Student Stewardship Program

"Student stewards collecting prairie seed."

Citizens play an active role in the preservation, protection and restoration of our natural areas. It is critical that biodiversity education and awareness take place now with the region’s youth to ensure present and future conservation efforts. In order to assure stewards of the land for the future, Fox Valley Land Foundation sponsors the Student Stewardship Program, an environmental education and stewardship program targeting sixth-grade students in the Fox Valley. The program enhances and expands the participants’ knowledge and appreciation of the functions and values of natural areas. Through participation in classroom and outdoor instructional activities, students gain an understanding of the active role that people must play to improve regional biodiversity. Land conservation is taught as a form of citizenship.

The Student Stewardship Program addresses regional biodiversity issues while providing opportunities for students to participate in environmental action and service. Student actions result in the preservation and restoration of natural areas.

Program Goals

  • Expand and enhance environmental education and stewardship opportunities for sixth-grade students in the Fox Valley, targeting at least one-half of the program participants from underserved communities.
  • Utilize a Student Stewardship Program curriculum that will measure student performance and ensure alignment to the Illinois State Goals and Benchmarks for Learning.
  • Teach natural area management techniques.
  • Create a service-learning opportunity for sixth-grade students.
  • Involve students and teachers in ecological management of natural areas to ensure present and future conservation efforts.

Program History

The Student Stewardship Program is funded through a generous grant from the Kane County – Riverboat Funds. Fox Valley Land Foundation and other small grants provide additional funding.

Since spring 2001, over 1,000 students have completed in the Student Stewardship Program. Students from District 300 and District U-46 schools have restored woodlands and wetlands on publicly held land in Elgin and Dundee Township. The City of Elgin and Dundee Township partner with the Student Stewardship Program and provide public land for student action projects.

To Volunteer

If you have a group who would like to volunteer contact Liz Aicher our Land Specialist at
(630) 513-6368 or email her at Liz Aicher fvlf@sbcglobal.net.
 
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