Lake County Forest Preserves offers tools for educators

Environmental educators from the Lake County Forest Preserves are offering a new initiative to area teachers for interactive science lessons in classrooms.

Educator Loan Boxes can be rented by classroom teachers and nonformal educators for up to two weeks. Each box includes hands-on group learning activities, educational items and reference materials that support Illinois Learning Standards.

Activities are geared to K - 5 classrooms. Box subjects cover birds, mammals, insects, plants/trees and ecosystems. Bird-themed boxes now available contain supplies to set up a bird feeding station, as well as egg and bird skull replicas, feathers, bird bones and migration posters.

The cost is $20 for Lake County residents for a two-week rental and $40 for nonresidents. Call (847) 968-3321.