Now in three languages!
Ahora en très idiomas!
Teraz w trzech językach!

If you are fluent in English, Spanish and Polish, please forgive the title duplication! We can’t help but be excited about the internationalization of OutdoorIllinois Journal and having articles available for a multitude of readers.

Accessing the language options is simple: visit OutdoorIllinois Journal and note the “Now in three languages!” option on the upper left side of the screen. The dropdown menu provides you with the three available options. If you select Spanish or Polish, the translated articles will appear at the top of each quarterly edition. Additional translations will be added each quarter, and, as time allows, we will be adding additional translations to the older editions.

“Translating the OutdoorsIllinois Journal into Spanish and Polish is a crucial step towards Illinois Department of Natural Resource’s (IDNR) mission of making nature accessible to all,” said Jose Burgos, Chief External Affairs Officer with the IDNR. “With approximately 1.7 million Spanish speakers and 185,000 Polish speakers in Illinois, this initiative ensures that a significant portion of our population can fully engage with and appreciate our natural resources.

Another multi-language product offered by IDNR is the annual Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations.

“The complexity of hunting and trapping regulations is a known constraint throughout the entire hunting community,” noted Phil Borsdorf, IDNR Hunter Heritage Program. “A collaborative effort, funded through Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Grant W-209-R, enables us to more effectively convey pertinent hunting and trapping information to Spanish and Polish speaking user groups by translating the annual Illinois Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations in both languages.”

One of the guiding principles of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation is the Democracy of Hunting.

“Hunting opportunity is for everyone,” Wefer said. “I believe it is our moral obligation to invite and welcome everyone.”

Burgos reiterated Wefer’s remark, nothing the ongoing work by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to reach diverse audiences by saying “This effort reflects IDNR’s commitment to inclusion and underscores the message that ‘Everyone Belongs in Nature.'”

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Kathy Andrews Wright is retired from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources where she was editor of Outdoor Illinois magazine. She is currently the editor of OutdoorIllinois Journal.