STEMExplore Ignites Youths’ Interest in STEM Occupations
Beginning in October 2019, Prime Time Palm Beach County and EarthEcho International offered STEMExplore to out-of-school time programs with a core constituency of underrepresented youth, primarily African-American and Latina girls in grades four through eighth. STEMExplore is designed to ignite youths’ interest in STEM occupations at no-cost through an online destination featuring dozens of relatable, day-in-the-life interviews with scientists and engineers from the STEM field.
As part of the STEMExplore program’s culminating event, Palm Beach County’s City of Greenacres and Coleman Park Afterschool Program took a total of15 girls to Angari, a 65-foot research vessel that serves as a platform for marine science research, film and education expeditions located at Palm Harbor Marina in downtown West Palm Beach. Youth learned about the vessel’s staff and research through hands-on learning activities that included:
- Collecting and testing water samples for turbidity and salinity
- Charting and navigation, measuring in knots/nautical miles, identifying markers and buoys, creating a safe boat route in the Bahamas
- Underwater reef observation and measuring coral
- Trying on scuba gear and learning about inhaling and exhaling with the mouth gear and mask
Prime Time is now recruiting afterschool programs to participate in our STEAM Initiative, which includes series-based training, observation on coaching to improve practice, participation in the STEMExplore program, family fun nights and much more! Interested programs can contact Prime Time’s STEAM Professional Development Specialist Patricia Sasson at 561-732-8066 ext. 106 or psasson@primetimepbc.org. The next cohort trainings begin January 31, 2020.
To learn more about STEMExplore, visit https://www.stemexplore.org/items/tv
About Prime Time Palm Beach County
Prime Time Palm Beach County is a nonprofit organization that provides
resources and supports for out-of-school time professionals to develop programs
that inspire children to be their best and allow them to thrive socially and
academically. Prime Time’s integrated model of services is one of the
strongest, most comprehensive and well-respected systems for measuring and
improving out-of-school time program quality in the nation. To learn more about
Prime Time, visit www.prime-time-palm-beach-county.ghost.io.
About EarthEcho International
EarthEcho International is a nonprofit organization founded on the belief that
youth have the power to change our planet. Established by siblings Philippe and
Alexandra Cousteau in honor of their father Philippe Cousteau Sr. and
grandfather legendary explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau, our mission is to inspire
young people worldwide to act now for a sustainable future. EarthEcho’s
programs are developed for and by youth. All of our resources are designed to
equip new generations of leaders and problem solvers to identify and tackle
environmental challenges in their own communities and beyond. For more
information about EarthEcho International, visit www.earthecho.org.
###
