DJ Case education experts, web designers and game developers worked closely with wildlife managers at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Illinois teachers to develop an online activity designed to teach students about wildlife management past and present.

Students use the WildIllinois.org to journey back to the earliest days of the Illinois Territory, when voyageurs and Native Americans hunted prairies, forests and rivers. They learn how wildlife helped Native Americans and early settlers survive . . . and explore how wildlife is a part of their lives today.

Toussaint Bouchard, a fictional French trapper from the 18th Century Illinois Territory, leads students on the journey with brief story-telling slideshows mixed with fun, interactive activities.

The activity focuses on early settlement, geography and wildlife issues. Lesson plans and activities are correlated to Illinois Learning Standards. The site also features downloadable, in-class activity guides for teachers.

The Wild Illinois History (WildIllinois.org) features an interactive game for students in 3rd through 5th grade

WildIllinois.org provides lesson plans on wildlife management, adaptation and conservation history

Standards-correlated activities teach students about wildlife conservation and use

The site's drag-and-drop interface makes it easy for young students to interact and learn about Illinois river systems