Archives:

Select:

Afterschool STEM Hub year in review

READ FULL STORY

Afterschool STEM Hub year in review

As 2024 comes to a close, the Afterschool STEM Hub is reflecting on the past year and looking forward to the year ahead. In working toward our vision of a STEM learning ecosystem where high-quality afterschool programs are well-resourced and accessible for all youth, we leveraged collaborative partnerships in making the case for afterschool STEM. We also continued nurturing relationships with legislative offices in our advocacy efforts. Internally, we established our inaugural Practitioners Advisory Group to help inform our advocacy, and we welcomed new members, such as the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, the Student Association for STEM Advocacy, and the Institute for Learning Innovation.

Looking back

This past spring, we were delighted to host a congressional briefing on the importance of afterschool STEM programs for older youth. The briefing was attended by industry, business leaders of STEM talent, congressional offices, non-profit STEM and afterschool organizations, and STEM funders, among others.

In collaboration with our sister initiative at the Afterschool Alliance, the Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM and Society, we convened a focus group of young people engaged in afterschool STEM programs to ask for their thoughts on the future of STEM education. As their perspectives help shape our policy agenda's development, we share their perspectives in meetings with legislators, funders, and programs. We also coordinated an opportunity for young people to weigh in directly on proposed federal legislation. Working with Senator Chris Murphy’s (D-Conn.) office, we invited youth to meet with his staff working on the Summer for All Act so they could provide recommendations for enhancing the potential impact of the legislation on older youth.

In addition to highlighting ways of supporting older youth, one of our key policy priorities for this year was to begin understanding the unique needs of afterschool educators who facilitate STEM programming and how those needs differ across age groups. In doing so, we convened a group of 13 afterschool STEM program practitioners as the inaugural cohort of our Practitioners Advisory Group. They represent a variety of afterschool STEM programs across the nation, such as Together Friends Organization, STEMarts Lab, STEM from Dance, Chaos Learning Lab, FirstHand, and The STEM Connection. Through focus group discussions and knowledge exchange, they ensure multiple voices are at the table and that our advocacy and policy recommendations are ground-truthed. They also have the opportunity to provide insights on relevant federal policies and discuss how federal programs are helping or hindering their work.

We also began drafting proposed federal legislation supporting the afterschool STEM workforce, focusing on sustaining professional development and peer support. In addition to information gleaned from our Practitioners Advisory Group, we convened a Professional Development Working Group, consisting of individuals from organizations that either curate or deliver STEM professional development for afterschool and informal STEM programs, to help inform the bill's language.

Working with our Research Working Group, we launched the Afterschool STEM Quarterly Research Review Newsletter, which aims to provide the afterschool field and policymakers with the latest and most relevant findings and implications from afterschool STEM education. The newsletter has been well-received with subscribers from the afterschool field, school systems, research institutions, funders, and more. Our most recently released edition focuses on how afterschool STEM programs impact their communities through youth-led initiatives.

Looking ahead

Moving into 2025, we feel hopeful and inspired. The updated Federal STEM Strategic Plan showcases the prominent role that informal and afterschool STEM plays in enhancing STEM education. The recently released National Academies’ report, Scaling and Sustaining PreK-12 STEM Education Innovations, highlights how informal and afterschool STEM opportunities are valuable spaces for innovation development. The STEMM Opportunity Alliance’s National Strategy for Progress and Prosperity fully integrates the role of afterschool STEM in inspiring more youth. Each of these high-level reports validates the importance of increasing investment in afterschool STEM, and we are thankful and awed by the clear value that afterschool STEM plays in our society.

The Afterschool STEM Hub will continue to be a voice that advocates for this issue at the federal level so we can all build on this momentum and energy. We will continue building upon our work supporting the needs of afterschool STEM educators and programs while building a policy agenda supportive of older youth. Supporting the needs of older youth dovetails with efforts to support afterschool STEM educators because, if provided the right incentives and support, youth can fulfill program staffing needs, be near-peer mentors for younger youth served by programs, and help facilitate STEM activities. It also ties into young people’s desire to be changemakers who can support more young people to access STEM learning in afterschool programs.

We look forward to continuing engagement with our Practitioners Advisory Group, hearing from more young people, and working with the new federal administration and legislators to continue advocating for increased investments in afterschool STEM programs. We also look forward to collaborating with all of you to raise your voice of support for afterschool STEM!

We want to continue learning from you and to be a resource for you - please follow us on LinkedIn, email us with any questions stemhub@afterschoolalliance.org, and be on the lookout for our next research review newsletter in the new year.

