Future Environmental Leaders Shine at Capstone Event

Sixteen current and recently graduated students from Waukegan High School made waves in the local environmental movement during an inspiring capstone event held on August 1st. All participants in the Center for Conservation Leadership (CCL) program through Lake Forest Open Lands, the students presented their summer-long conservation projects to a packed audience at the beautifully restored Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie Library.

Of the 16 students, twelve traveled to Yellowstone National Park as part of a field-based leadership experience, while four completed CCL’s Eco-Ambassador Internship Program at Illinois Beach State Park. Their experiences culminated in powerful, solution-driven presentations on a wide array of environmental topics—ranging from plastic pollution to endangered species protection, and access to blue and green spaces in Waukegan.

“This work is beyond inspiring,” said Julia Lunn, Director of the Center for Conservation Leadership. “To hear what these high school students care about, work towards, and articulate with such clarity—it’s incredible. CCL’s motto is Engage, Inspire, Activate, and these students are truly bringing that to life.”

One standout story came from Nelson Sanchez, a Yellowstone participant who noticed the stark contrast between the pristine national park and the littered streets of his hometown. Motivated to take action, Nelson purchased reusable tote bags and designed educational flyers on the dangers of plastic waste. He then set up at a local grocery store to distribute both—completely free—to local shoppers.

Another inspiring project came Victor Hinojosa, an Eco-Ambassador Intern. CCL’s Eco-Ambassador internship program is part of a larger project funded by NOAA and implemented with the University of Illinois Prairie Research Institute and others. Four interns spent eight weeks working side by side with community experts and the researchers and scientists from the Prairie Research Institute.

Victor’s project—a research paper and policy recommendation—aims to guide key stakeholders, from students to administrators, on how to embed environmental education into interdisciplinary policy. It outlines the standards, classes, and actions districts must adopt to develop not just environmentally aware citizens, but future leaders of America.

Speaking about the internship, Victor said, "I absolutely enjoyed my time being a part of the inaugural Eco-Ambassador internship! I was able to develop not only my own sense of environmental awareness, but also what it means to be an advocate for my community. I was able to take these powerful tools to create a capstone that showcases my passion for education and policy and how that connects to the world of environmental preservation."

The Eco-Ambassador Internship was made possible through CCL’s strong partnerships with local organizations and experts who generously shared their time, resources, and expertise. These partners included environmental educators, environmental justice advocates and conservation professionals who provided hands-on learning opportunities in engagement, outreach, and education of local, environmental topics. These collaborations ensured that the interns’ work was both deeply rooted in local needs and connected to broader environmental initiatives.

The CCL event showcased a broad range of research and community-based projects focused on:

• Environmental policy and curriculum in high schools
• Reducing plastic bag waste
• Comparing ecological biodiversity in Waukegan vs. Yellowstone
• Advocating for local endangered species
• Mapping green spaces to promote mental and physical health
• Infrastructure improvements to increase access to nature

The recently renovated Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie Library, a historic landmark in Waukegan, served as an inspiring and dynamic setting for the event. Now a vibrant community hub, the space buzzed with the voices of young environmental leaders committed to making a meaningful impact locally and beyond.

For more information on the Center for Conservation Leadership and upcoming programs, visit www.lfola.org/ccl.

About Lake Forest Open Lands Association

Since its establishment in 1967, Lake Forest Open Lands Association, the first accredited land trust in Illinois, has preserved and stewarded the finest natural habitats in our region including prairies, savannas, ravines, and wetlands. With over 20 miles of walking trails and ten nature preserves open to the public year-round, Lake Forest Open Lands invites all to enjoy the special places of Northeast Illinois. Their mission includes ensuring that all generations are welcome and able to fully experience nature and offers robust engagement programming to connect with local habitats. As an independent conservation land trust, LFOLA is primarily supported by voluntary contributions, including membership dues and donations, and receives no local tax funding to support its day-to-day operations. For more information about Lake Forest Open Lands, please visit LFOLA.org.