Grants to allow Carlinville students to go on field trips

Students at a school in Macoupin County will have the chance to experience the state’s natural resources after receiving grants from the Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant Program.
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CARLINVILLE — Students at a school in Macoupin County will have the chance to learn about the state’s natural resources after receiving grants from the Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant Program.
Funds are being provided to 23 schools across the state to help students visit state parks, natural areas, museums and other natural resource sites in Illinois this year to learn about the nature and conservation.
Carlinville Elementary School received $1,140 for first graders to attend the Nature Institute in Godfrey and $500 for second graders to attend Beaver Dam State Park in Plainview.
Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director Colleen Callahan said more than $52,000 in donated funds was provided for 64 field trips grants.
“This program allows students to visit locations across Illinois to see first-hand what they’ve learned in class,” Callahan said. “Our future conservation leaders must have the opportunity to experience Illinois’ natural resources first-hand.”
Since 2001, the competitive grants program has distributed over $1.3 million in funding for field trips.