LFHS Woodcraft Students Build Toys for Tots

Since 2008, students in Lake Forest High School’s Woodcraft class have completed nearly 350 toys each year to donate to the United States Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. This is a signature LFHS community service initiative and the students have only one month to complete their projects. In 2011 the Lake Forest High School Foundation helped with this effort by providing a grant for the Woodcraft program to purchase a Computer Numeric Controlled (CNC) Router and Laser Engraver. The addition of these machines has helped increase the number and variety of toys the students can produce. This year students in the Woodcraft class built 100 toy Guitars, 100 tic-tac-toe games and 100 stick horses.

“It’s been a great experience for our students to learn how to use tools like the CNC router and laser engraver. They help students master 21st century skills in woodcraft and manufacturing. An added bonus is that other departments, including Math, CAD, Business and Art, also can make use of the computer-integrated technology to enhance the complexity of their projects,” said Todd Johnson, who teaches the Woodcraft class, which is part of the Applied Technology department.

When the students completed their projects, the Local Coordinating Officer of the United States Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation picked up the toys, which will be distributed to families across Lake County, Illinois and some parts of southern Wisconsin.

“We were thrilled to provide a grant to the Applied Technology department that allows the students to make such a wonderful donation to Toys for Tots,” explains Mindy Bourne, Lake Forest High School Foundation Chair. “They are not only learning how to use high-tech tools, they are also involved in a project that gives back to a worthy cause.”

The Lake Forest High School Foundation was founded in 2002 to provide the funding necessary for technology, training, and other classroom enhancements that advance academics for all students at Lake Forest High School.

A complete listing of the 2013-2014 grants can be found here or at lfhsfoundation.org.