Outreach Events
CFSF inspires awareness of the science of food in Illinois’ students through K-12 programs designed to educate and excite. We attend STEM events to share with students how they can learn more about the science of food. This includes providing awards for 4-H Club Food Science competitions.
We also support our mission with ongoing educator engagement and curriculum development.
How You Can Get Involved
1. CFSF STEM Volunteer
- The simplest way to participate.
- Attend the event at the scheduled time and help students with hands-on experiments at the CFSF table.
- All materials and instructions are provided.
- Every event features a dedicated CFSF table.
2. Company Expo Volunteer
- Available at Food Science Days events with an industry expo.
- Represent your company at a tabletop station where students can learn about your organization and careers in food science.
- We recommend offering a hands-on activity or handouts to draw student interest.
- We aim to feature 10–15 companies per event.
3. Career Speaker Volunteer
- Also part of Food Science Days events.
- Share your career journey in 30-minute presentations, repeated for different groups of students as they rotate.
- Hands-on or interactive activities are encouraged to keep students engaged.
- We target 4–8 speakers per event, depending on the school’s schedule.
Upcoming Events
Lake County Navig8Lake
October 20, 2026
@ 7:30AM – 3:00PM
Grayslake Fair Grounds
4-6 STEM volunteers
Approximately 6,000 8th graders are bussed in from across Lake County to learn more about potential careers.Barrington High School Career Expo
October 21, 2026
@ 10:00AM – 2:30PM
Barrington High School
All volunteer spots full!
Approximately 1,200 students participate in the event to learn more about their career options.Evanston Township High School Wildkit Futures Opportunities Fair
October 26, 2026
@ 8:00AM – 2:10PM
Evanston
Will County Regional Office of Education 3rd Annual STEAM Fair
November 5, 2026
@ 9:00AM – 2:00PM
Weitendorf Agricultural Education Center