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Junior Scientist Leaders

Wood Lake's Junior Scientist Leaders is for high school aged students ages 13 and up. The Junior Scientist Leaders assist in leading the Junior Scientist Program. Each leader will be in charge of a team of 6 students under the supervision of the homeschool coordinator. Leaders gain in depth knowledge of research techniques, receive experience interviewing for a job, and get their resume critiqued. They also gain invaluable leadership experience on the resume. Most importantly, however, they get to have fun! For more information on this program please see below.
 

 Registration

To register for the program students need to set up an interview with the homeschool coordinator at 612-861-9193. Interviews are low key and designed to be an introduction to interviewing for jobs in the future. The interview also helps to ensure that this is a program the student would truly want to participate in. Students should dress professionally when coming to the interview.

Students are expected to bring a resume to the interview listing any volunteer/work experience and relevant course work they have done that would apply to the position. If selected for their program the student's resume will be critiqued and returned to the student so that they will have a top-notch resume when they apply for jobs.

If selected to be a Junior Scientist Leader the student will receive a phone call a few days after their interview. If selected the cost is $36 for the program.

Benefits of the Program

  • Gain valuable leadership experience which looks great on resumes and college applications
  • Learn leadership skills and techniques
  • Learn teaching techniques
  • Have fun gaining in-depth knowledge on scientific projects
  • This will be an intellectually challenging program that will prepare you for scientific classes in college
  • Work on a team with other homeschoolers who share similar interests
  • Gain experience interviewing and writing a resume
     

Expectations

Due to the leadership role of this position and the responsibility entrusted to each leader, there are several expectations that must be met in order to participate in the leadership program. These include:

  • Students must be mature, responsible, and reliable
  • Students enjoy working with children, especially middle school ages
  • Students have patience when working with children
  • Students are comfortable giving direction to the team they are leading
  • Students will dress and act appropriately as they will be a role model for the students they are leading
  • Students will show up to each of the training dates so they can effectively lead their team
  • Students will show up to each of the Junior Scientist Dates they are assigned

While we are looking for students comfortable working with children that are responsible and outgoing, this program is meant to grow these traits in our leaders as well. During the training dates leadership skills will be taught. In addition, the leaders will be working under the close supervision of the homeschool coordinator. If the leader is having any problems the homeschool coordinator will be present to settle them.

If you are interested in a career in education, leadership, science, or just like helping others this program is for you! Please call the homeschool coordinator to set up an interview at 612-861-9193.

Junior Scientist Dates

A Junior Scientist Leader must attend either a Wednesday or Thursday class each month from 2 to 4 p.m. They can choose which day will work for them, subject to availability, but they will be required to attend either all of the Wednesday classes or all of the Thursday classes. They cannot switch back and forth between dates as this would disrupt their team. The dates are:

  • September 28: World Water Quality Monitoring Day (A global event!)- Check water quality and report it to the International Water Association.

  • October 25,26: Prairie seed collection and prairie restoration.

  • November 30 and December 1: Forest restoration- Invasive species removal by making your own buckthorn hiking staff.

  • December 14,15: Wood Lake mammal check-up.

  • January 25,26: Wood Duck monitoring and conservation.

  • February 15,16: Great Backyard Bird Count (A national event!)- Report findings to Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

  • March 28,29: March Phenology survey.

  • April 25,26: Maple Syrup Party.

  • May 23,24: Project Noah Flowers of North America  Citizen Science Project (A national project!)- Document wildflowers at Wood Lake to help build a national database.
The Leaders must also attend the following training dates from 3-4:30 p.m.   to prepare them for leading their team:

  • Oct. 25

  • Nov. 29

  • Dec. 6

  • Jan. 26

  • Feb. 14

  • Mar. 27

  • Apr. 18

  • May 15

 If you have any questions please call the homeschool coordinator at 612-861-9193.