Forest Preserves of Cook County 2022 Winter Brochure

As the calendar turns to winter, the Forest Preserves of Cook County continues to provide plenty of opportunities to get out into nature—including for teachers and students from K-12 and beyond who want to avail themselves of the preserves’ 70,000-acre classroom. Educators can choose from a menu of educational topics from the Forest Preserves, from monarch butterflies to local habitats to plant adaptation. All meet Next Generation Science Nature’s Classroom Remains Open for Winter Standards and can be tailored as field trips that meet the needs of a specific class or grade. Many outings combine teaching by Forest Preserves staff with schools’ own educators. Students enjoy hands- on activities and develop critical thinking skills. Nina Baki, the Forest Preserves’ public engagement and program manager, encourages educators to reach out to the nearest of the six Forest Preserves of Cook County nature centers. “The field trip opportunity can be catered to whatever the teachers’ needs are, in terms of how the topic connects to their curriculum,” she says. “We want to get students connected by igniting the senses—sight, sound, touch.” 14