Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant

The Illinois Biodiversity Field Trip Grant is administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Division of Education and supported by private philanthropic partners, including the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Foundation and the D. F. and M. T. Grohne Family Foundation. The program is designed to enhance environmental education by providing financial assistance to teachers in Illinois who wish to conduct field trips focused on biodiversity. The initiative reflects the department’s broader mission to promote awareness and stewardship of Illinois natural resources through experiential, outdoor-based learning opportunities. The primary purpose of the grant is to support field trips that align with classroom instruction on Illinois biodiversity topics. Biodiversity is defined as the variety of life within a specific ecosystem, and funded trips must directly connect to this concept. The program requires that at least 75 percent of the field trip experience occur outdoors and that all activities take place within the state of Illinois. Field trips focused on agricultural or historical topics are explicitly excluded from funding. The grant prioritizes single-day field trips, though multi-day trips may be considered if funds remain available after single-day awards are allocated. Funding is provided on a reimbursement basis to the school, not to individual applicants, except in limited cases involving home-schooling teachers without a cooperative organization FEIN. The maximum award is set at 600 dollars per teacher, with additional caps including up to 1,200 dollars per trip for transportation and up to 150 dollars per substitute teacher. Other eligible expenses, such as admission or program fees, may be reimbursed if funds are available, but are limited to 20 dollars per student and must be itemized. Several cost categories are explicitly ineligible, including food, lodging, supplies, equipment, and chaperone fees. Eligibility is limited to teachers of grades prekindergarten through 12 in Illinois schools, including home-school educators. Collaborative applications are permitted, provided that participating teachers attend the same field trip on the same day and accompany their own students. Grants are non-transferable and cannot be reassigned to another teacher, school, or grade level. Additionally, applicants must adhere strictly to the proposed trip plan, including location and instructional activities, unless prior approval is obtained from the administering agency. The application process requires applicants to complete an online form, beginning with entry of their name and email address, followed by submission of a signing official’s information, typically a principal or superintendent. Applicants must watch a mandatory instructional video prior to submission; failure to comply with guidance in the video may result in disqualification. Applications can be saved and resumed, but once submitted and signed, they cannot be edited. A confirmation email and PDF copy of the application are provided upon submission. The application deadline for the 2027 cycle is February 1, 2027. Applicants will be notified of funding decisions no later than March 15, 2027, and are instructed not to schedule field trips prior to notification. All funded field trips must be completed by December 31, 2027, and a final report is required within one month following the trip. The program operates on an annual cycle, with recurring opportunities expected in subsequent years. For assistance, applicants may contact the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Division of Education via phone or email.

Ensure strict adherence to application instructions and tutorial video guidance, as errors addressed in the video will result in disqualification