Planting the Seed for Our Next Environmental Ambassadors

The College of Education and Integrative Studies in partnership with The National College Resources Foundation (NCRF) hosted STEAM Exploration Academy. This 2-day academy was packed full of activities related to STEAM/STEM through education. 22 students from neighboring cities, grades 7th – 9th learned about the environment with hands–on experience.  

“Our main goal was to target middle schoolers with an explicit focus on Black, Brown, and Indigenous youth.” Said Dean of CEIS, Jenelle S. Pitt-Parker. “It is very exciting to curate this type of experience for these students. Our partnership with NCRF is giving students an opportunity to be exposed to STEAM/STEM that will inspire them to go into these fields.” 

The first day of the Academy, the students took a trip to BioTrek where they visited the Rainforest Learning Center. The students got to meet reptiles that are housed there and got to try some of the plants. The student’s favorite was trying coco butter that came from the Cacao tree. At the Ethnobotany Learning Center, the students learned about different habitats and plants native to California. Jaylen, 8th grader said, “I think it’s important to learn about ethnobotany and about the past and how humanity affected the environment.” 

The students had learned about the environment now it was time for them to create their own. The NCRF team hosted a terrarium workshop. Each student started off with a base of rocks and substrate. They were free to design their terrarium with materials like moss, small plants, cork, wood, and decomposers. “Offering hands on activities helps students replicate what they learned in the environment. It helps them understand that every form of life starts with a base structure and how we are all connected.” Conor, NCRF team member. 

The second day of the academy, the students took a field trip to Lopez Urban Farm located in Pomona, CA. The Lopez Urban Farm is a non-profit that provides education about sustainability, gardening, provides access to locally grown fresh produce. The Lopez Urban Farm team gave the students a lesson about the importance of composting. The students then got the opportunity to make their own compost. “I think it’s important for us to learn about composting because we will save the future generations from polluting the earth.” said Penelope, 9th grader.  

Over the two days of the academy, the students participated in a lesson with Cal Poly Pomona, Biological Science/ CEMaST Assistant Professor, Dr. Janel Ortiz.  Dr. Ortiz gave the students a lesson in urban and wildlife and camera trappers. The students got the opportunity to put up their own camera traps in the Ethnobotany Learning Center and captured some insects and a jolly squirrel.  

This 2-day academy exposed these students to hands on learning in the STEAM/STEM field. At the end of both days, the students left excited and inspired to learn more about these fields. One of the parents, Jessica said, “I think STEM is the future and is important for our children to learn. There are so many jobs needed in these fields. I think it’s great that these children are given the opportunity to learn about these fields and hopefully want to work in these fields.”