the Way with Adlai

Available year-round • Grade 3–8 • 1 Hour

Take a closer look at this influential, important figure in United States political history by visiting the place he fondly called home.

Students will examine Adlai E. Stevenson II’s 1952 and 1956 campaigns to learn more about the presidential election process and the impact of Stevenson’s wit and wisdom.

• Adlai E. Stevenson Historic Home (Mettawa)

• $2/student ($4/student nonresident)

• 15 student minimum/30 student max

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.

• $50 ($86 nonresidents) per group

Animals in Winter

Available December–February • Age 3–Grade 1 • 1 Hour

Students learn how local animals have adapted to survive winter. We’ll discover why snow is important and why animals don’t need long underwear, then explore outside for signs of winter life.

• $40 ($76 nonresidents) per group

Ready to register?

Scan this QR code or visit LCFPD.org/school, then complete an inquiry form. You may also email AskAnEducator@LCFPD.org or call 847-968-3321

Boots of a Biologist

Available spring, summer and fall Grade 4–8 • 1.5 Hours

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 monitor wildlife in the preserves.

• $50 ($86 nonresidents) per group

Discovering Dinosaurs

Dinosaur Tales

Available year-round • Age 4–Grade 2 • 30–45 Minutes

What are fossils and what can they tell us about life long ago? Learn more by looking at fossil casts from dinosaurs that roamed this land more than 65 million years ago.

• Dunn Museum (Libertyville)

• $2/student ($4/student nonresident)

• 15 student minimum/30 student max

Available year-round • Grade 3–5 • 45 Minutes–1 Hour

Discover the job of a paleontologist.

Learn what the fossil record can tell us about dinosaurs in our area by examining fossil casts and fossils, looking at paleoart, and interactive conversation.

• Dunn Museum (Libertyville)

• $2/student ($4/student nonresident)

• 15 student minimum/30 student max

Field Trips

Gift of the Glaciers

Forming Lake County

Available year-round

Grade 3–5 • 45 Minutes–1 Hour

Become a historian.

Investigate objects and primary sources from the Dunn Museum’s collection to determine who the early non-native settlers in Lake County were, what their daily lives were like and how they used the natural resources around them.

• Dunn Museum (Libertyville)

• $2/student ($4/student nonresident)

• 15 student minimum/30 student max

Available late March–early November • Grade 6–8 • 2 Hours

Examine the fossil record and develop a timeline of significant events. Investigate igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks. Identify rock and fossil samples to determine their place in geological time. Explore how water and ice formed the landscape of Lake County. Students apply their knowledge by taking soil core samples and interpreting the results. Through data collection and fieldwork, learn the continuing effects of glaciation.

• $96 ($134 nonresident) per group

• 30 students, 3 adults/group max

Glacial Erosion

Available April–May, September–November • Grade 3–6 • 1.5 hours

Students learn how water and ice formed the landscape of Lake County during the last Ice Age. Groups collect data with soil probes and interpret the results to understand how erosion and deposition continue to change our landscape.

• Independence Grove (Libertyville)

• $60 ($80 nonresidents) per group

• 15 student minimum/30 student max

Ready to register?

Scan this QR code or visit LCFPD.org/school, then complete an inquiry form. You may also email AskAnEducator@LCFPD.org or call 847-968-3321

Growing Up in Lake County

Available year-round

Age 4–Grade 2 • 30–45 Minutes

Explore the lives of early settler children in the 1840s by learning about their daily life and community through object-based inquiry, images from the Dunn Museum’s collection and hands-on activities.

• Dunn Museum (Libertyville)

• $2/student ($4/student nonresident)

• 15 student minimum/30 student max

Habitat Heroes • Available September-May • Grade 4–8 • 1.5 Hours

Students participate in hands-on activities to learn about the impacts of non-native plant species on local biodiversity. Included is a supervised restoration activity, which varies by season.

Waiver and release forms are required.

