See a list of programs for these grade levels:
Download the entire 2020-2021 Expanding the Classroom brochure.
Hard copies of the brochure are also available at most District locations; or, let us know if you would like to receive one in the mail.
In-Class Programs (Preschool - High School)
If your class cannot come to us for a field trip, consider an in-class program. Our educators can tailor a visit to meet your classroom needs. Presentation length varies from 30 minutes to one hour per classroom. Call to discuss any idea you have for your class. This experience could be scheduled for one class or multiple classes.
Visit Our Exhibits!
Women’s Rights from Suffrage to Today
On the anniversary of the passage of the 19th amendment allowing women their right to vote, the museum has put together a special exhibit, How Long Must Women Wait: Woman Suffrage and Women’s Rights in Champaign County. Through the exhibit Students will explore the Women’s Movement in Champaign County and throughout the United States. We’ll explore physical artifacts, music and visual arts that tell the story of the movement.
Grades 5-8
Program Length: 1.5 hours
Common Core: SL 1, 2, 3, 4
Our One True Home: The 50th Anniversary of Earth Day
Homer Lake Interpretive Center
Earth Day is celebrated in schools every year, but how much do you know about the events and passion behind the first Earth Day in 1970? Earth Day has been called the “least understood famous event in modern American history.” It spontaneously emerged on a truly grassroots level in response to “a time when people could see, smell and taste pollution” in their daily lives. On the first Earth Day, April 22, 1970, 20 million people participated in thousands of events throughout the U.S.
Local history is rich as well, as leaders in Champaign County emerged – average citizens who passionately worked to make the world a better place. They formed groups like Households Involved in Pollution Solutions, Students for Environmental Concerns, and one family produced and sold their own version of a Flag of Earth. Many women in particular emerged as community leaders for the first time as they found a new voice and new opportunities. Learn more at the exhibit! Resources available for your classroom, including our Earth Day video series on the CCFPD YouTube channel.
Call for Dates
Grades K-12
Vanishing Acts: Trees Under Threat
Mabery Gelvin Botanical Garden
Learn about how our planet’s most valuable resources are disappearing before our eyes. Students will learn about different tree species around the world and how we are connected to trees in our everyday lives.
Grade 4-8
Program Length: 1.5 hours
Common Core SL1, SL3
Register Now!
Go to the Registration page to find out more about how to register for a program.
Resources for Educators
The Forest Preserve District provides a variety of special resources for teachers, including age-appropriate displays, handbooks and binders, and backpacks for your class to take on the trails.