Chicago Bird Champions

Chicago Bird Champions

Fall Cohort (October–December 2026)
Winter Cohort (December 2026–March 2027)
Fee: $650 per class; limited amount of grant funds available
Classrooms in Grades 3-5

Interest Form

A Program With a Purpose

This program engages elementary students in activities centered on wildlife conservation in Chicago. Over the course of this six-week program, students will focus on the fundamentals of migration, potential challenges birds face during migration, and solutions they can implement in their community to make it safer for wildlife.

The Problem

Millions of birds pass through Chicago during their annual migrations, but the city presents challenges for these animals as they navigate tall buildings and contend with the human environment. In Chicago Bird Champions, upper elementary students become advocates for wildlife as they dig into the driving question, “How can we make Chicago safer for migrating birds?”

In Your Classroom and at the Zoo

Expand the learning beyond the classroom and see your students’ work in action! In this program, students will meet with zoo experts both in their classroom and during a field trip to Lincoln Park Zoo.

Program Details

This program includes six components designed to take place over approximately six weeks:

  1. One-hour teacher orientation and kickoff meeting, held on Zoom
  2. One-hour in-class visit, led by zoo staff at your school
  3. One-hour virtual visit, led by zoo staff
  4. A brief community survey activity, led by the participating teacher with zoo-provided materials.
  5. Half-day field trip to Lincoln Park Zoo, led by zoo staff
  6. One-hour in-class visit, led by zoo staff at your school

During the field trip, students will create window decals designed to prevent bird collisions. As a class, they will identify a neighboring organization to share their decals with. During the final class visit, students will write letters to that organization inviting them to put the decals on their windows and adopt other bird-friendly practices. The zoo will facilitate sending the window decals and student letters to the neighboring organization.

 
Complete the Interest Form

Interest Form & Program Fee

Lincoln Park Zoo has received a grant to provide free Chicago Bird Champions programs for a limited number of classrooms. Grant funding includes all materials and transportation for the zoo field trip. To receive grant funds for either the fall or winter cohort, please complete the program interest form, and return it to zooexplorers@lpzoo.org by September 10. A member of zoo staff will reach out to confirm your participation.

For those not receiving grant funding, participation in Chicago Bird Champions costs $650 for each class of up to 35 students. Your program fee covers the cost of all materials and program components. Each school is responsible for securing their own bus transportation to the zoo . Each classroom will receive 10 pairs of child-friendly binoculars, field guides, and program workbooks.

To join the program, please complete the Chicago Bird Champions interest form and return it to zooexplorers@lpzoo.org and a member of zoo staff will reach out to confirm your participation.

Interest forms for those applying to receive grant funding for either the fall or winter cohort are due September 10. Interest forms for those not receiving grant funds are due on September 10 for the fall cohort and on November 20 for the winter cohort.

Complete the Interest Form

Learning Objectives

Throughout the course of the program, students will:

  • Develop an understanding of the reasons for and the geography of bird migration
  • Understand the challenges animals face when migrating, particularly through an urban environment
  • Develop empathy for wildlife and build a connection between themselves and the animals that live around them
  • Learn some tools and methods to advocate for wildlife, including how to write a persuasive letter

  
Throughout the course of the program, teachers will:

  • Experience and support project-based learning based on real-world, local phenomena

Frequently Asked Questions

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What are the learning standards this program supports?

Chicago Bird Champions supports learning standards for grades 3–5 in science, social studies, and English/language arts. It includes opportunities for students to practice core Next Generation Science Standards skills such as asking questions, defining problems, and engaging in arguments with evidence. It involves students in a multidisciplinary, project-based learning experience.

This program supports the learning of:

NGSS Disciplinary Core Ideas 3-LS4-4, 4-LS1-2, 5-LS2-1, 5-ESS3-1

Illinois Social Science Standards SS.3.G.1, SS.3-5.IS.7

Common Core English Language Arts Standards CCSS.ELA- Literacy.W.4.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.4

What are the requirements to participate?

Participating classes must be in grades 3, 4, or 5 and be at a school within Chicago city limits. Teachers who submit program interest forms must have permission from a school administrator. Programs without a principal signature will be considered incomplete.

How do I qualify for grant funds?

Grant funds for Chicago Bird Champions are limited. Each school can apply for funding for no more than three classrooms (up to 105 students) per school year. Applications must indicate your desire to receive grant funds and how you envision this program supporting student learning. Schools that receive funding must commit to completing all components of the program, as well as a program evaluation, in accordance with the Chicago Public Schools Institutional Review Board.

When do we find out if we are accepted into the cohort?

For the fall cohort, you will find out by September 21. For the winter cohort, you will be notified by November 30.

How do I identify a neighboring organization to receive my students’ window decals and letters?

Your class may choose any organization you like. We recommend selecting one with whom you or your students have a personal connection, if possible. Alternately, the zoo may help you connect with a local branch of the Chicago Public Library to receive your students’ window decals and letters.

I have a question that was not answered on this page. Who should I reach out to?

If you have questions, please contact zooexplorers@lpzoo.org.

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