The Prairie School Project is a K-5 curriculum centered around the tallgrass prairie habitat native to Central Illinois. The curriculum was developed by Forest Park Nature Center staff and volunteers using a Conservation 2000 grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The purpose of the program is to build a new generation of stewards to safeguard the natural heritage of our community.

For additional details on Prairie School, see our Background and Curriculum sections as well as our notes on Getting Started. For upcoming events, check the Calendar. To really jump start your Prairie School effort, check out the Field Trips and More for information on setting up seed collection and planting activities at Forest Park Nature Center.

In addition to providing general information about Prairie School, this Web site is intended as a communication tool for teachers already using Prairie School in their classrooms. The Recommended Resources section showcases supplemental materials recommended for use in conjunction with Prairie School. The Web Links section contains live versions of the Web links pages from the CD, providing access to recommended sites even if no CD is handy. The Teacher-to-Teacher section is a place for teachers to share ideas and tips for using Prairie School. Check out the information on field trip grants!

If you'd like to help with Prairie School, check out the Volunteer Opportunities. We hope to hear from you!