48 Weeks of STEM… Paving the Road to Success
The STEM Educational Fund educates and mentors boys and girls with the information, knowledge and support they need to pursue a satisfying STEM career.
When these young people begin with us in the fourth grade we give them a year-long, hands-on introduction to the many facets of STEM. Those who resonate with STEM continue on - hopefully through to college. As they explore their options we mentor them to clarify where their interests and talents lie. It is our hope that when they are ready to enter college they will pursue a degree in a STEM field.
Twice a week, our program participants are engaged in activities that open their minds to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. In response to COVID we have modified our offerings to twice-weekly online classes, and in 2021 we will begin digital VR (virtual reality) excursions to museums, aquariums, botanical gardens, university campuses, Wall Street, countries around the world and more.
Current online classes include a wide variety of offerings such as coding, robotics, and electronics. Post-COVID, we will resume techie talks, virtual "on campus" excursions with college students pursuing a STEM degree, "Day in the Life" talks with STEM professionals and standardized test prep courses just to name a few.
Click Here to see our original calendar of events
Current Activities: Spring & Summer 2020
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we transitioned from onsite activities to virtual activities. We are currently presenting a coding class. The classes are interactive, and the students take turns writing the code to move a robot across a board to pick up and move a magnetic disk. As each student takes their turn, they calculates each move and creates a strategy to pick and place the magnetic disk in a new location.
It’s exciting to watch the students as they think through their next set of moves, make adjustments and navigate across the board.
So far, attendance has been good and the students are engaged in the activities. While monitoring the classes, it is easy to assess our quick learners and identify which students may need a little extra support. The way the class is set up and designed, all students get the attention they need to be successful with understanding how to code.
Next up will be a hands-on robotic class where the students will build a robot. These classes will also be virtual; the students will receive a robot kit in advance so they will have hands-on experience.
When these young people begin with us in the fourth grade we give them a year-long, hands-on introduction to the many facets of STEM. Those who resonate with STEM continue on - hopefully through to college. As they explore their options we mentor them to clarify where their interests and talents lie. It is our hope that when they are ready to enter college they will pursue a degree in a STEM field.
Twice a week, our program participants are engaged in activities that open their minds to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. In response to COVID we have modified our offerings to twice-weekly online classes, and in 2021 we will begin digital VR (virtual reality) excursions to museums, aquariums, botanical gardens, university campuses, Wall Street, countries around the world and more.
Current online classes include a wide variety of offerings such as coding, robotics, and electronics. Post-COVID, we will resume techie talks, virtual "on campus" excursions with college students pursuing a STEM degree, "Day in the Life" talks with STEM professionals and standardized test prep courses just to name a few.
Click Here to see our original calendar of events
Current Activities: Spring & Summer 2020
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we transitioned from onsite activities to virtual activities. We are currently presenting a coding class. The classes are interactive, and the students take turns writing the code to move a robot across a board to pick up and move a magnetic disk. As each student takes their turn, they calculates each move and creates a strategy to pick and place the magnetic disk in a new location.
It’s exciting to watch the students as they think through their next set of moves, make adjustments and navigate across the board.
So far, attendance has been good and the students are engaged in the activities. While monitoring the classes, it is easy to assess our quick learners and identify which students may need a little extra support. The way the class is set up and designed, all students get the attention they need to be successful with understanding how to code.
Next up will be a hands-on robotic class where the students will build a robot. These classes will also be virtual; the students will receive a robot kit in advance so they will have hands-on experience.
Why Hands-on Learning for STEM?
We agree with today’s educators who understand that real learning occurs when the whole person is engaged. Our multiple events engage students’ sense of sight, smell, hearing and touch, allowing them to absorb knowledge in ways that are natural to how they individually learn. We call this engagement-based learning, which gives them a deeper learning experience on which they can creatively build as they learn.
Our objective is to enlighten and stimulate students so they ingest a visceral understanding of STEM, empowering them to go beyond the intellectual surface to a deeper knowledge that they own. We know that all young people are capable of self-learning, and we aim to empower that ability.
Who We Serve
The students in our small groups need more than a one-off experience. All are experiencing homelessness or other significant challenges, so we stay together for at least one year. We learn through virtual classes, embark on new expeditions via virtual reality through the use of VR glasses to learn about the world and opportunities for their future.
Through all of this, we create that special mentor-student relationship that supports our young people to open up and learn about a world of possibility that says:
“Your current circumstance doesn’t have to be your future...It’s up to you, and we’re here to support you.”
Why STEM, Why Now?
The STEM Educational Fund addresses two intertwined needs: one is humanitarian, one concerns America’s workforce readiness.
The Humanitarian Need: Children and youth who lack exposure to career opportunities have little chance to rise above their circumstance. We are currently developing a web page on this site with data that paints a clear picture of our students’ need for a substantial intervention if they are to succeed in life.
America’s Workforce Need: As technology plays an increasingly important role in commerce, so do careers that require strong STEM readiness. The U.S. is already experiencing skills shortages and recruitment difficulties. These problems are likely to get worse as the demand for STEM skills and occupations increases due to the increasingly pivotal role these skills and jobs play in economic development.
Help Us Give These Young People a First Chance!
When young people who have struggled under challenging life circumstances receive the opportunities they need to succeed, they can become highly resourceful and creative, necessary qualities for a successful career and life. Will you offer a “first chance” to a young student?
The average cost associated with our program is between $100.00 and $150.00 per month for each student. This includes the virtual classes and all materials. The cost of an entire year for one child is roughly $1,500.
Please invest in the future of our bright children. They are eager to absorb the knowledge that will enhance not just their quality of life, but ours too. It’s a win-win opportunity for us all.
Here some of the expected resultant benefits of the program:
Program Enhancements
We agree with today’s educators who understand that real learning occurs when the whole person is engaged. Our multiple events engage students’ sense of sight, smell, hearing and touch, allowing them to absorb knowledge in ways that are natural to how they individually learn. We call this engagement-based learning, which gives them a deeper learning experience on which they can creatively build as they learn.
Our objective is to enlighten and stimulate students so they ingest a visceral understanding of STEM, empowering them to go beyond the intellectual surface to a deeper knowledge that they own. We know that all young people are capable of self-learning, and we aim to empower that ability.
Who We Serve
The students in our small groups need more than a one-off experience. All are experiencing homelessness or other significant challenges, so we stay together for at least one year. We learn through virtual classes, embark on new expeditions via virtual reality through the use of VR glasses to learn about the world and opportunities for their future.
Through all of this, we create that special mentor-student relationship that supports our young people to open up and learn about a world of possibility that says:
“Your current circumstance doesn’t have to be your future...It’s up to you, and we’re here to support you.”
Why STEM, Why Now?
The STEM Educational Fund addresses two intertwined needs: one is humanitarian, one concerns America’s workforce readiness.
The Humanitarian Need: Children and youth who lack exposure to career opportunities have little chance to rise above their circumstance. We are currently developing a web page on this site with data that paints a clear picture of our students’ need for a substantial intervention if they are to succeed in life.
America’s Workforce Need: As technology plays an increasingly important role in commerce, so do careers that require strong STEM readiness. The U.S. is already experiencing skills shortages and recruitment difficulties. These problems are likely to get worse as the demand for STEM skills and occupations increases due to the increasingly pivotal role these skills and jobs play in economic development.
Help Us Give These Young People a First Chance!
When young people who have struggled under challenging life circumstances receive the opportunities they need to succeed, they can become highly resourceful and creative, necessary qualities for a successful career and life. Will you offer a “first chance” to a young student?
The average cost associated with our program is between $100.00 and $150.00 per month for each student. This includes the virtual classes and all materials. The cost of an entire year for one child is roughly $1,500.
Please invest in the future of our bright children. They are eager to absorb the knowledge that will enhance not just their quality of life, but ours too. It’s a win-win opportunity for us all.
Here some of the expected resultant benefits of the program:
- Boost in self-esteem
- Increase in productivity
- Willingness to take pride and care for oneself
- Life-long friendships
- Network building
Program Enhancements
- Local STEM related internships
- Mobile-friendly STEM related material/Virtual Tools
- Mid-week engagement for tutoring and test prep courses