Rotary District 7430 STEM Youth Explorer Academy (STEM YEA) started with an idea from one Rotarian in August 2020 and on July 8, 2022, the inaugural four-day three-night residential STEM-focused Academy took place at Albright College (Reading, PA). Forty-one underserved middle-school students (12–13-year-olds) from various schools in Montgomery, Bucks, Berks, Lehigh, and Northampton Counties had an opportunity to explore, experiment and engage in new and exciting subject areas to ignite their imaginations and enthusiasm to learn.
The Academy is part of the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) organized by Rotarians that provide intensive leadership experience to develop skills for youth as leaders while having fun and making connections.
Stephanie L. Landis, M.Ed., STEM YEA Academy Director (Principal of the Boyertown West Middle School and President of the Boyertown Rotary Club), said, “The goal of the academy experience is to integrate STEM curriculum with 21st century leadership skills and exploration of Rotary Areas of Focus. We seek to engage students and inspire them to pursue STEM courses and careers in the future. This four-day opportunity was instrumental in encouraging students to think deeply and creatively while learning to collaborate and innovate. These skills will be beneficial to them throughout their lives.”
The Academy curriculum: Astrobiology, The Search for Life on Mars provided nine foundational STEM sessions and six STEM project sessions. In addition to introducing astrobiology, they learned about the scale of the solar system, communications across distances, Mars and Earth comparisons in topography, water features, atmosphere, temperature, greenhouse effect, magnetosphere, and the environments and requirements for life. Students had an opportunity to learn about astronomy and view the night sky through telescopes. During the celebration event, astronaut Lieutenant Colonel Terry Hart, retired, met with students and reviewed their STEM Projects focused on plotting the path to, and their mission to Mars. Jared Isaacman, entrepreneur, astronaut, and commander of the SpaceX Inspiration4 space flight and upcoming SpaceX Polaris missions, created a short inspirational and encouraging personal video message directed towards the STEM YEA students on the importance of STEM-based education and the exciting opportunities it offers as he described his pioneering civilian/commercial space travel adventures.
The Rotary District 7430 STEM YEA Team established the curriculum and Academy along with 21 Founding Rotary Clubs (see attachment), realizing the importance of STEM education and sponsors. SETI Institute and Albright Science Research Institute were engaged to help develop the curriculum along with Rotary’s leadership training based on the organization’s Seven Areas of Focus.
Mike Orbin, STEM YEA Chair (Allentown Rotary) said, “STEM YEA gave us Rotarians and Rotary Clubs throughout our District 7430 the opportunity to be a part of a dynamic Team, focused on accomplishing something very new, challenging, and impactful. We recognized the need and our capability to make a positive difference in young students’ lives, those who otherwise would not have the opportunity to participate in such enrichment activities. Rotarians joined together, investing thousands of dollars and volunteered hundreds of hours of their time, to develop and implement an exciting and innovative STEM program. We are grateful to our collaborating partners, the businesses that became Academy sponsors, and to the participating astronauts and the amateur astronomers who inspired our students to imagine. This inaugural Academy has set the stage for future opportunities for students to be engaged in an intentional learning experience, thanks to the commitment and support of all Rotarians in this wonderful team of volunteers. Their involvement truly demonstrates our commitment to Rotary’s motto of “Service Above Self”.”
The STEM YEA team has begun the process of evaluating STEM YEA 2022 and will build upon its findings to enhance STEM YEA 2023.
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About Rotary District 7430: Rotary District 7430 has 46 Rotary Clubs in Montgomery, Bucks, Berks, Lehigh, and Northampton Counties of Southeastern Pennsylvania.
About Rotary: Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change in our communities and in ourselves. Rotary members share a unique passion to act on our world’s most persistent issues. Our causes include promoting peace; fighting disease; providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene; saving mothers and children; supporting education along with protecting the environment and growing local economies.
For more information: www.STEMYEA.com
