Science Mill

SCIENCE MILL WILL PILOT AN EXPANSION OF ITS STEM EQUITY INITIATIVE FOR URBAN COMMUNITIES BY INTRODUCING SUMMER STEM CAREER IMMERSION CAMPS FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 3 TO 8 IN RURAL, UNDERSERVED TEXAS COMMUNITIES. DEVELOPED BY THE MUSEUM'S EDUCATORS AND TAUGHT BY SCIENCE TEACHERS, THE CAMPS INTRODUCE STUDENTS TO REAL-WORLD STEM CAREERS AND TEACH WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A STEM PROFESSIONAL. THE PROJECT TEAM WILL CREATE NEW CURRICULUM TO SUPPORT THE WEEK-LONG CAMPS. REACHING UP TO 120 STUDENTS, THE CAMPS FEATURE TEAM CHALLENGES, PROJECT-BASED DESIGNING AND BUILDING, AND DAILY HANDS-ON CONTENT ENGAGEMENT THROUGH INQUIRY-BASED ACTIVITIES. STUDENTS WILL FOCUS ON DIFFERENT STEM FIELDS EACH DAY WITH A GOAL TO BUILD THEIR CONFIDENCE AND SPARK LIFELONG CURIOSITY IN STEM. DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR, CAMPERS WILL PARTICIPATE IN LOCAL STEM CLUBS, ENGAGING IN HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES THAT CONTINUE TO REINFORCE EXCITEMENT IN STEM LEARNING.

THE SCIENCE MILL WILL EXPAND THE IMLS-FUNDED PILOT PROJECT, SUMMER STEM CAREER INITIATIVE (SCI) CAMPS PROGRAM, INTO THE BIG BEND REGION OF FAR WEST TEXAS, AN UNDERSERVED RURAL TEXAS COMMUNITY. THE EXPANSION WILL CONSIST OF OFFERING IMMERSIVE SUMMER STEM CAMPS, SUPPORTED BY THE MUSEUM’S MOBILE STEM VAN INITIATIVE TO 3RD-8TH GRADE STUDENTS. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SUL ROSS STATE UNIVERSITY, THE PROJECT TEAM WILL DEVELOP AND OFFER ONE-WEEK LONG CAMPS BASED IN REAL-WORLD STEM CAREER SCENARIOS INCLUDING CODING AND PROGRAMMING, ENGINEERING, LIFE SCIENCES, ROBOTICS, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP. AS A RESULT, RURAL STUDENTS WILL INCREASE THEIR INTEREST IN STEM LEARNING AND SEE THEMSELVES AS PART OF A FUTURE 21ST CENTURY SKILLED WORKFORCE. STUDENT OUTCOME AND IMPACT WILL BE MEASURED THROUGH ANALYSIS OF SURVEY RESPONSES AND WILL TRACK A VARIETY OF METRICS SPECIFIC TO CAMPER EXPERIENCE.

15.954: NATIONAL PARK SERVICE CONSERVATION, PROTECTION, OUTREACH AND EDUCATIONSAM.GOV LINK: CLICK HERE FOR THE SAM.GOV ASSISTANCE LISTINGTHIS PROGRAM SUPPORTS PROJECTS THAT FURTHER THE MISSION OF THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ANDEFFORTS IN NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION, PROTECTION, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY THAT ARE NOT COVERED UNDER OTHER SPECIFIC FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.THE RECIPIENT WILL PLAN, PROMOTE, AND FACILITATE, IN COLLABORATION WITH LYJO STAFF, EDUCATION AND PUBLIC PROGRAMMING. SCIENCE MILL WILL CONDUCT A VARIETY OF EDUCATION AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS THAT PROMOTE EQUITABILITY BY REACHING DIVERSE AUDIENCES. THESE PROGRAMS WILL COLLABORATE WITH LYJO, FOR FY 23 24 AND BEYOND DEPENDING ON FUNDING, THAT WILL INCLUDE HIGHLIGHTING THE NATURAL, CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL RESOURCES THAT LYJO POSSESSES. THE RECIPIENT WILL COLLABORATE WITH LYJO ON ALL APPROPRIATE EVENTS AND PROJECTS, WHEN POSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND WILL LEVERAGE LYJO ASSETS TO ENCOURAGE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT WITH LYJOS TRADITIONAL PROGRAMMING.BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, PUBLIC NONPROFIT INSTITUTIONS ORGANIZATIONS, PRIVATE NONPROFIT INSTITUTIONS ORGANIZATIONS, NON-FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, INDUSTRY AND PUBLIC DECISION MAKERS, RESEARCH SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC.