Contact your Local CPO for more Trailer Information.  Or Call our Springfield Office.  217-782-6431

BUILDING A CPOL TRAILER FROM START TO FINISH

Getting Started - The Long Process

The Lodge trailer program was started by officers to educate the public on conservation related issues.  It has come a long way since the first days of public speaking.  It all begins with help from YOU. 

It takes help from sportspersons like you and groups who share the same interest as Illinois Conservation Police.  We are fortunate to have a great relationship with RMEF and NWTF who generously help support education programs like our new region 5 trailer.  Without the generous donations and time.  It took a lot of time and effort to make this trailer look good for the kids and families of Illinois and region 5.  Scott Wright (region 5 CPO 5F25 district 16) spent hours building, fine tuning, and finishing this project.

It all begins with just a shell of a trailer.  The lumber, mounts, decals, hard work and sweat are added over a 2 week period.

Here are some interesting facts about our educational trailer program:

• The trailer is available to anyone who requests it.  We try and limit the minimum size of groups who request it.  Typically we like more then 50 and can handle several thousand people over several days.

• The trailer's mounts (stuffed animals) are real.  We have acquired them in several different ways.  Some of the mounts are donated, killed illegally, or killed by a car.  They are then preserved and worked on by a taxidermist who returns them to us for show.

• Each region has a different trailer.  There are five trailer total in the state of Illinois.

• Groups and friends of Illinois Conservation Police make donations.  These donations consists of mounts, work, and funds to keep educating the public.

• If you want to take advantage of the educational trailer program please contact your local CPO.

Here is an example of our educational trailer in action!    

On September 15, 2001 the Hoffmann Dam River Rats hosted, coordinated, and presented Meet Your River Day. The Village of Riverside allowed them the use of their park at no charge. Hoffman dam river rats hosted the annual meet The River Day Festival on the Des Plaines River in Cook County. The area was sponsored and supported by area sportsmen clubs and local volunteers. The IL Conservation Police were also present with the CPO Lodge Educational Trailer, which allowed area youngsters the opportunity to see a variety of Illinois wildlife preserved by donated mounts. The IDNR fisheries division was on hand to offer a free fish shocking demonstration, which helps the IDNR accurately determine the success of the state's fish stocking efforts in the Des Plaines River. The annual event promotes the outdoor recreational opportunities available to the young people and their parents through hands-on experiences such as canoeing and casting contests.