Students graduate from Science First in Lake County program

Submitted by Preservation Foundation

At a public open house and ceremony Friday, July 12, 35 middle school students from across Lake County graduated from Science First in Lake County, an intensive environmental science camp offered by the Lake County Forest Preserves. This full-time, four-week program gets kids into nature to nurture their love of science.

Education research shows that middle school is a time when students’ natural interest in science can decline due to social pressures. Continued exposure to hands-on science and science careers is key, which is why the program welcomes students to return each summer until high school. The 2013 program had eight students who participated for each of the past three summers.

The open house was also a chance for students to share and discuss their research presentations, based on four weeks of study and field research. The program is based at the Greenbelt Cultural Center in North Chicago and uses Lake County’s forest preserves as living laboratories.

This was the eighth summer of Science First in Lake County, which is free to participants thanks to major support from donors to the Preservation Foundation of the Lake County Forest Preserves, including Platinum Sponsor ComEd. Looking ahead to summer 2014, the Preservation Foundation is seeking additional leadership gifts from companies and individuals who wish to strengthen science education for Lake County youth.

The 2013 Science First in Lake County graduates are from the following schools: three students from Beach Park Middle School in Beach Park; one from Daniel Webster Middle School in Waukegan; four from Gavin South Junior High School in Ingleside; one from Jack Benny Middle School in Waukegan; five from John T. Magee Middle School in Round Lake; two from Miguel Juarez Middle School in Waukegan; one from Neal Math and Science Academy in North Chicago; two from NovakKing Middle School in North Chicago; three from Robert Abbott Middle School in Waukegan; two from Round Lake Middle School in Round Lake; five from Stanton Middle School in Fox Lake; three from Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Waukegan; and three from Zion Central Middle School in Zion.

The Preservation Foundation is the charitable partner of the Lake County Forest Preserves. Founded in 2007 as a way to connect the community to the work of the Forest Preserves, it raises funds to improve and preserve Lake County’s open spaces and natural lands, protect our region’s cultural and historic resources, and provide educational and recreational opportunities.

Donations to the Preservation Foundation allow the forest preserve to initiate programs and projects that may not otherwise get funded or would take many more years to complete.

For more information, contact Rebekah Snyder, executive director of the Preservation Foundation and chief development officer of the forest preserves, at rsnyder@LCFPD.org or (847) 9683434.

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