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
Girl Scout Expo
September 26, 2026
Tinley Park
- 4x STEM Volunteers
Libertyville High Daring Career Day
October 8, 2026
@ 9:00AM – 12:30PM
Libertyville High School
3-4 STEM volunteers
A career exploration fair designed to help the entire sophomore class learn about various career paths.Vernon Hills Daring Career Day
October 8, 2026
@ 9:00AM – 12:30PM
Vernon Hills High School
3-4 STEM volunteers
A career exploration fair designed to help the entire sophomore class learn about various career paths.Griffin Museum of Science & Industry Science Works
October 10, 2026
@ 9:30AM – 2:30PM
Griffin Museum of Science & Industry
4-6 STEM volunteers
Engage with hands-on experiments and discuss careers in the Food & Beverage Industry.Naperville Career Motive – 8
October 16, 2026
@ 8:00AM – 2:30PM
Naperville Yard
4-6 STEM volunteers
A career exploration fair designed to help the entire 8th grade class of district 203 learn about various career paths.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
3-4 STEM volunteers
Approximately 1,200 students participate in the event to learn more about their career options.