Junior Master Naturalist 4-H Special Interest Club

This spring, my colleagues and I are excited to announce that we will be launching a Junior Master Naturalist 4-H Special Interest Club! This will be a seven-week, place-based experiential learning program designed specifically for high school students (grades 9-12) who have an interest in science, environmental stewardship, and environmental justice. Students will explore various topics such as Stewardship, Geology, Wetlands, Native Plants, and Climate primarily at Sand Ridge Nature Center in South Holland. They will explore how these various systems function, how human activity has previously and continues to impact these systems, and how environmental issues connect to both natural and community well-being in the Calumet region.

Working alongside 4-H educators and environmental experts, including Master Naturalists and Forest Preserve personnel, students will engage in:

•       Experiential learning with hands-on exploration while cultivating skills in leadership, teamwork, and environmental knowledge

•     A 4-H Mini-fair where students will have the opportunity to design, create, and showcase a project based on what they learned from the program! The final two week where they will create and present their projects will be held at nearby Sandridge Community Center

•     Completion of this program will see students awarded with a digital accreditation from the University of Illinois that they can use on their resumés or college applications

We would appreciate your help in sharing this opportunity with students you think would benefit most from this type of program. Attached to this email is a flyer and application information that can be shared with relevant sponsors, clubs, and classes. Last date to register is March 8th, 2026.

Thank you for taking the time to support this program and please feel free to reach out if you have any questions!