• $68 ($106 nonresident) per group

Homes • Available year-round • Age 3–Grade 2 • 1 Hour

Take a hands-on look at animal homes and learn that, like people, animals use homes to provide shelter, safety and a good place to raise a family. Then head into the woods to search for burrows, nests and holes.

• $40 ($76 nonresident) per group

Field Trips

Ice Age Glaciers

Available year-round • Grade 3–6 • 45 minutes

Students discover what glaciers are, how they move and their impact on the landscape of Lake County.

• Dunn Museum (Libertyville)

• $2/student ($4/student nonresident)

• 15 student minimum/30 student max

Ice Age Mammals

Available year-round • Grade 3–5 • 45 Minutes–1 Hour

Discover the magnificent, massive mammals that lived in Lake County during the last Ice Age through comparisons of ancient animals to the modern day.

Find out the impacts of the Ice Age on our area and how paleontologists study this time period.

• Dunn Museum (Libertyville)

• $2/student ($4/student nonresident)

• 15 student minimum/30 student max

Insects and Spiders

Available mid-May–mid-October • Grade 1–8 • 1–1.5 Hours

Look at the world through an insect’s eyes and discover the differences and similarities between insects and spiders.

Netting and close-up observation allow students to explore a variety of local insects and spiders.

• Grade 1–2: 1 hour, $40 ($76 nonresidents) per group

• Grade 3–8: 1.5 hours, $50 ($86 nonresidents) per group

Lake County During the Civil War

Available year-round

Grade 5–8 • 45 Minutes–1 Hour

Learn about Lake County’s involvement in the American Civil War on the battlefield and at home, through examining primary sources from the Dunn Museum’s collection.

• Dunn Museum (Libertyville)

• $2/student ($4/student nonresident)

• 15 student minimum/30 student max

Ready to register?

Scan this QR code or visit LCFPD.org/school, then complete an inquiry form. You may also email AskAnEducator@LCFPD.org or call 847-968-3321

Lake County: Past to Present

Available year-round • Grade 3–5 • 45 Minutes–1 Hour

Journey through Lake County’s unique story by examining some of the important people and events that have shaped the area. Students will come away with a deeper understanding of the county’s long and rich history.

• Dunn Museum (Libertyville)

• $2/student ($4/student nonresident)

• 15 student minimum/30 student max

Lake Ecology

Available late April–May and September–early October

Grade 6–12 • 4.5 Hours

Students take on the role of limnologists and study abiotic and biotic factors to form a complete picture of the overall water quality of a lake.

Weather permitting, they paddle a 34-foot canoe and use specialized tools to collect water samples and do chemical tests. Another station has students collect, identify and categorize the animal life in the lake to add to the bigger picture of water quality.

Students also take a walk to learn how land uses impact water quality, then use the information to formulate a solution to a lake water quality issue. Waiver and release forms are required.

• Offered at Independence Grove (Libertyville) and Van Patten Woods (Wadsworth)

• $218 ($290 nonresident) per group

• 45 students, 6 adults/group max

• If the full program is not the right fit for your group, contact us at 847-968-3321 to discuss a customized, shortened field trip.

Field Trips

Mammals

Available year-round • Age 3–Grade 8 • 1-1.5 Hours

People are mammals. 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 habitats.

Then we’ll go outside to look for animal tracks and signs.

• Age 3–Grade 2: 1 hour, $40 ($76 nonresidents) per group

• Grade 3–8: 1.5 hours, $50 ($86 nonresidents) per group

Mighty Mastodons

Available year-round

Age 4–Grade 2 • 30–45 Minutes

Maple Syruping

Available in March • Age 4–Grade 6 • 1 Hour

Students learn how trees turn water, the sun’s energy and air into sap. Then it’s into the sugar bush 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 maple syrup.

• Ryerson Conservation Area (Riverwoods)

• Age 4–Grade 6: 1 hour, $55 ($91 nonresident) per group

Do you know the difference between a mastodon and a mammoth? Compare these two animals by looking at images, fossils and more as you explore Lake County during the last Ice Age.

