A Forest Preserve District expert will meet your students to explore your questions. Ask an Expert requests require a three-week advance reservation and have no fee.

View the available areas of expertise and descriptions below. Then, click the green button to request a virtual expert visit. Do you have a topic that requires expert advice but don't see it here? Note it on the request form!

Topics
Aquatic Invasive Species
Climate Change
Endangered & Threatened Species
Farm Heritage
Geology
Habitat Restoration
Honeybees
Invasive Species
Issues Facing Aquatic Wildlife
Issues Facing Local Wildlife
Mammoths & Mastodons
Maple Syrup
Native Plants
Outdoor Careers
Pollinators
Water

Forest Preserve experts will meet your students online for this career outreach event. Students can ask questions and learn about the different career opportunities at the Forest Preserve District.

Careers
Ecologist
Farming
Forest Preserve Ranger
History & Museum
Naturalist
Natural Resources Management
Outdoors STEM Careers
Wildlife Rehabilitation

Students explore local wildlife species, where they live, why they live there, and how they survive, grow and meet their needs through interpreter guidance and the use of biofacts, animal photos, physical movement, and discussion. Students also learn ways to respectfully interact with and observe native wildlife in their own communities. Thirty-minute virtual program for 10 – 30 students. $1 per student.

Academic Year
Monday – Friday

Standards Explored
Common Core
ELA/Literacy

• SL.K.3 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration
• SL.1.1 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration
• SL.1.3 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration
• SL.1.4 Speaking and Listening: Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas

NGSS

• K-ESS2.E Biogeology
• K-ESS3.A Natural Resources
• K-ESS3.C Human Impacts on Earth Systems
• K-LS1.C Organization for Matter and Energy Flow in Organisms
• 1-LS1.A Structure and Function
• 1-LS1.B Growth and Development of Organisms
• 1-LS1.D Information Processing
• 1-LS3.A Inheritance of Traits
• 1-LS3.B Variation of Traits

Loan Box Links
Illinois Wild Mammals
Owls

Pre-Activity Sheets
Coloring Page (PDF)
Vocabulary List (PDF)

Students explore the role of water and what plants need to grow; learn what lambs need to grow and develop; learn how honeybees help pollinate our crops; investigate how food is produced and how transportation changed how people are supplied with food; and learn how farmers changed the land to grow food more efficiently. Forty-five minute virtual program for 10 – 30 students. $1 per student.

Academic Year
Monday – Friday

Standards Explored
Common Core
ELA/Literacy

•  SL.2.1 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration
• SL.2.3 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration
• SL.3.1 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration
• SL.3.3 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration

• SS.H.1.2 History: Change, Continuity, and Context
• SS.EC.1.3 Economics and Financial Literacy: Economic Decision Making
• SS.G.2.3 Geography: Human-Environment Interaction: Place, Regions, and Culture
• SS.EC.3.2 Economics and Financial Literacy: Exchange and Markets
• SS.G.3.2 Geography: Human Population
• SS.G.3.3 Geography: Global Interconnections 

NGSS

• 2-LS2.A Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
• 3-LS1.B Growth and Development of Organisms
• 3-LS3.B Variation of Traits

Pre-Activity Sheets
Suggested Reading List (PDF)
Baby Farm Animals (PDF)
Vocabulary List (PDF)

Students are introduced to the scientific concept that animals are grouped by shared characteristics. This program focuses on reptiles and how they differ from other terrestrial vertebrates through activities, discussions, and presentation of live reptiles. Forty-five minute virtual program for 10 – 30 students. $1 per student.

Academic Year
Monday – Friday

Standards Explored
Common Core
ELA/Literacy

• SL.2.1 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration
• SL.2.3 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration
• SL.3.1 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration
• SL.3.3 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration

NGSS

• 2-LS4-1 Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity
• 3-LS3-2 Heredity: Inheritance and Variation of Traits
• 3-LS4-2 Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity
• 3-LS4-3 Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity

Loan Box Links
Illinois' Amphibians and Reptiles

Pre-Activity Sheets
Reptile Groups (PDF)
Vocabulary List (PDF)
Suggested Reading List (PDF)

Students explore the diversity of local wildlife species and investigate the traits and habitat relationships that help them survive environmental changes through interpreter guidance and the use of biofacts, animal photos, and discussion. Students also learn ways humans impact wildlife and their habitats. Forty-five minute virtual program for 10 – 30 students. $1 per student.

Academic Year
Monday – Friday

Standards Explored
Common Core
ELA/Literacy

• SL.2.1 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration
• SL.2.3 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration
• S.L3.1 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration
• SL.3.3 Speaking and Listening: Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas

NGSS

• 2-LS2.A Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
• 2-LS4.D Biodiversity and Humans
• 3-LS1.B Growth and Development
• 3-LS2.C Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning, and Resilience
• 3-LS2.D Social Interactions and Group Behavior
• 3-LS4.B Natural Selection
• 3-LS4.C Adaptation
• 3-LS4.D Biodiversity and Humans

Loan Box Links
Illinois Invasive Species
Illinois Wild Mammals

Students explore the characteristics that make a raptor different from other birds and identify the different groups of raptors. While examining real biofacts such as skulls, wings and feet, students learn about the adaptations these birds have to help them in their role in the food chain. One-hour virtual program for 10 – 30 students. $1 per student.

