Environmental Science June 13 - 17th OR August 8 - 12th, 2011
Learn about the biomes and environmental health of the Chicago area by hiking and exploring 2 unique locations in our area as well as conducting a variety of hands-on lab projects designed to help students understand how our environment effects us and how we effect our environment.
Please plan on packing a ‘picnic’ lunch and plenty of water each day. Good hiking shoes and jeans/long pants are highly recommended each day. Plan on getting dirty! Families are welcome to join us when appropriate.
Who: students aged 10-18
When: 10-3:00 each day
Where: the primary location will be 5004 N Westwood Dr., Johnsburg, IL but we will also visit Volo Bog, State Natural Area and Glacial Park in Ringwood. Exactly where we will meet each day will depend on the weather (if it is over 90o or pouring we will obviously not be hiking that day!) so be sure to leave an email address or phone number where we can keep in touch daily during the class.
Cost: $80.00 per student
Attention Boy Scouts - Yes, this is an Eagle required merit badge. You will NOT finish this in one week because your observations should be further apart. The reports can be done during the week or afterward. We need to get blue cards filled out and signed before the first day of class.
Environmental Science for Junior Scientists July 11 - 15th, 2011
Learn about the biomes and environmental health of the Chicago area by hiking and exploring 2 unique locations in our area as well as conducting a variety of hands-on lab projects designed to help students understand how our environment effects us and how we effect our environment.
Please plan on packing a ‘picnic’ lunch and plenty of water each day. Good hiking shoes and jeans/long pants are highly recommended each day. Plan on getting dirty! Families are welcome to join us when appropriate.
Who: students aged 5 - 9
When: 10-3:00 each day
Where: the primary location will be 5004 N Westwood Dr., Johnsburg, IL but we will also visit Volo Bog, State Natural Area Ingelside), Glacial Park (Ringwood), Moraine Hills State Park (McHenry) and The Hollows Conservation Area (Crystal Lake). Exactly where we will meet each day will depend on the weather (if it is over 90o or pouring we will obviously not be hiking that day!) so be sure to leave an email address or phone number where we can keep in touch daily during the class.
Cost: $80.00 per student
Field Geology June 6 - 11th OR July 11 - 15, 2011
Learn about the geologic past, present and future of the Chicago area by actually hiking 3 unique geological locations in our area and seeing the wonderful moraines, kettles, bogs and unique drainage systems (lakes and streams) of our area. We will meet at a variety of sites so that we can hike and experience a whole new terrain, as well as learn to appreciate how the local geologic features directly influence the biologic health and diversity of the area.
Please plan on packing a ‘picnic’ lunch and plenty of water each day. Good hiking shoes and jeans/long pants are highly recommended each day. Plan on getting dirty!
Families are welcome to join us when appropriate. Most of the sites have nature centers and areas for younger children to play.
Who: students aged 8-14 who can hike at least a mile
When: 10-3:00 each day
Where: locations will including Volo Bog (Ingleside), Moraine Hills State Park (McHenry), and Glacial Park (Ringwood). and my home at 5004 N Westwood Dr., Johnsburg IL Exactly where we will meet each day will depend on the weather (if it is over 90o or pouring we will obviously not be hiking that day!) so be sure to leave an email address or phone number where we can keep in touch daily during the class.
Cost: $80.00 per student
Attention Boy Scouts - You will finish this in one week. We will create your collection during the week if you do not have one already. We need to get blue cards filled out and signed before the first day of class.
Fresh Water Ecology (Limnology) June 20 - 24th OR Aug. 1 - 5th, 2011
Join us as we learn about the geological, biological, chemical and physical features we take for granted here in the ‘lakes’ region of Illinois. Weather permitting we will meet to make field collections at several locations in the lakes region and bring some of these collections back to Mrs. Wentz’s home to analyze the variety of microscopic life and the chemical composition of the water and compare and contrast our findings from location to location. A list of recommended resources will be provided the first day of class.
Please plan on packing a ‘picnic’ lunch and water each day. Good hiking shoes and jeans/long pants are highly recommended each day. Plan on getting dirty!
Families are welcome to join us when appropriate. Most of the sites we will be visiting have areas for children to play. Bowling and playgrounds are a short drive away from the Wentz’s home.
Who: students aged 10 - 16
When: from 10 - 3:00 each day
Where: Locations include Volo Bog (Ingleside), McHenry Dam (McHenry), Nippersink Creek (Ringwood), Lake Defiance (inside Moraine Hills State Park (McHenry) and Three Oaks Recreation Area (ie: Vulcan Lakes in Crystal Lake). Exactly where we will meet each day will depend on the weather (if it is over 90o or pouring we will obviously not be hiking that day!) so be sure to leave an email address or phone number where we can keep in touch daily during the class.
Afternoon lab work will be completed at 5004 N Westwood Dr., Johnsburg (2 miles north of the Johnsburg Library)
Cost: $80.00 per student
Drosophila (Fruit Fly) Genetics –
June 27, 28, 29th (and the following are flexible* lab dates: July 7, 8, 18, 19, 27, 28), 2011
We will spend the first few classes covering the basics of genetics and then, using that information, breed fruit flies with a variety of genetic differences. We will breed them through two generations. Each generation takes approximately 9-12 days to hatch as adults, hence the 'crazy' scheduling of the class sessions. This is a terrific opportunity for students who are ready for and enjoy detailed hands-on work.
Who: Students aged 14 - 18 (or with permission of the instructor)
When: The first three classes, June 27, 28, 29 will be 10 - 3:00 each day
All times and dates after that are flexible. *They are flexible because on some days two visits may be desired in order to secure only newly hatched adult females to breed. Female Drosophila can store sperm from their first mating throughout the lives, if you want to know who the father is you have to separate her within the first 8 hours of hatching (or you can contact Mrs. Wentz in advance and have her clear the vial of all adults and you can count and breed during one afteronoon visit).
Where: 5004 N Westwood Dr., Johnsburg (two miles north of the Johnsburg Library)
Cost: $120 per student (includes lab fees)
To register for classes:
All classes that require travel have a three student minimum and a 6 student maximum (unless a parent volunteer can help provide transportation – my van only has 6 passenger seat belts)
Contact Mrs. Wentz at 847-404-6418 or kwentz899261@gmail.com with your interest, name and ages of child(ren) and your contact information. Payment is required to reserve a place in class.
Payment can be made via PayPal (credit card), personal check mailed to 5004 N Westwood Dr., McHenry, IL 60051 or cash. Checks will not be cashed until the class begins.