• Dunn Museum (Libertyville)

• $2/student ($4/student nonresident)

• 15 student minimum/30 student max

Ready to register?

Scan this QR code or visit LCFPD.org/school, then complete an inquiry form. You may also email AskAnEducator@LCFPD.org or call 847-968-3321

Plant Adaptations

Available September–mid-October

Grade 3–8 • 1–1.5 Hours

Discover the unique adaptations of Illinois prairie plants.

Examine plants to learn how sun, wind and water affect prairies and the wildlife found there.

• Old School (Mettawa) and Ryerson Conservation Area (Riverwoods)

• Grade 3: 1 hour, $40 ($76 nonresidents) per group

• Grade 4–8: 1.5 hours, $50 ($86 nonresidents) per group

Plant Life Cycles

Available mid-April–mid-October • Grade 1–2 • 1 Hour

Take an up-close look at seeds.

Discover their needs and examine plant life cycles. Learn how seeds are dispersed by examining burs, nuts and other seeds. Find developing seeds and learn more about their needs with an outside walk.

• $40 ($76 nonresidents) per group

Pond Study

Available late May–early October • Grade 4–12 • 1.5 Hours

Use nets to catch tadpoles, snails and dragonfly nymphs.

Budding scientists work with microscopes and identification keys to examine their catch and observe the interactions among organisms. Students will use species diversity to assess the pond’s health.

• Captain Daniel Wright Woods (Mettawa)

• $50 ($86 nonresidents) per group

Potawatomi Lifeways

Available year-round • Grade 3–5 • 45 Minutes–1 Hour

The story of Native peoples in this area stretches back 12,000 years and continues today. Learn about the lives of the Potawatomi through object-based inquiry and how they thrived in this area over time.

• Dunn Museum (Libertyville)

• $2/student ($4/student nonresident)

• 15 student minimum/30 student max

Field Trips

Reptiles and Amphibians

Predator Prey

Available year-round • Grade 3–8 • 1.5 hours

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.

• $70 ($106 nonresidents) per group

Available year-round • Age 3–Grade 6 • 1–1.5 Hours

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 local reptiles and amphibians grow and survive.

• Age 3–Grade 2: 1 hour, $40 ($76 nonresidents) per group

• Grade 3–8: 1.5 hours, $50 ($86 nonresidents) per group

Sustainable Solutions: Biomimicry

Available mid-April–mid-November

Grade 3–5 • 1.5 Hours

Nature can inspire us in many ways. On an outdoor exploration, students will put on their engineering hats as they search for examples of survival strategies in nature. They will learn about adaptations of local plants and animals and brainstorm how these strategies could help us as humans. Students will understand the natural inspiration that went into the design of the net-zero energy Education Center.

• Ryerson Conservation Area (Riverwoods)

• $50 ($86 nonresidents) per group

Sustainable Solutions: Green Infrastructure

Available April–May, September–November

Grade 9–12 • 1.5 Hours

There’s more than one path to sustainability. Two buildings at Ryerson Conservation Area (Riverwoods) are real-world examples of how technology and resources combine to balance the needs of people and nature.

Explore similarities and differences between sustainable strategies implemented in the LEED Platinum-certified Welcome Center and the new Phius (Passive House Institute US) certified net-zero energy Education Center.

• Ryerson Conservation Area (Riverwoods)

• $50 ($86 nonresidents) per group

Ready to register?

Scan this QR code or visit LCFPD.org/school, then complete an inquiry form. You may also email AskAnEducator@LCFPD.org or call 847-968-3321

Sustainable Solutions: Nature-Based Solutions to Climate Change

Available mid-April–mid-November • Grade 6–8 • 1.5 Hours

Nature-based solutions take inspiration from nature to manage the impacts of climate change.

Your students will explore the net-zero energy Education Center and grounds at Ryerson Conservation Area (Riverwoods) to discover the many ways nature inspired the design and construction.