Academic Year
Monday – Friday

Standards Explored
Common Core
ELA/Literacy

• RI.4.1 Reading Standards For Informational Text: Key Ideas and Details
• RI.4.2 Reading Standards For Informational Text: Key Ideas and Details
• SL.4.1 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration
• SL.4.3 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration
• L.4.6 Language: Vocabulary Acquisition and Use
• RI.5.1 Reading Standards For Informational Text: Key Ideas and Details
• RI.5.2 Reading Standards For Informational Text: Key Ideas and Details
• SL.5.1 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration
• SL.5.2 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration
• SL.5.3 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration

NGSS

• 4-LS1-1 From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes

Loan Box Links
Feathers
Owls

Pre-Activity Sheets
Crossword (PDF)
Vocabulary List (PDF)
Suggested Reading List (PDF)

Students compare local wildlife species' structures and functions related to energy flow in organisms and through ecosystems with interpreter guidance and the use of biofacts, animal photos and discussion. Students also explore how humans fit into and impact the web of life. Forty-five minute virtual program for 10 – 30 students. $1 per student.

Academic Year
Monday – Friday

Standards Explored
Common Core
ELA/Literacy

• SL.4.1 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration
• SL.4.3 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration
• SL.5.1 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration
• SL.5.3 Speaking and Listening: Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas

NGSS

• 4-LS1.A Structure and Function
• 4-LS1.D Information Processing
• 5-LS1.C Organization for Matter and Energy Flow in Organisms
• 5-LS2.A Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
• 5-PS3.D Energy in Chemical Processes and Everyday Life

Loan Box Links
Feathers
Illinois Wild Mammals
Skulls

Students take a virtual tour behind the scenes of Willowbrook Wildlife Center, a native wildlife rehabilitation center, and explore the process of caring for an animal from admission to the final goal - release back into the wild. One-hour virtual program for 10 – 30 students. $1 per student.

Academic Year
Monday – Friday

Standards Explored
Common Core

• SL.6.1 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration

• SL.7.1 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration

• SL.8.1 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration

NGSS

• MS-LS2-1 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics

Students learn how access to resources and interdependent relationships in ecosystems affect the growth and reproduction of local wildlife through interpreter guidance and the use of biofacts, animal photos and discussion. Students will also explore humans' influence on biodiversity and ecosystem services. One-hour virtual program for 10 – 30 students. $1 per student.

Academic Year
Monday – Friday

Standards Explored
Common Core
ELA/Literacy

• SL.6.1 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration
• SL.7.1 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration
• SL.8.1 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration

NGSS

• MS-LS1.B Growth and Development of Organisms
• MS-LS2.A Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
• MS-LS2.B Cycle of Matter and Energy Transfer in Ecosystems
• MS-LS2.C Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning, and Resilience
• MS-LS4.D Biodiversity and Humans

Loan Box Links
Aquatic Illinois
Bee Smart Pollinators
Feathers
Illinois Invasive Species 
Illinois Wild Mammals

Students discover what factors have led to the decline in Blanding's turtle populations, then explore the different management techniques that have gone into the recovery effort of this endangered species. One-hour virtual program for 10 – 30 students. $1 per student.

Academic Year
Monday – Friday

Illinois' Amphibians and Reptiles

Students investigate and discuss crucial changes in farming technology over the past 125 years including transportation, expanding markets, the development of agri-business, and modern issues such as genetic engineering, feed additives, consumer safety, and environmental effects. One-hour virtual program for 10 – 30 students. $1 per student.

Academic Year
Monday – Friday

Standards Explored
Common Core
Social Studies Standards

• SS.G.3.9-12 Geography: Human Population
• SS.G.6.9-12 Geography: Geographic Representations, Human-Environment Interaction, Population
• SS.G.8.9-12 Geography: Geographic Representations, Human-Environment Interaction, Population
• SS.EC.8.9-12 Economics and Financial Literacy: National and Global Economy
• SS.H.4.9-12 History: Perspectives

NGSS

• HS-LS2-7 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics

Pre-Activity Sheets
Vocabulary List (PDF)

Students explore local wildlife and ecosystem functions in terms of resources, habitat availability and carrying capacities through interpreter guidance and the use of biofacts, animal photos and discussion. Students will also discuss how human activity can disrupt local ecosystems and threaten species' survival, and the benefits of developing solutions to sustain biodiversity. One-hour virtual program for 10 – 30 students. $1 per student.

Academic Year
Monday – Friday

Standards Explored
Common Core
ELA/Literacy

• SL.9-10.1 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration
• SL.11-12.1 Speaking and Listening: Comprehension and Collaboration

NGSS

• HS-LS2.A Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
• HS-LS2.C Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning, and Resilience
• HS-LS4.C Adaptation
• HS-LS4.D  Biodiversity and Humans

Loan Box Links
Aquatic Illinois
Illinois Invasive Species
Illinois Wild Mammals

Students discover what factors have led to the decline in Blanding's turtle populations, then explore the different management techniques that have gone into the recovery effort of this endangered species. Ninety-minute virtual program for 10 – 30 students. $1 per student.

Academic Year
Monday – Friday

Loan Box Links
Illinois Amphibians and Reptiles