Dickson Mounds Museum Seeking Applicants for Earth Day in the Parks Events

Sub-Title: Applications Due Feb. 28

ISM Location: Dickson Mounds

For Immediate Release:

LEWISTOWN, Ill. – Dickson Mounds Museum is seeking applicants for two Earth Day in the Parks events this spring – one on Wednesday, May 6 and one on Wednesday, May 13. Teachers of grades 4 through 12 in Illinois schools may apply to bring their students to Dickson Mounds Museum to participate in these learning events and to help plant a pollinator garden. Applications must be received by February 28.

Earth Day in the Parks is a natural resources stewardship program for students presented by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). Available at participating IDNR state parks, museums and historic sites, events are held in April and May. Students are at the site for about two hours and conduct activities such as planting native wildflowers and grasses, building and installing nesting/roosting boxes and removing nonnative, invasive plants. Teachers must apply to attend the event at a specific site. A drawing is held for each site from the applications received for that site. Only the winners from the drawings are allowed to bring their students to the events. Applications for the events this spring will be accepted through February 28. The drawings will be held in early March. Participating parks, museums, and historic sites are listed and applications forms are available on the IDNR website at https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/education/Pages/EDITPinstruct.aspx.  

Teachers and students are encouraged to become involved in this event to help the local environment and wildlife.  Participation in outdoor activities can increase students’ fitness and help them learn that their actions can make a difference in the world.  Students are encouraged to return to the site to see and study the results of their work.  

The Illinois State Museum-Dickson Mounds is located between Lewistown and Havana off Illinois Routes 78 and 97. The museum is open free to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day. Tours and special programs are available for groups with reservations. For more information call 309-547-3721 or TTY 217-782-9175. Also visit us on Facebook at Illinois State Museum-Dickson Mounds or online at the Dickson Mounds link on the Illinois State Museum website at www.illinoisstatemuseum.org.

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Contact Person: Christa Christensen

Contact Email: christa.christensen@illinois.gov

Contact Phone: (309) 547-3721

Release File (pdf): dicksonmounds-editp2020-1final.pdf

Release File (doc): dicksonmounds-editp2020-1final.docx