NIU child care benefits from grant program

SPRINGFIELD – Northern Illinois University’s Campus Child Care received $78 recently as part of a grant program to support the installation of a prairie patch and butterfly garden.
The Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant Program will allow students from throughout the state to engage in hands-on activities that supplement their lessons on wildlife habitat areas, a recent news release explained.
Sixteen organizations are receiving a total of $8,000 through the program from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Education and the Illinois Conservation Foundation.
Funding for the program is provided through donations to the ICF. The Jadel Youth Fund and Mr. and Mrs. Jack Jadel of Evanston are the major sponsors for the program.
Applications for the grant program are accepted annually and must be postmarked by Nov. 30. Instructions for the grant program can be downloaded at http://dnr.state.il.us/education/classrm/grants.htm.