Students from Lake Forest Open Lands’ newest education initiative, the Center for Conservation Leadership (CCL) explored the topic of environmental justice this past Saturday, November 6, 2010. With the help of professional lawyers, Susan Franzetti and Julia Magnus, students learned through role playing the responsibilities of judges and environmental lawyer representing different interest groups in determining complex conservation issues. CCL participants were joined by students from the Shedd Aquarium, Chicago and from the Urban Ecology Center, Milwaukee as they debated responsibility for and solutions to the spread of Asian carp in Lake Michigan as well as the clean up of Waukegan Harbor. The day culminated in the students presenting their cases to a panel of student judges in the City of Lake Forest City Council Chambers, 220 East Deerpath Road, Lake Forest, IL. 25 students participated.
This workshop was part of the year-long CCL Certificate Program for middle and high school students in Lake County coordinated by Lake Forest Open Lands. Each year, CCL accepts 20 students, representing diverse backgrounds from throughout Lake County, Illinois who are passionate about conservation and the environment. These students participate in a three-week summer residential experience, weekend workshops during the school year and complete a stewardship project in their community. Upon successful completion of the program, students are awarded a certificate of completion and invited to continue in CCL through placement in conservation partner internships in subsequent years. This Environmental Justice workshop was part of the school year workshop series. For more information on the Center for Conservation Leadership, please visit
www.lfola.org or contact Susie Hoffmann at 847-234-8388 or shoffmann@lfola.org.
Post submitted by Susie Hoffman, Lake Forest Open Lands Association