BUFFALO GROVE – Waukegan High School has received a grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to fund a field trip to a natural resources site in Illinois for a lesson on nature and conservation, State Senator Adriane Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove) announced.

“Looking back on my own days as a student, some of the most lasting lessons were ones I learned outside the classroom,” Johnson said. “This grant will allow children to learn more about the world around them while exploring the natural wonders our state has to offer.”

Waukegan High School is one of 27 schools across the state selected to receive funding through the Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant Program. The competitive program allows Illinois teachers to apply for funds to take students on a field trip to study Illinois’ natural resources.

Over $34,000 will be distributed among the grantees, allowing more than 2,000 students to visit Illinois state parks, natural areas, museums and other natural resources sites in the coming school year.

The Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant Program has now distributed more than $1,321,000 since its inception in 2001, providing more than 119,000 students with the opportunity to take part in a field trip. Grant recipients are located throughout Illinois and represent students from pre-kindergarten through high school.

Find a full list of grant recipients here. The 2022 application form will be available soon here.