- Local Ecosystems Restoration
- Flora of the Great Lakes Region
- Urban Studies in Chicago

Environmental Studies

The Department of Environmental Studies at Lake Forest College gets students out of the classroom and into the field. Students are immersed in an interdisciplinary conversation with their local and global environments, and discover their place within them. Whether it’s on-campus initiatives like composting research on behalf of the the campus garden, or volunteering with community organizations like the Lake Forest Open Lands Association, students develop the knowledge and skills to engage with current environmental opportunities and challenges.
Our Department
Our Department of Environmental Studies is an interdisciplinary program that looks at the environment from a diversity of disciplinary perspectives. The environment can be studied as the set of natural systems that determines the health of the planet, or as the variety of ways humans have influenced the environment around them. Our program values the perspectives of many different disciplines from the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities, and guides students through an interdisciplinary approach to analyzing and addressing environmental issues. Its majors also learn the value of using an interdisciplinary approach to understanding issues in the environment. Majors are encouraged and given the flexibility to develop their individual interests as they can be applied to efforts in environmental studies.
Learning in and out of the Classroom
The Environmental Studies program provides opportunities for students to learn in the classroom and in the field. We currently have students volunteering at several organizations in the city of Lake Forest—including the Wildlife Discovery Center and the Lake Forest Open Lands Association—as well as on campus, including the Lake Forest College Student Garden at Glen Rowan. Students here have the opportunity to direct and develop their interests into real learning experiences.
- Field Museum of Natural History
- Lake Forest Open Lands
- Chicago Botanic Garden
- Center for Conservation Leadership
- Midwest Pesticide Action Center
- City of Lake Forest
- Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
- Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards
- Wildlife Discovery Center
- YMCA-Outdoor Education Special Needs Camp
Check out The Lake Forest College Student Garden’s Facebook and Instagram to learn what is being planted and harvested:
Garden Facebook
Garden Instagram
Want to explore the outdoors, but don't know where to go? Check out the Openlands Get Outside Map!
- Head of the Environmental Studies Department, Glenn Adelson, was on sabbatical for the year 2017. He traveled around the world learning as many wildflowers as possible. Follow his discoveries on Instagram:
@thoughtstoodeepfortears -
Ecosystems of Meaning: A Place Based Environmental Psychology Course
by Professor Kathryn Dohrmann
Department InstagramCheck out the Environmental Studies Instagram to stay updated on current happenings within the department: Restoration InstagramCheck out our restoration Instagram to keep up with current restoration projects: Revery PrarieAlso, check out our new hashtag on Instagram #whatsinflowerinrevery to discover what plants are in flower in Revery Prarie. |
Meet Our Students and Alumni
News

September 12, 2022
Lake Forest College receives high marks in national rankings

August 25, 2022
College again sets record for largest incoming class

August 22, 2022
Students named to 2021–2022 Dean’s List

Related Programs
Contact Us
Benjamin Goluboff
Professor of English
Chair of Environmental Studies
Carnegie Hall 203
847-735-5270
goluboff@lakeforest.edu