Happy New Year, everyone!

Afterschool STEM Hub’s Transition Memo to the Trump Administration

Photo courtesy of Million Girls Moonshot. Happy New Year, everyone! As we move into 2025, we at the Afterschool STEM Hub are gearing up to engage with the new Presidential Administration and the 119th Congress to continue advancing afterschool STEM. Our complex and changing world demands both...

BY: Leslie Brooks      01/30/25

Supporting youth to improve community well-being through afterschool programs

I am starting 2025 with gratitude to be part of a team and a field that is committed to supporting young people on their journey through life. Many young people have a great desire to make the world a better place, both in the here and now, and in the future. But too often, they are left out of...

BY: Anita Krishnamurthi      01/23/25

Empowering future innovators through Invention Education

Photo: Nicolette Buonora and Lauren Strechay with their invention, Battery Swap. By Samantha Rhoads, inHub Marketing Specialist at The Henry Ford. This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative. This...

BY: Guest Blogger      01/13/25

Afterschool STEM Hub year in review

As 2024 comes to a close, the Afterschool STEM Hub is reflecting on the past year and looking forward to the year ahead. In working toward our vision of a STEM learning ecosystem where high-quality afterschool programs are well-resourced and accessible for all youth, we leveraged collaborative...

BY: Leslie Brooks      12/18/24

Final Afterschool STEM Quarterly Research Review of 2024 - A focus on youth-led community impact

As 2024 comes to a close, we are delighted to share the winter edition of the Afterschool STEM Quarterly Research Review (ASQRR) with you! This newsletter aims to provide you with summaries of recent research from the field of afterschool, summer, and out-of-school time science, technology,...

BY: Leslie Brooks      12/16/24

December resources from Million Girls Moonshot

Trainings for December 2024 ACRES Coaching: Elevating Youth Voice and Choice Wednesdays, 12/4, 12/18 1-3 p.m. EST / 10 - noon PST How often do youth in your program get to choose what they’re investigating or designing, the materials they might use and/or how they engage with the...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke      12/02/24

Exploring STEM career pathways in afterschool

Photo courtesy of the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance By Hannah Lakin, ACRES coach at the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance. Without clear pathways into STEM careers, many young people—especially those from underrepresented communities—are missing out on opportunities...

BY: Guest Blogger      11/26/24

Launching EcoGIS: Mapping environmental justice and beyond

By Leah Boveda, Development and Comunications Intern at trubel&co. This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs highlights examples of programs working at the intersection of STEM...

BY: Guest Blogger      11/19/24

GenAI in education: Potential and guardrails

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock By An-Me Chung, Director and Strategic Advisor, New America. Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), a type of AI that can create new content, has sparked both excitement and trepidation in formal and informal education settings. Like many, we at New America...

BY: Guest Blogger      11/18/24

Inspiring Hispanic students through SHPE’s Virtual STEM Lab

Photo courtesy of Deanna Drako, Manager, Research & Impact, SHPE By Mariana Acuña Delgado, Director, Government Relations & Public Affairs, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE). Early exposure to STEM degrees and careers is crucial for increasing the likelihood of...

BY: Guest Blogger      11/06/24

Afterschool STEM Hub’s Transition Memo to the Trump Administration

Photo courtesy of Million Girls Moonshot. Happy New Year, everyone! As we move into 2025, we at the Afterschool STEM Hub are gearing up to engage with the new Presidential Administration and the 119th Congress to continue advancing afterschool STEM. Our complex and changing world demands both...

BY: Leslie Brooks      01/30/25

Supporting youth to improve community well-being through afterschool programs

I am starting 2025 with gratitude to be part of a team and a field that is committed to supporting young people on their journey through life. Many young people have a great desire to make the world a better place, both in the here and now, and in the future. But too often, they are left out of...

BY: Anita Krishnamurthi      01/23/25

Afterschool STEM Hub year in review

As 2024 comes to a close, the Afterschool STEM Hub is reflecting on the past year and looking forward to the year ahead. In working toward our vision of a STEM learning ecosystem where high-quality afterschool programs are well-resourced and accessible for all youth, we leveraged collaborative...

BY: Leslie Brooks      12/18/24

Exploring STEM career pathways in afterschool

Photo courtesy of the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance By Hannah Lakin, ACRES coach at the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance. Without clear pathways into STEM careers, many young people—especially those from underrepresented communities—are missing out on opportunities...