• Ryerson Conservation Area (Riverwoods)

• $50 ($86 nonresidents) per group

Web of Life

The Man from Libertyville

Available year-round • Grade 9–12 • 1 Hour

An influential figure in the political history of the U.S., Adlai E. Stevenson II was governor of Illinois, ran twice for president as the Democratic national candidate and served as ambassador to the United Nations.

Though he lost both presidential campaigns, Stevenson’s ideas are his real lasting legacy. Learn more about his life, career and home in Mettawa.

• Adlai E. Stevenson Historic Home (Mettawa)

• $2/student ($4/student nonresident)

• 15 student minimum/30 student max

Available spring, summer and fall • Grade 3–6 • 1.5 Hours

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.

• $50 ($86 nonresidents) per group

Woodland Stories

Available year-round • Age 4–Grade 2 • 30–45 Minutes

How was a wigwam made? Students will learn about the Potawatomi’s food, clothing and shelter in the early 1800s by looking at replica objects and close readings of related images.

• Dunn Museum (Libertyville)

• $2/student ($4/student nonresident)

• 15 student minimum/30 student max

In-School Programs

Can’t travel to a preserve? Our history and environmental education in-school programs are packed and ready to travel. They’re designed for one classroom at a time. We can visit multiple classrooms per day depending on your schedule. In-school programs run 45 minutes and are available year-round.

Please ask about curriculum adjustments and ADA accommodations.

Pricing

• First program: $60 ($80 nonresidents)

• Additional programs of the same topic booked in the same day: $40 ($55 nonresidents)

• Gateways Grants-eligible schools: First program $50, additional programs booked the same day: $20

Animals of Lake County

Grade 1–4

This program is a great introduction or review for units on animal groups. Using fun riddles, study skins and live animals, your students classify common Lake County animals based on their unique physical features.

Bats

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.

Birds of Prey

Grade 3–8

Could you see a mouse from a mile away? Reach speeds of 200 mph? Learn whooooo can and discover other tools of the trade of birds of prey.

Get a close-up look at a resident bird of prey and learn their vital role in the food chain.

Butterflies

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 delicate animals as they experience metamorphosis.

Dinosaur Tales

Age 4–Grade 2

What are fossils and what can they tell us about life long ago? Learn more by looking at fossil casts from dinosaurs that roamed this land more than 65 million years ago.

Discovering Dinosaurs

Grade 3–5

Discover the job of a paleontologist. Learn what the fossil record can tell us about dinosaurs in our area by examining fossil casts and fossils, looking at paleoart, and interactive conversation.

Forming Lake County

Grade 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 early non-native settlers in Lake County were, what their daily lives were like and how they adapted the land around them.

Geology of Illinois

Grade 4–8

Geologic time is relative and usually beyond human experience, which makes relative dating of rocks and fossils an essential technique for any geologist.

Students develop a timeline of significant events in Earth’s history, and identify rock and fossil samples to determine geological time.

Growing Up in Lake County

Age 4–Grade 2

Ready to register?

Scan this QR code or visit LCFPD.org/school, then complete an inquiry form. You may also email AskAnEducator@LCFPD.org or call 847-968-3321

Ice Age Mammals

Grade 3–5

Discover the magnificent, massive mammals that lived in Lake County during the last Ice Age.

Owls

Kindergarten–Grade 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.

Lake County Glaciers

Grade 4–8

Through hands-on learning, students learn what glaciers are and how they move.

Students become a glacier to explore how water and ice formed the landforms we see in Lake County today.

Lake County: Past to Present

Grade 3–5

Mighty Mastodons

Age 4–Grade 2

Do you know the difference between a mastodon and a mammoth?

Compare these two animals by looking at images, fossils and more as you explore Lake County during the last Ice Age.

Potawatomi Lifeways

Grade 3–5

The story of Native peoples in this area stretches back 12,000 years and continues today.

Learn about the lives of the Potawatomi through object-based inquiry and how they thrived in this area over time.

Reptiles and Amphibians

Age 3–Grade 2

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.

