SPRINGFIELD – More than 740 students will visit Illinois state historic sites this school year thanks to grant funding through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) State Historic Sites Field Trip Grant program.
More than $6,740 in donated funds were awarded for 14 field trip grants. Grantees represent 12 Illinois counties. The entire amount awarded for the 2025-2026 school year was made possible by private donations to IDNR state historic sites.
“Students should have opportunities to experience Illinois’ historical resources in person and be in the places where history happened in our state,” IDNR Director Natalie Phelps Finnie said. “We are pleased to be able to support learning about historic sites in the classroom with these grants.”
Calhoun County
- Calhoun High School, ninth through 12th grade trip to Jarrot Mansion State Historic Site in Cahokia. Grant Award: $500
Douglas County
- Villa Grove School District CUSD 302, eighth-grade trip to Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site and War Memorials in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield. Grant award: $500
DuPage County
- Evergreen Elementary, fourth-grade trip to Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site and War Memorials in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield. Grant award: $500
Jo Daviess County
- East Dubuque Junior High School, eighth-grade trip to Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site and War Memorials in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield. Grant award: $500
Macon County
- Meridian Elementary School, third-grade trip to Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site and War Memorials in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield. Grant award: $500
Massac County
- Joppa Maple Grove School District 38, seventh through 12th grade trip to Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site and War Memorials in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield. Grant Award: $500
McLean County
- Lexington CUSD 7, seventh-grade trip to Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site and War Memorials in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield. Grant award: $240
Montgomery County
- Beckemeyer Elementary School, fourth-grade trip to Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site in Petersburg. Grant award: $500
Piatt County
- Deland-Weldon Elementary School, fourth- and fifth-grade trip to Lincoln’s Log Cabin State Historic Site in Lerna. Grant award: $500
St. Clair County
- East Alton Middle School, seventh-grade trip to Vandalia State House State Historic Site in Vandalia. Grant award: $500
Union County
- Jonesboro Elementary School, seventh-grade trip to Lewis and Clark State Historic Site in Hartford. Grant award: $500 Jonesboro Elementary School, eighth-grade trip to Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site and War Memorials in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield. Grant award: $500
- Jonesboro Elementary School, seventh- and eighth-grade trip to Dana-Thomas House State Historic Site in Springfield. Grant award: $500
Warren County
- Immaculate Conception School, eighth-grade trip to Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site and War Memorials in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield. Grant award: $500
The IDNR State Historic Sites Field Trip Grant program was initiated in the 2020-2021 school year. Grant recipients for the 2025-2026 school year represent students from third grade through high school. This year marks the most grants awarded by the program.
The competitive grant program allows Illinois teachers to apply for funds to take students on a field trip to visit and learn at select Illinois state historic sites. Learning activities must directly relate to the school’s curriculum. Funding covers bus transportation.
The annual application deadline is Sept. 30. The 2026-2027 school year application form will be available online in the spring of 2026.
For more information about the IDNR State Historic Sites Field Trip Grant program, contact the IDNR Division of Education at dnr.teachkids@illinois.gov or 217-524-4126. The Illinois Conservation Foundation gladly accepts donations for the IDNR State Historic Sites Field Trip Grant program.