BY: Guest Blogger      11/26/24

GenAI in education: Potential and guardrails

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock By An-Me Chung, Director and Strategic Advisor, New America. Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), a type of AI that can create new content, has sparked both excitement and trepidation in formal and informal education settings. Like many, we at New America...

BY: Guest Blogger      11/18/24

Inspiring Hispanic students through SHPE’s Virtual STEM Lab

Photo courtesy of Deanna Drako, Manager, Research & Impact, SHPE By Mariana Acuña Delgado, Director, Government Relations & Public Affairs, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE). Early exposure to STEM degrees and careers is crucial for increasing the likelihood of...

BY: Guest Blogger      11/06/24

Astronauts in afterschool

Photo by History in HD on Unsplash Astronauts have been taking over afterschool lately! NASA and the Department of Education recently announced the renewal of their partnership to bring space education directly into 21st Century Community Learning Centers for the 2024-2025 school year. Selected...

BY: Leslie Brooks      10/15/24

Celebrate Digital Inclusion Week

While you might already be aware of October being the month for celebrating Lights On Afterschool, did you know there is another celebration happening as well? Digital Inclusion Week is October 7 to 11 this year, but it is being honored the entire month of October. Similar to how Lights On...

BY: Leslie Brooks      10/08/24

As Congress returns to Washington, STEM advocates seek adequate funding

As the summer ends, members of Congress, their staff, and advocates for many causes are getting ready for the next steps in the FY 2025 budget and appropriations process. When Congress adjourned for its annual August recess, the House had passed five of the twelve annual spending bills, while the...

BY: Leslie Brooks      09/13/24

Just in time for school: New Afterschool STEM Quarterly Research Review!

The Afterschool STEM Hub, an initiative of the Afterschool Alliance, is happy to share the fall edition of our Afterschool STEM Quarterly Research Review newsletter with the afterschool community! This newsletter aims to provide you with summaries of recent research from the field of afterschool,...

BY: Leslie Brooks      09/09/24

Supporting youth to improve community well-being through afterschool programs

I am starting 2025 with gratitude to be part of a team and a field that is committed to supporting young people on their journey through life. Many young people have a great desire to make the world a better place, both in the here and now, and in the future. But too often, they are left out of...

BY: Anita Krishnamurthi      01/23/25

Empowering future innovators through Invention Education

Photo: Nicolette Buonora and Lauren Strechay with their invention, Battery Swap. By Samantha Rhoads, inHub Marketing Specialist at The Henry Ford. This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative. This...

BY: Guest Blogger      01/13/25

Launching EcoGIS: Mapping environmental justice and beyond

By Leah Boveda, Development and Comunications Intern at trubel&co. This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs highlights examples of programs working at the intersection of STEM...

BY: Guest Blogger      11/19/24

Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society: Our Theory of Change

This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative. We are excited to showcase the systemic change young people can make in their communities when their afterschool programs support them to layer action onto...

BY: Anita Krishnamurthi      10/01/24

New resource database for programs interested in STEM, civic engagement, and youth empowerment

This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs highlights examples of programs working at the intersection of STEM and civic engagement. We are excited to showcase the systemic change...

BY: Leah Silverberg      08/05/24

Youth voice in afterschool STEM: Peeking behind the curtain

STEM learning in afterschool has really taken off over the past decade and there is little doubt of the importance of these spaces for engaging young people with STEM. The most recent America After 3PM study tells us that 73% of afterschool programs offer STEM and that 72% of parents look for these...

BY: Anita Krishnamurthi      06/27/24

Afterschool programs fill the AI skills gap

By Audra Darbyshire, Creative Manager at Technovation. This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs highlights examples of programs working at the intersection of STEM and civic...

BY: Guest Blogger      06/06/24

Sustainability, systems thinking, and the ocean

Photo credit: Smithsonian Institution By Heidi Gibson, Manager, Global Sustainability Series, Smithsonian Science Education Center This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs...

BY: Guest Blogger      05/20/24

Sustainability, systems thinking, and the ocean

Photo courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution. By Heidi Gibson, Manager, Global Sustainability Series, Smithsonian Science Education Center. This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative. This series of...

BY: Guest Blogger      05/20/24

Youth Action for the Planet

Photo Credit: California Academy of Sciences By Aleks Liou, Program Manager at Youth Action for the Planet. This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs highlights examples of programs...