Woodland Stories

Age 4–Grade 2

How was a wigwam made? Students will learn about the Potawatomi’s food, clothing and shelter in the early 1800s by looking at replica objects and close readings of related images.

Self-Guided Field Trips

Self-guided field trips typically have lower fees and allow you to complete activities with your students at your own pace. Please ask about curriculum adjustments and ADA accommodations.

Dunn Museum Special Exhibitions

The Dunn Museum hosts special exhibitions. Highlights of past and current exhibits are available virtually. We offer guided and self-guided tours and programs with each exhibition. Check LCFPD.org/museum for the current schedule.

Maple Syruping

Dunn Museum Self-Guided Field Trips

Available year-round • Age 4–Grade 12

Self-guided field trips are available at the Dunn Museum. Explore the permanent and special exhibitions at your own pace. Printed materials available upon request to guide your experience.

• $1/student ($2/student nonresident)

• Minimum $20 ($40 nonresidents) per group

Available in March • Age 4–Grade 6 • 1 Hour (Suggested Time)

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 maple syrup.

• Ryerson Conservation Area (Riverwoods)

• $25 ($50 nonresidents) per group

• 20 people per group max

Breaking Barriers: Women in the Military

Our Voice is Black History

Color & Light: Charles Warner’s Miniature Cathedrals

Ready, Set, Go! Lake County’s Racing History

Lake County’s Involvement in the Underground Railroad

Reima V. Ratti: Life and Art in the Great Depression

Virtual Programs

Ready to register?

Scan this QR code or visit LCFPD.org/school, then complete an inquiry form. You may also email AskAnEducator@LCFPD.org or call 847-968-3321

Can’t travel to a preserve? Our educators will visit your classroom virtually to deliver engaging programs. Virtual programs run 30–45 minutes and support Illinois Learning Standards. They are available year-round unless otherwise noted. Please ask about curriculum adjustments and ADA accommodations.

Pricing

• First classroom: $30 ($60 nonresidents)

• Each additional classroom attending the same program on the same date: $20 ($30 nonresidents)

• Gateways Grants-eligible schools: First program $20, additional programs booked the same day: $10

Animal Adaptations

Grade 3–8

Dinosaurs

Age 4–Grade 5

Early Settlers

Age 4–Grade 5

Geology of Illinois Grade 4–8

Lake County During the Civil War Grade 5–8

Lake County During WWII Grade 9–12

Maple Syrup

Available in March Grade K–5

Plant Life Cycles

Grade 1–2

Ponding:

Biotic Factors with Pond Animals

Available spring, summer and fall

Grade 6–12

Potawatomi Lifeways

Age 4–Grade 5

Reptiles and Amphibians

Age 3–Grade 6

The Ice Age Age 4–Grade 5

The Man from Libertyville Grade 9–12

Watersheds Grade 6–12

Web of Life Grade 3–6

LAKE COUNTY FOREST PRESERVES

General Offices

1899 West Winchester Road Libertyville, Illinois

More than 31,100 acres make up your Lake County Forest Preserves. Most preserves are open 6:30 am –sunset, daily. If a preserve gate is open before 6:30 am , the preserve is considered open for use.

MAP CURRENT AS OF May 30, 2024

FOREST PRESERVE Entrance/Parking

FOREST PRESERVE EASEMENTS

STATE LAND Illinois Department of Natural Resources

CASEY TRAIL

CHAIN O’LAKES BIKE PATH Planned Section

DES PLAINES RIVER TRAIL (DPRT)

DPRT TO LYONS WOODS Planned Section

FORT HILL TRAIL Planned Section

MIDDLEFORK GREENWAY Planned Section

MILLENNIUM TRAIL Planned Section

OTHER REGIONAL TRAILS Planned Section

GENERAL OFFICES & DUNN MUSEUM

OPERATIONS & PUBLIC SAFETY

BEER GARDEN

CANOE LAUNCH

COMMUNITY GARDEN

OFF-LEASH DOG AREA

School Programs and Teacher Resources / 2024–2025