The University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences announced on May 4 that its annual ACES Family Academies will take place from July 8 to 10, offering children ages 8-13 and their ACES alumni relatives or friends a three-day immersive experience on campus.
The event is designed to introduce young participants to various areas within the College of ACES through hands-on workshops. Organizers say this program gives children an early look at college life and academic exploration. “ACES Family Academies provides an opportunity to learn about all the areas of study within our diverse ACES curriculum,” said Meghan Brockamp, coordinator of alumni engagement at ACES. “We design workshops to reflect the richness of an ACES education while making it accessible and fun for younger learners.”
Children can select from more than 20 sessions covering topics such as wildlife discovery, meal planning, food science, technology, economics, marketing communications, and environmental studies. One highlighted session is “What’s Poppin’,” which explores how breeders in ACES developed the new popcorn hybrid Illini SuperPopTM and explains the science behind popcorn popping.
Participants will stay overnight in a campus residence hall and eat meals at Ikenberry Dining Center. The registration fee is $200 per participant with limited spots available. Registration closes June 7. For questions or accommodation needs related to the event, contact acesalumni@illinois.edu.
High school students interested in a deeper college preview can attend Illini Summer Academies hosted by Illinois Extension 4-H each June; this year’s session is full but details for next year will be released in spring.
The University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences allocates $3.8 million annually in scholarships for students according to the official website. The college also promotes social well-being through programs focused on nutrition, wellness, community development via extension services; supports research using its Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station; maintains a freshman retention rate of 96% and four-year graduation rate of 78%; offers over 400 study abroad opportunities; and aims to advance knowledge globally across agriculture, consumer sciences and environmental sciences—all according to its official website.
ACES Family Academies receives support from the College’s Alumni Association. Those wishing to contribute may designate gifts directly toward sustaining this youth program.