BY: Guest Blogger      04/30/24

December resources from Million Girls Moonshot

Trainings for December 2024 ACRES Coaching: Elevating Youth Voice and Choice Wednesdays, 12/4, 12/18 1-3 p.m. EST / 10 - noon PST How often do youth in your program get to choose what they’re investigating or designing, the materials they might use and/or how they engage with the...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke      12/02/24

October resources from Million Girls Moonshot

Trainings for October 2024 Techbridge Girls: Become a Certified Techbridge Girls STEM Curriculum Facilitator October 16: Applications Open October 30: Information Session. REGISTER. Using a blend of theory and application, youth instructors become certified in delivering Techbridge...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke      10/07/24

August resources from Million Girls Moonshot

Trainings for August 2024 ACRES Coaching: Making Math Engaging Thursdays: 8/22, 9/5, 9/19/2024 1:00 - 3:00 pm EST / 10:00 am- Noon PST Are you looking for fun ways to help youth build number sense and problem-solving skills? Math can take on new meaning when it is integrated into daily...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke      08/06/24

Highlights from the Flight Crew Experience at Girls Build Solutions 2024

After six months of virtual programming as members of the Million Girls Moonshot 2024 Flight Crew, from June 24 to 26, 2024, young STEM advocates met in-person at Girls Build Solutions (GBS) 2024! The Million Girls Moonshot Flight Crew, launched by STEM Next Opportunity to engage millions more...

BY: Elizabeth Bannan      07/09/24

July resources from Million Girls Moonshot

Trainings for July 2024 ACRES Coaching: Asking Purposeful Questions Mondays: 7/8, 7/22, and 8/5/2024 2:00- 4:00 pm EST / 11:00 am- 1:00 pm PST Questions begin a path toward discovery, imagination, and STEM exploration. How can we help youth expand and clarify their thinking and develop...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke      07/02/24

June resources from Million Girls Moonshot

Trainings for June 2024 ACRES Coaching: Make Math Engaging Mondays: 6/3, 6/17, and 7/1 at 10AM- 12PM EST / 7AM - 9:00AM PST Are you looking for fun ways to help youth build number sense and problem-solving skills? Math can take on new meaning when it is integrated into daily routines in...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke      06/03/24

Sustainability, systems thinking, and the ocean

Photo credit: Smithsonian Institution By Heidi Gibson, Manager, Global Sustainability Series, Smithsonian Science Education Center This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs...

BY: Guest Blogger      05/20/24

May resources from Million Girls Moonshot

Trainings for May 2024 ACRES Coaching: Asking Purposeful Questions Wednesdays: 5/8, 5/22, 6/5/2024 2:00 - 4:00 pm EST / 11:00 - 1:00 pm PST Questions begin a path toward discovery, imagination, and STEM exploration. How can we help youth expand and clarify their thinking and develop their...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke      05/13/24

Million Girls Moonshot resources for April

Trainings for April  2024 ACRES Coaching: Asking Purposeful Questions Tuesdays: 4/16, 4/30, and 5/14/2024 11:00 am- 1:00 pm EST / 8:00 - 10:00 am PST Questions begin a path toward discovery, imagination, and STEM exploration. How can we help youth expand and clarify their thinking and...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke      04/04/24

Million Girls Moonshot resources for March

Trainings for March 2024 ACRES Coaching: Make Math Engaging Wednesdays: 3/20 and 4/3/2024, 2 - 4 p.m. EST / 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. PST Are you looking for fun ways to help youth build number sense and problem-solving skills? Math can take on new meaning when it is integrated into daily routines...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke      03/07/24

Sustainability, systems thinking, and the ocean

Photo credit: Smithsonian Institution By Heidi Gibson, Manager, Global Sustainability Series, Smithsonian Science Education Center This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs...

BY: Guest Blogger      05/20/24

Youth Action for the Planet

Photo Credit: California Academy of Sciences By Aleks Liou, Program Manager at Youth Action for the Planet. This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs highlights examples of programs...

BY: Guest Blogger      04/30/24

An afterschool STEM advocacy story

Photo courtesy of California Academy of Sciences By Rachael Van Schoik, Science Action Club Manager, California Academy of Sciences. My advocacy story is Science Action Club’s (SAC) advocacy story. A program within the California Academy of Sciences, a world renowned museum and research...

BY: Guest Blogger      03/15/24

Guest blog: Creating tomorrow’s engineers with Design Squad Latinx

By Nicki Sirianni, Education Outreach and Marketing Manager of GBH Education. Government, industry, research, and education leaders all agree that a strong engineering workforce is an essential part of the future economy in the U.S. and across the globe. Despite the need for more engineers,...

