Community Service with the Gates Center
Gates Center Service: Learning for Life
Service opportunities build important skills for life:
- Communication and team-building
- Organization, people and project management
- Problem-solving and trouble-shooting
- A broader understanding of civic/community needs
Heart of Leadership Development: Service to Others
Making a difference in the lives of others and contributing to your community are at the heart of personal growth and leadership development. Service to others is a cornerstone of the Lake Forest College education. The Gates Center is committed to providing numerous opportunities for Foresters to make an impact.
Gates Day of Service 2011
Gates Day of Service
Every year, the students, staff, and faculty at Lake Forest College pitch-in for a day-long service experience. Foresters, in collaboration with North Chicago Partners, travel to the surrounding community schools, parks, churches, and community centers to lend a helping hand. Taking part in everything from painting, clean-up, to Bingo games, the Forester community gets an opportunity to demonstrate their leadership skills, to learn more about the needs of their community, and then return to campus to enjoy a “welcome back” meal, reflecting on their experiences.
Spring Break Service Trip
A collaborative effort with the Lake Forest College student chapter of Habitat for Humanity, the Gates Center coordinates an alternative Spring Break experience each year. On this trip, Foresters learn vital communication, teamwork, and networking skills by volunteering their time to build homes with our Habitat affiliate in Foley, Alabama.
North Chicago Community Partners Program
In a collaborative effort with Forester Athletics, the Lake Forest College Center for Chicago Programs, and North Chicago Community Partners, the Gates Center gives Foresters opportunities to build key life-skills by coordinating weekly service trips to neighboring schools, working with elementary school children in after school programs, including sports clinics, arts and crafts, and academic tutoring.
Student Organization Service
Many Lake Forest College student organizations are committed to providing service-learning experiences for their members. Our women’s and men’s fraternity community as well as service-specific organizations, like Circle K and the co-ed service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega, also offer Foresters regular opportunities to master communication and leadership skills through regular service opportunities.
