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The Lake County Forest Preserve District offers expertly guided, hands-on school and scout programs throughout Lake County. In addition to field trips, we’ll also come to your school with our in-school programs.

Search for programs to meet your needs using the search box on the right, or browse our programs with the menu above.

Sign-up for our educator email list and stay informed about our programs year-round.

In addition to Ryerson Woods many programs are now available at Greenbelt Cultural Center.

Game plan for our school programs:

  • Address Illinois State Learning Standards
  • Customize to fit your needs
  • Offer hands-on learning
  • Feature experts, local historians and naturalists
  • Incorporate science, social studies, history and language arts
  • Design programs to fit your grade/age level
  • Offer convenient locations and schedules to minimize bus transport
  • Affordable programs

Featured Programs

  • Lake Ecology program
    Lake Ecology

    Paddle our 34-foot canoe and use specialized tools to collect water samples and do chemical tests. Examine soil around the lake, analyze how water moves through it and learn the implications for water quality. Next, visit our Enviroscape and learn the connection between land use and water quality. Students work as a research team to determine the health of the lake for plants and animals. Once you have taken Lake Ecology, learn how animals relate to the lake environment by taking Fish or Pond Study.

    6-12
    Independence Grove
    Van Patten Woods
    Sept-early Oct, late Apr-May
    4 hours
    $205 ($290 out of county)
  • Seasons on the Farm program
    Seasons on the Farm

    Learn the seasonal nature of historical farming from the days when Lake County was first settled. Begin with a reading of “Ox-Cart Man” by Donald Hall, and continue with an exploration of items produced by the ox-cart man and his family on the farm. We’ll discuss how the seasons affected the work, why the family produced certain items, and how a farm family of the 1830s compares to a family today. Older students will also discuss home production vs. factory production, 19th century technology and lifestyle, and how early families utilized natural resources.

    Age 4-Grade 2
    Bonner Heritage Farm
    Sept, Oct, Apr, May
    30-45 minutes
    $63 ($101 out of county)
  • Voyaguer canoe
    The Voyageurs of Little Fort

    Perfect for scout and other groups, this unique program features our 34-foot voyageur canoe and is offered April through October.

    Go back to early Lake County as 18th century French voyageurs lead activities on land and water. Discover why voyageurs traveled to Illinois in the 1740s and learn their effect on natural and cultural development. Weather permitting, groups will paddle the 34-foot voyageur canoe across the lake and back in time.

    Ages 4-Adult
    Tiger scouts
    Independence Grove
    Van Patten Woods
    April through October
    1 hour, 30 minutes
    1 group: $140 ($200 out of county) 2 groups: $150 ($210 out of county) must be concurrent groups: $205 ($290 out of county) 4 groups: $220 ($310 out of county) must be same day, two groups in the morning, two in the afternoon.