Seventeen Illinois schools have been awarded Schoolyard Habitat Action grants totaling $15,700 from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the Illinois Conservation Foundation. The Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant program supports the development or enhancement of wildlife habitat, such as pollinator gardens and other projects, on school grounds or other public places. Funding is provided through donations to the Illinois Conservation Foundation. The Jadel Youth Fund and the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Foundation are the major sponsors of the program. Applications will be accepted soon for the next round of the program, with an application deadline of Nov. 30, 2023. Visit https://dnr.illinois.gov/education/grantsshag.html to access the application form and related information or email dnr.teachkids@illinois.gov. The latest Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant awardees are:

Cook County

• Congress Park Elementary School, Brookfield. Sixth grade. Standard pollinator garden, $1,000.

• Galileo Scholastic Academy, Chicago. Sixth through seventh grades. Standard pollinator garden, $480.91.

• George B. Swift Specialty School, Chicago. Kindergarten through fifth grades. Woodland habitat, $1,000.

• Lenart RGC, Chicago. Third through eighth grades. Birds and butterflies pollinators garden, $997.

• North-Grand High School, Chicago. Ninth through 12th grades. Standard pollinator garden, $994.52.