East Central Region

Counties: Champaign, Clark, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, DeWitt, Douglas, Edgar, Effingham, Fayette, Ford, Iroquois, Jasper, Livingston, Macon, McClean, Moultrie, Piatt, Shelby, Vemillion

Upcoming Events:

October 10: Regional Office of Education # 11; Fall Classic In-Service Day, Charleston
Attend the Teacher’s EE Toolbox” Session for valuable information on East-Central EE resources. http://www.roe11.k12.il.us/

October 10: Regional Office of Education # 11; Fall Classic In-Service Day, Mattoon
Attend the Pages from the Prairie Science & Literature workshop http://www.roe11.k12.il.us/

Sugar Grove Nature Center in partnership with Heartland Community College and the National Association for Interpretation is offering a Certified Interpretive Guide (CIG) Training. This nationally renowned professional certification course is for individuals who desire to improve their knowledge and skills in delivering quality interpretive programs to all audiences. The 32-hour course, instructed by Northern Illinois University Professor, Bob Carter, will be presented September 8, 15, 22, 29, 2008.
More information can be found by visiting http://www.interpnet.com/certification/workshops/CIG_McLeanIL_Sept08.shtml.

WOW! Wonder of Wetlands Educator Workshop
October 17th Douglas-Hart Nature Center, Mattoon 217.235.4644
On Professional Development Calendar page- I notice you have all state-wide interest or big events- which is AWESOME- love that page but the one ENTICE is listed- just wondered why just that one was listed? You could have a standing general ENTICE blurb there with the web address at bottom of that page for long standing but I just wondered why the one was listed.

Schoolyard Wildlife Habitat Development
ENTICE
Douglas-Hart Nature Center, Mattoon
November 7, 2008
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
How's your habitat? Join us to learn how you and your students can take action to improve wildlife habitat on your school grounds. Educators of
grades kindergarten through 12 will work with resource professionals to learn basic habitat design, development and maintenance techniques. Become aware of grant opportunities and obtain supplemental materials to help you get started with your own schoolyard habitat development. Continuing Professional Development Units are available. This workshop is part of the ENTICE (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) program from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Register online at http://www.ilcf.org/Workshop/Courses.asp.

Illinois' Insects and Spiders Resources Trunks Now Available for Loan
Students are fascinated by insects and spiders. Help them learn more about these creatures by borrowing one of the new Illinois' Insects and Spiders resources trunks produced by the IDNR Division of Education. Each trunk contains books, field guides, equipment, posters, CD-ROMs, life cycle models, observation containers and much more. There's also an Illinois-specific “Crime-Solving Insects” forensic activity. Targeted to grades K-6.

These trunks are available for loan in our area at the following sites:
Champaign County
Anita Purves Nature Center
1505 N. Broadway
Urbana, IL. 61801
217-384-4062

Coles County
Fox Ridge State Park
Charleston, IL.
217-345-6416

Macon County
Rock Springs Nature Center
Decatur, IL.
217-423-7708

Regional Directors:

Stacey Clementz
Champaign County Forest Preserve District
sclementz@ccfpd.org

Kate Lubchansky
kzomboracz@gmail.com