Recreation Grant Application Deadlines Approaching: Local communities seeking to add to their recreation opportunities can apply for a variety of state outdoor recreation grants provided through the IDNR.  Local government units authorized by law to operate and maintain land for public recreation purposes are eligible to apply for the grants.  Applications are due no later than noon on Mar. 1 for the state Bicycle Path grant program, the federal Recreational Trails Program, and the state Off-Highway Vehicle Recreational Trails program.  For more information on recreation grant programs administered by IDNR, contact the IDNR Division of Grant Administration, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702, via e-mail at grants@dnrmail.state.il.us , or check the web site at http://dnr.state.il.us/ocd/Gaoutnew.htm.  

ICF Grant Program Applications: Grant funds are available through the Illinois Conservation Foundation for not-for-profit groups, organizations, and schools to assist them with habitat enhancement, environmental education and recreation projects. The deadline to apply for the ICF Grant Program is Mar. 31.  Individual matching grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded.  An application form is available on the Illinois Conservation Foundation web site at www.ilcf.org.  Grant awards will be announced later this year.  For more information on the ICF Grant Program, contact the Illinois Conservation Foundation, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271, phone 217/785-2003.

Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame Banquet:  Tickets are now available for the fifth annual Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame Banquet on Sat., Mar. 4 at the Mark of the Quad Cities in Moline.  The event opens with a social hour at 5 p.m. followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m.  Hall of Fame inductees are conservationists Ralph Frese, Don Swensson and the late Robert Torstenson.  Also being honored are ICF Youth Conservation Scholarship recipients, along with winners of the Director=s Corporation, Organization and Friend of the Foundation awards.  Individual tickets for the banquet are $50 each, with sponsorship ticket packages also available.  Proceeds from the banquet and auction will benefit the Illinois Conservation Foundation grant and youth scholarship programs.  For tickets and sponsorship information, phone 217/785-2003 or visit the Illinois Conservation Foundation web site at www.ilcf.org.

For the latest news about Illinois' natural resources, pick up the February issue of OutdoorIllinois, the IDNR monthly magazine. Featured on the cover is an awe-inspiring icy image of Cascade Falls at Matthiessen State Park taken by freelance photographer Ray Mathis. The February issue of OutdoorIllinois is the second annual full photographic issue, featuring the stunning, winning entries in the 2005 OutdoorIllinois photo contest. OutdoorIllinois is a great tool for learning about Illinois' natural, cultural and recreational resources and a bargain at $15 for a one-year subscription. Visit www.dnr.state.il.us/OI  or call 1-800-720-3249 to subscribe. VISA and MasterCard are accepted.

Winter Tree Identification Workshop: Giant City State Park, Makanda, will host the sixth annual winter tree identification workshop on Sat., Feb. 18 from noon - 3 p.m.  Reservations are required.  Participants will learn techniques for identifying trees by their shape, bark, buds and seeds. 

The session begins indoors to master special hints for certain trees, then ventures outside to practice the newly learned techniques.  The program is free.  Call 618/457-4836 to register.

Archaeology Program: The Illinois State Museum=s monthly archaeology lecture for February focuses on the archaeology in the Turks and Caicos Islands, British West Indies.  Glen Freimuth, professor emeritus at Richland Community College in Decatur, will present the free lecture on Wed., Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. at the Illinois State Museum Research and Collection Center, 1011 East Ash, Springfield.  For more information, call 217/785-0037.

Celebrate Cultural Diversity: The Illinois State Museum in Springfield presents ACelebrate Cultural Diversity,@ a free educational program on the heritage and traditions of people from around the world, on Sat., Feb. 11 from 1-4 p.m.  The family event will feature a wide array of displays, demonstrations, hands-on activities, international entertainment, folk tales and fashion shows.  For more information, call 217/782-5993.

Bald Eagle Days at Pere Marquette State Park: Popular bald eagle programs at Pere Marquette State Park in Jersey County continue this month.  Those dates for which reservations are still available are Feb. 7, 8,19, 21, 26 and 28.  These informative programs begin with a short video presentation and discussion at the Pere Marquette State Park visitor center, followed by an observational drive to view the wintering bald eagles in and around the park.  Reservations are required for all of the bald eagle programs at Pere Marquette, each of which begins at 8:30 a.m. at the visitor center.  For reservations or more information, call 618/786-3323.

Oil and Gas Board Meeting:  The next regular meeting of the state Oil and Gas Advisory Board on Tues., Feb. 14 at 10 a.m. will be held at the Illinois Oil and Gas Association building located at 824 East Highway 15 in Mt. Vernon, Illinois.  The meeting is open to the public.  For more information, call 217/524-1498.

ESPB Meeting:  The 129^th meeting of the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board will be held on Fri., Feb. 17 at 10 a.m. at the Illinois Natural History Survey, 1816 S. Oak St., Champaign.  For more information or to request an opportunity to address the board, call 217/785-8687. 

Kids Overnight at Illinois State Museum: The Illinois State Museum=s annual overnight camp-in featuring a Walk in the Tallgrass Prairie will held on Feb. 18-19 at the museum in Springfield.  The program begins on Sat., Feb. 18 at 7 p.m and concludes on Sun., Feb. 19 at 8 a.m.  Advance registration is required.  Fees are $23 per child for Illinois State Museum Society members and $30 for non-members.  If two or more children from the same family attend, the fees are $20 for society members and $27 for non-members.  For more information, call 217/782-5993.

Junior Collectors Day: The Illinois State Museum in Springfield hosts the annual Junior Collector=s Day for youngsters ages 8-15 on Sat., Feb. 25 from 1-3 p.m.  Young collectors can display rocks, minerals, fossils, dolls, toys, stamps, baseball cards and other collectibles.  Display space is free but must be reserved in advance by calling 217/782-0061.

Campground Hosts Needed:  The IDNR is looking for campground hosts for the 2006 camping season.  Campground hosts assist campers, answer questions, collect camping fees, encourage compliance with park regulations, and report emergencies.  Applicants must be at least 21 years old, have a valid driver's license and agree to work 35 hours per week (usually over a five-day period) for a minimum of four weeks. Weekend and holiday duty is mandatory. Compensation is $1 per day for the days worked.  Campground hosts need to provide their own camping equipment.  More than 50 state campgrounds use campground hosts.  Applications are available by contacting the sites directly, by contacting the Campground Host Program at 217/785-8129, or by downloading an application though the IDNR web site.

ICF Grant Program Applications Due By March 31:  Grant funds are available through the Illinois Conservation Foundation for not-for-profit groups, organizations, and schools to assist them with habitat enhancement, environmental education and recreation projects. The deadline to apply for the ICF Grant Program is Mar. 31.  Individual matching grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded.  An application form is available on the Illinois Conservation Foundation web site at www.ilcf.org.  Grant awards will be announced later this year.  For more information on the ICF Grant Program, contact the Illinois Conservation Foundation, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271, phone 217/785-2003.

Arbor Day Poster Contest Deadline Feb. 20:  The entry deadline for the annual Arbor Day Poster Contest for fifth grade students in Illinois is Feb. 20.   The theme for the 2006 contest is "Trees are Terrific...in all Shapes and Sizes.@  For more information or to receive a packet, contact Reinee Hildebrandt at rhildebrandt@dnrmail.state.il.us  or 217/785-8771.

Furbearer Fund Grants:  Applications are being accepted for project grants through the State Furbearer Fund, one of the Special Fund Grant Programs administered through the IDNR Office of Resource Conservation Federal Aid/Special Funds Section.  The Illinois Furbearer Fund, Habitat Fund, Pheasant Fund and the Migratory Waterfowl Stamp Fund are supported by Illinois sportsmen through the purchase of Habitat Stamps and Migratory Waterfowl Stamps.  State Furbearer Funds can be awarded for habitat projects that propose the protection, acquisition, development, or enhancement of habitat management areas; for research projects that address current concerns related to wildlife habitat or contribute to knowledge about the ecology and management of Illinois wildlife; or, for education projects that target members of the general public who do not hunt or trap.  In each case, priority is given to those proposals which offer matching or in-kind support from external sources.  The application packet and additional information can be found on the IDNR website at http://www.dnr.state.il.us/grants/finast.htm, by calling 217/785-8774, or by e-mail at SpecialFunds@dnrmail.state.il.us.   The deadline for submitting applications for State Furbearer Funds is 5 p.m. on March 1. 
 

Apply for WPF Grants:  Applications are now being accepted for the Illinois Wildlife Preservation Fund Grant Program administered through the IDNR Office of Resource Conservation Division of Habitat Resources.  The program is funded through a voluntary check-off designation to the Wildlife Preservation Fund on the state income tax form.  Small Project Program proposals may address many types of projects including management, site inventories or education.  Examples of past projects include wildlife habitat improvement, species enhancement, education and research projects throughout the state, focusing on species ranging from birds to turtles, and habitat ranging from forests to prairies.  Individual proposals are eligible for up to $2,000 from the Wildlife Preservation Fund.   The Illinois Wildlife Preservation Fund Grant Program application packed can be found on the IDNR website at http://www.dnr.state.il.us/grants/ or by calling 217/785-8774. E-mail:SpecialFunds@dnrmail.state.il.us.  The deadline for accepting applications for Wildlife Preservation Fund grants is April 3 at 5 p.m.

Lockport Gallery to Host Masterpiece Quilts:  Two of the 20^th century=s 100 best American quilts will be part of a new exhibition at the Illinois State Museum Lockport Gallery, Feb. 25-Sept. 1. Gifted Quilts, an exhibition prepared by Debra Tayes, associate curator at the ISM Southern Illinois Gallery, includes the two distinguished works along with more than 20 other masterpieces of the needle arts from the museum=s extensive quilt collection.   The exhibition will be accompanied by a series of informal presentations by museum staff to be held on the final Sundays of March, April and May.  The Illinois State Museum Lockport Gallery is located on the first floor of the historic Norton Building at 201 West 10th Street in Lockport.  Hours are 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon-5 p.m. on Sunday.  Admission is free. For more information, call 815/838-7400.

ENTICE:  Teachers in need of Continuing Professional Development Units or free classroom-ready, Illinois-specific, natural resources educational materials should sign up for IDNR ENTICE (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) programs scheduled for this winter and spring.

For sign-up information on the following programs, call 217/524-4126 or check the IDNR web site.

_    Issues Investigation, Champaign County Forest Preserve District, Homer, Feb. 18 from 9 a.m-3:30 p.m. (For teachers of grades 7-12)

_    Native Americans and Nature, Dickson Mounds Museum, Lewistown, April 8, 8:30 a.m.-5:15 p.m. (For teachers of grades 4-6)

_    Illinois Birds, Volo Bog State Natural Area, Ingleside, April 8, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. (For teachers of grades 4-6)

_    Illinois Forest Resources, Morton Arboretum, Lisle, May 6 (For teachers of K-3)

_    Illinois Aquatic Ecology, Peggy Notebaert Museum, Chicago, May 20, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. (For teachers of grades 4-8)

_    Illinois Geological Resources - Fossils, Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area and Mazonia-Braidwood State Fish and Wildlife Area, June 3, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (For teachers of grades 7-12)

_    Schoolyard Habitat Development, Hamilton County High School, McLeansboro, June 8 (For teachers of K-12)

_    Illinois Prairies, Fermi National Accelerator Lab, Batavia, June 15, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. (For teachers grades 4-8)

_    Illinois Aquatic Ecology, Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge and Illinois River basin, Havana and Lewistown, June 21-22 (For teachers grades 7-12).

Commercial Fishing Drawing: The IDNR will conduct a drawing for six Rock/Pecatonica River commercial fishing contracts at 1 p.m. on Thurs., Feb. 23 at the IDNR Regional Office, 2317 E. Lincolnway, Sterling.  Any licensed commercial fisherman with a minimum of 15 hoop nets or three 100-yard trammel nets with a bar mesh size of 2-3/4 inches or larger who has not been found guilty of a Fish and Aquatic Life Code or Fish Administrative Rules violation within the past 12 months, and can post a $300 bond, is eligible for the Rock/Pecatonica contract drawing.  Fishermen must be in attendance when contracts are awarded on a first draw-first choice basis. The Rock/Pecatonica River contracts are for the period April 1, 2006 through March 31,2007. Contractor or crew members may use hoop nets, or trammel nets having a bar mesh size of 2-3/4 inches or larger.  All gear must be licensed by the contractor.  Species that may be harvested on these contracts are carp, buffalo, freshwater drum, suckers, carpsuckers, gar, bowfin, grass carp, Asian carp, and gizzard shad. All other fish species including catfish and bullheads must be released immediately.  For further information, contact Rob Maher at 618/466-3451. 

Featured Artists:  John Ferguson=s sterling silver jewelry and Michael Skiersch=s ceramic tiles will be exhibited at the Illinois Artisans Shop at the James R. Thompson Center, 100 W. Randolph, Suite 2-200, Chicago, through Feb. 28, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays.   These Illinois artisans create work inspired by graceful forms in nature and architecture.  For more information, call 312/814-5321.