Participatory Education Programs
The Forest Preserve District offers problem-based programs that offer hands-on learning in natural sciences both in the classroom and the field. These programs are structured to meet science learning standards through an extended curriculum that includes real-world science.
Problem-Based Learning
Partner with a Forest Preserve District wildlife ecologist and naturalists to determine the suitability of a potential forest preserve site to release state-endangered Blanding’s turtles in a program specially geared towards junior and senior high-school AP environmental science or biology students. A naturalist will visit your classroom to provide insight about the Blanding’s turtle's natural history, factors that contribute to its decline and District-led recovery efforts.
Then, visit a DuPage forest preserve in September or October to complete field work and collect a variety of data to support a claim about the suitability of releasing Blanding’s turtles at that site. Students will present their conclusions to a panel of experts and discuss their findings. For 30 - 60 students. $10 per student. A minimum program fee of $300.
Standards Explored
NGSS
- HS-LS2-7 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
- HS-LS2-8 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
- HS-LS4-5 Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity
Outreach
The Forest Preserve District will deliver an interactive outreach exhibit for large student audiences at your school's STEM, science, or career fair. View the available outreach exhibits and descriptions below. Then, click the green button to reserve an exhibit.
Forest Preserve District experts will meet your students in-person for a career outreach event. Students can ask questions and learn about the different career opportunities at the Forest Preserve District. Experts may bring along real equipment from their career field.
Careers
Ecologist
Farming
Forest Preserve Ranger
History and Museum
Naturalist
Natural Resources Management
Outdoors STEM Careers
Wildlife Rehabilitation
Native freshwater mussels are important natural purifiers of water and serve as indicator species about the health of an aquatic ecosystem. The Forest Preserve District propagates native freshwater mussels at its Urban Stream Research Center at Blackwell Forest Preserve.
This exhibit highlights the science behind our propagation efforts, featuring the biology and life-cycle of mussels, the technology used to count and track lab-raised individuals, and the engineering processes of various aquatic-housing systems. Hands-on activities include:
- Examination of mussel specimens
- Use of a microscope to count baby mussels
- Exploration of mussel larvae to host fish
Standards Explored
NGSS
- K-ESS3-1 Earth and Human Activity
- K-ESS3-3 Earth and Human Activity
- 1-LS3-1 Heredity: Inheritance and Variation of Traits
- 2-LS4-1 Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity
- 3-LS1-1 From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes
- 3-LS3-2 Heredity: Inheritance and Variation of Traits
- 3-LS4-4 Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity
- 4-LS1-1 From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes
- 5-LS2-1 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
- 5-ESS3-1 Earth and Human Activity
- MS-LS2-4 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
- MS-ESS3-3 Earth and Human Activity
- HS-LS4-5 Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity