BGCTC & St. Martin’s STEM Partnership Now in its 5th Year

The 2018-19 school year marks the fifth year of the Science Exploration Series, a partnership between the five Boys & Girls Club locations in Thurston county and St. Martin’s University (SMU).

Monthly on-campus sessions throughout the school year offer Club members hands-on experiential learning opportunities from enthusiastic SMU students and professors through workshops exploring science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

The curriculum incorporates engaging, fun hands-on experiments from building rockets and robots to making cheese. By the end of each series, students grow in awareness about the usefulness and relevance of STEM topics. The Science Exploration Series breaks down barriers of STEM education while providing Club members access to cutting-edge technology and resources, a glimpse at college life, and inspiration and encouragement to see themselves as future college students and scientists. The added benefit of this program is that it puts kids on a university campus at a young age, exposing them to college life and fostering personal goals.

Few issues in the 21st century are more important to the future of youth than having access to a quality STEM education. The after-school environment offered by our Clubs provides an ideal environment to develop and maintain this interest while being fun. “I really like the people from Saint Martin’s. They are really nice, even when we aren’t in their group they let us try their experiments. They care about our feelings and they even give us snacks,” says Lacey Club member Zackaeus, age 10.

BGCTC’s Director of Operations Shellica Trevino adds, “St. Martin’s has stepped up time and again as a partner for this STEM series. Their leadership staff, professors, and students put in hours of work to make sure each component is fun and engaging for Club kids. We are grateful for their commitment to education for their students, Club kids, and the greater community.”

Clubs play a significant role helping youth achieve academic gains. Boys & Girls Club staff recruit youth to participate in the program and work to ensure that at least half of the participants qualify for free and reduced lunch. Club staff reinforce Science Exploration Series lessons with follow-up educational activities and projects back at the Clubs. Ultimately, programs like the Science Exploration Series ensure the voices and perspectives of the youth we serve are reflected in STEM fields and in the next generation of inventors and problem-solvers.

Boys & Girls Clubs is grateful to WSECU and other sponsors and partners for their support of the Science Explorations Series.