The Chicago Field Office is directly involved with assisting students (most in grades 5-12) involved with a variety of outdoor field studies which relate to our mission of conservation of fish and wildlife and their habitats. 

The field studies are designed to enhance existing curriculums of local schools and correlate to the state learning standards. 

Students are provided hands-on experiences in the use of equipment and techniques routinely used by environmental scientists.  Many school districts are able to use nearby sites eliminating the need for all-day field trips which require expenses for buses and substitute teachers. 

In FY2006, the Office’s Environmental Education Specialist served as an instructor for field studies with 14 schools, which involved approximately 730 students throughout the metro area.  Field studies included macroinvertebrate sampling to determine water quality, site assessments to analyze habitat quality and wildlife use, migratory bird identification, and surveys of plant communities.