Urbana Park District and the Champaign County Forest Preserve District will use a $6500 Community Foundation Grant to help provide science kits for 1000 Champaign County students.

“This grant will be used to provide educators and students with standards-based environmental education kits,” said Chelsea Prahl, Environmental Education Coordinator at Urbana Park District. She added, “Fourth grade teachers and students will receive kits which have everything needed to facilitate hands-on science lessons and activities virtually or in-person.”

This will be the second round of kits for the park district and forest preserve district to distribute. The first round of kits went to students in 16 schools across Champaign County.

The Urbana Parks Foundation applied for the grant and will hold the grant money for park district and forest preserve district use.

Stacey Clementz, Education Program Specialist at the Champaign County Forest Preserve District commented, “Champaign County Forest Preserve District is always excited to partner with Urbana Park District. Working together allows us reach a larger audience across Champaign County.”

These kits are a big help for educators during the covid-19 pandemic. “We have so much respect for educators during the time of distant-learning and look for ways to provide environmental education support. These kits allow us to do so and in return get natural items, curiosity-building activities and other supplies in the hands of students,” Prahl said.

She concluded, “We are very grateful to receive this Community Foundation of East Central Illinois grant and use the funds to provide environmental education outreach to local schools.”