Solar For Schools Summer Workshop

McHenry County College wants to shed more light into area schools. To be specific, using sunlight in the form of solar energy.

To that end, the College will be hosting a free Solar for Schools Summer Workshop for middle and high school teachers from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 21 at MCC, 8900 U.S. Highway 14 in Crystal Lake.

Solar for Schools participants will convene to discuss how to effectively incorporate solar classroom kits and supporting lessons into their classrooms.

According MCC’s Sustainability Center director, Kim Hankins, the program aims to “engage teachers and students in energy education and demonstrate that solar energy offers an alternative energy source and an economic future for America.” Hankins said discussion topics will equip educators (and students) with knowledge of solar energy systems to provide the growing U.S. solar industry with interested and prepared solar energy professionals. 

The workshop will be led by the Illinois State University Center for Renewable Energy with assistance from their ISU colleagues, the Illinois Green Economy Network (IGEN), and MCC subject matter experts

Workshop topics will include: fundamentals of power and energy, energy consumption on a state and national level, principles of solar energy, curricula and lesson plans for integrating solar energy into existing curriculum, and methods to utilize the Solar for Schools program to meet Next Generation Science Standards. 

Hankins said there’ll also be information about ways schools can secure grant funding for solar panel installation.

Admission is free, and lunch will be provided. Hankins said current participants in the program should bring their solar classroom kits to the workshop for hands-on activities/practice, and they should be prepared to share any successes/struggles they’ve have had with curriculum implementation.

Maximum number of workshop participants is limited, so early registration is encouraged. Continuing Professional Development units (CPDUs) will be offered. Register by providing the name, title, school, email address and summer contact information of all persons attending to Pat Dieckhoff, MCC sustainability specialist, by Friday, June 13 at pdieckhoff@mchenry.edu or (815) 479-7765.