BY: Guest Blogger      03/04/24

Youth at the helm: Exploring sustainability through teen-led initiatives

By Lindsey DeLorey, Public Events and Youth Programs Coordinator at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis. This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs highlights examples of programs...

BY: Guest Blogger      02/23/24

Are you ready for the April 8 total solar eclipse?

Photo by Mathew Schwartz on Unsplash. By Dennis Schatz, Institute for Learning Innovation and past president of the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA). Do you remember the excitement around the 2017 total solar eclipse? Well, it is going to happen again on Monday, April 8 of this...

BY: Guest Blogger      02/15/24

Power up afterschool learning with the 4-H STEM Challenge

By Michael Compton, STEM Integrated Marketing Manager at National 4-H Council. The acronym STEM refers to the four disciplines of science, engineering, technology, and mathematics. STEM is a popular content area to engage young people in exciting, engaging, hands-on learning...

BY: Guest Blogger      09/12/23

Clemson University Science Outreach Center develops graphic novel to inspire youth-led STEM Justice initiatives

By Renée Lyons,  Director of Science Outreach for Clemson University’s College of Science This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's new “Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society” (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs highlights...

BY: Guest Blogger      06/30/23

December resources from Million Girls Moonshot

Trainings for December 2024 ACRES Coaching: Elevating Youth Voice and Choice Wednesdays, 12/4, 12/18 1-3 p.m. EST / 10 - noon PST How often do youth in your program get to choose what they’re investigating or designing, the materials they might use and/or how they engage with the...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke      12/02/24

July resources from Million Girls Moonshot

Trainings for July 2024 ACRES Coaching: Asking Purposeful Questions Mondays: 7/8, 7/22, and 8/5/2024 2:00- 4:00 pm EST / 11:00 am- 1:00 pm PST Questions begin a path toward discovery, imagination, and STEM exploration. How can we help youth expand and clarify their thinking and develop...

BY: Charlotte Steinecke      07/02/24

Sustainability, systems thinking, and the ocean

Photo credit: Smithsonian Institution By Heidi Gibson, Manager, Global Sustainability Series, Smithsonian Science Education Center This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs...

BY: Guest Blogger      05/20/24

Power up afterschool learning with the 4-H STEM Challenge

By Michael Compton, STEM Integrated Marketing Manager at National 4-H Council. The acronym STEM refers to the four disciplines of science, engineering, technology, and mathematics. STEM is a popular content area to engage young people in exciting, engaging, hands-on learning...

BY: Guest Blogger      09/12/23

Building Capacity for Youth Climate Leadership and Action through Youth Climate Summits

Photo courtesy of The Wild Center. By Elodie Linck, The Jeanne Hutchins Youth Climate Coordinator at The Wild Center This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's new “Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society” (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs...

BY: Guest Blogger      07/11/23

Supporting youth to improve community well-being through afterschool programs

I am starting 2025 with gratitude to be part of a team and a field that is committed to supporting young people on their journey through life. Many young people have a great desire to make the world a better place, both in the here and now, and in the future. But too often, they are left out of...

BY: Anita Krishnamurthi      01/23/25

Sustainability, systems thinking, and the ocean

Photo credit: Smithsonian Institution By Heidi Gibson, Manager, Global Sustainability Series, Smithsonian Science Education Center This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs...

BY: Guest Blogger      05/20/24

Teen Science Cafés: Teens and STEM experts exploring our world together

Photo courtesy of Louisa Otto, Sanford PROMISE Teen Science Café. By Katey Ahmann, Director of Teen Science Café Network and Kristin Bayans, Manager of Network Engagement at Teen Science Café Network. This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's Collective for...

BY: Guest Blogger      01/25/24

It’s time for takeoff! Applications for the 2024 Million Girls Moonshot Flight Crew open on International Day of the Girl

By Veronica Gonzales, STEM Next Opportunity Fund. The Million Girls Moonshot is looking for afterschool STEM champions to join the 2024 Flight Crew! The Moonshot has launched a nation-wide search for the Flight Crew - a group of youth advocates promoting the value of out-of-school STEM learning...

BY: Guest Blogger      10/11/23

Building Capacity for Youth Climate Leadership and Action through Youth Climate Summits

Photo courtesy of The Wild Center. By Elodie Linck, The Jeanne Hutchins Youth Climate Coordinator at The Wild Center This blog is part of the Afterschool Alliance's new “Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society” (CYESS) initiative. This series of blogs...

BY: Guest Blogger      07/11/23