As back to school dates approach, lean into the idea with a school themed getaway to Shawnee Forest Country of Southernmost Illinois.
Book a stay in a converted schoolhouse, or in a school bus. Shop for pottery in a 1928 elementary school, and step back in time in a one room schoolhouse.
Enjoy a Schoolhouse stay, at the Davie School Inn, Anna, IL. Stay in one of the 8 historic schoolhouse classroom subject-themed suites or 3 romantic luxury suites. Themes include: Earth Science, geography, music & art, math, reading & writing, science, social studies and American history. Pamper yourself with a romance package then wake up to a spectacular breakfast served in your room!
For a glamping experience, stay in the heart of Shawnee Forest Country in a 2008 Bluebird School Bus converted into a charming tiny home! The Skoolie, near Vienna, IL is a beautifully furnished bus with high-end finishes, modern appliances and plenty of character and can accommodate up to 4 guests.
For more of a camping experience, try a solar powered school bus tiny home nestled under open skies, near to the forest, with a lake front view, a full bed, kitchen with two burner stove & sink, & a cozy couch. But, take note, this one is not a place for people who are uncomfortable with nature.
In the Village of Alto Pass, IL, the 1928 elementary school houses Alto Clay Works. The studio of resident artist Steve Grimmer, and a pottery sales showroom for handmade functional pottery, as well as a classroom for adult and youth pottery classes.
Stroll through Saline Creek Pioneer Village Museum, Located on the south edge of Harrisburg. Where you can see a one room school from 1919. Within the settlement there is also a blockhouse, a Quaker church, a post office, a saddlebag cabin and a very unique barn with a threshing floor, and a jail.
Educational Field Trips in Shawnee Forest Country
Cache River Wetlands – Illinois’s Hidden Bayou is one of nature’s masterpieces. Stroll the boardwalks, hike or take a canoe or kayak through the mysterious Cache River Wetlands, a “Wetlands of International Importance.” Learn about our tupelo-cypress swamps, hardwood forests, limestone glades and sandstone bluff. The Cache River Wetlands Center offers a variety of interpretive exhibits and information. The Wetlands center hosts a variety of educational programs throughout the year, and includes a wildlife viewing area and walking trails featuring both wetland and prairie communities. Learn more about the ever changing Cache landscape, migratory birds, state champion trees through touch screen displays. And be sure to catch the 12-minute orientation film, “The Enduring Cache,” which provides an excellent introduction to the region’s landscape and history. The Cache River Wetlands Center is open Thursday through Sunday from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM.
Learn about the ‘Giant Streets’ that gave Giant City park it’s name and get maps and trail details. Open 8 – 3:30 daily. Giant City State Park Visitor’s Center contains an exhibit hall with displays of the natural, cultural, and geological features of the park. Don’t miss the 10 minute film about the park in the audio/visual room. There is a Discovery Corner that kids love to explore. Ask about the scavenger hunt for kids. Get a prize upon returning it at the end of the hike all filled out, remember, the center closes at 3:30 PM.
One fish, two fish, red fish blue fish! Well, Bluegill and Redear Sunfish anyway. produces about a million fish per year, on average, including channel catfish, blue catfish, largemouth bass, bluegills and redear sunfish. Most of the channel catfish produced by the state come from Little Grassy. Great place to take your children for a lesson on how our fisheries help stock our ponds and other needs to our Eco system. While prime viewing is in the summer months, visits are available spring to fall between 8:30 and 3:30 with an appointment: 618-529-4100.
Plan a visit today and build new memories of old school days. www.southernmostillinois.com