Northwestern Settlement Honors Wilmette's Valerie Hall

Caption: The Hall family celebrates Valerie's induction into Northwestern Settlement's Hall of Fame on Oct. 13, 2018: Lesley Millhouser, Steve, Amanda, Bill, Vall and Tim Hall; Robin Harris, Phil Hall. (PHOTO CREDIT: Mark Brown Photography)

The Hall Family dedicates the Valerie Hall Outdoor Education Center at Northwestern Settlement House In The Wood Camp in Delavan, Wisconsin. (Photo Credit: Northwestern Settlement)

Over 4,000 inner-city children have been inspired to explore and learn about math, science and nature since 2015 when Valerie Hall of Wilmette cut the ribbon at her namesake outdoor education center in Delavan, Wisc, During the House In The Wood Gala on Oct 13, Valerie was inducted into Northwestern Settlement’s Hall of Fame at Venue SIX10 Chicago.

“Val and her husband Bill literally open doors to better futures for each camper and teacher who enters the Valerie Hall Outdoor Education Center at House In The Wood,” said Northwestern Settlement President Ron Manderschied.

The Hall of Fame Award has been presented annually since 2016 to recognize individuals who elevate the Northwestern Settlement mission to disrupt poverty by nurturing, educating and inspiring economically disadvantaged children and families. Prior recipients include Kathy Elliott and Patricia M. Johnson, also a Wilmette resident.

“Thanks to the inspiring leadership of dynamic women like Val, Kathy and Patricia, the Settlement’s North Shore Board and their friends have been carrying out our mission to disrupt poverty since 1936,” added Manderschied.

As a member of the North Shore Board of Northwestern Settlement, Hall was instrumental in the expansion of the House In The Wood summer camp into a holistic year-round program. The Valerie Hall Outdoor Education Center provides students and teachers a hands-on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) curriculum aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), National Science Foundation (NSF) standards and Common Core Curriculum research-based standards.

“Renovations and the addition of the STEM program have expanded House in The Wood from serving 400 summer campers each year, to reaching over 1,000 inner-city children year-round,” said North Shore Board President Alice Schaff.

The 2018 House In The Wood Gala raised $400,000 to fund traditional summer camp and outdoor education sessions at the Northwestern Settlement camp, with over 250 guests participating in the fundraising auction organized by North Shore Board members Sarah Boulos (Winnetka), Jessica Fleming (Northbrook) and Diana Peterson (Glencoe).

“Thanks to our friends and supporters, Chicago’s most vulnerable children discover a whole new world beyond the city streets,” added Schaff. “House In The Wood gives campers a joyful and nurturing environment to learn, grow, and just be kids.”

Northwestern Settlement has inspired inner-city children at camp since 1887, and in 1951 the program moved from a Northbrook farm to the current 23-acre location in Delavan, Wis. North Shore Board fundraising has contributed over $11 million to support camp sessions and facility improvements, and transformed the summer camp into a year-round program focused on inner-city children’s social, emotional and academic growth.

In addition to organizing the annual House In The Wood Gala, North Shore Board members organize Funday Sunday activities for summer campers, and volunteer with their families at the Northwestern Settlement throughout the year supporting the food pantry, Adopt-A-Family program, Golden Ager Seniors, Head Start and Rowe Elementary Charter School. Members currently reside in Chicago, Glencoe, Northbrook, Northfield, Wilmette and Winnetka. Learn more at http://northshoreboard.org.