STEAM Education and Science Camps
The Goleta Education Foundation is proud to support STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics) education in our community. As students explore skills vital to STEAM careers, not only will they begin to develop essential proficiencies, but they will begin to see themselves in these careers. Students motivated to achieve a STEAM career path are more likely to challenge themselves in school and have the academic success necessary to be college and career-ready.
STEAM Education
STEAM education promotes critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration. Engaging in projects that integrate these areas at a young age provides opportunities for students to consider and begin preparing for future careers they may not otherwise pursue. According to a January 2018 Pew Research Center report, “Since 1990, STEM employment has grown 79%…and computer jobs have seen a whopping 338% increase over the same period.”
The District has committed to expanding state-of-the-art STEAM Labs at GUSD schools. After the initial investment of equipment and tools, there is an ongoing cost for materials and supplies for instruction, providing all students the opportunity to experience STEAM learning and take their projects home.
Science Camps
Every year, sixth grade GUSD students look forward to attending a 3-5 day outdoor science camp. Camp is right of passage and an opportunity for students to expand their boundaries, spend nights away from their families, and build their confidence while they experience the outdoors in a positive way, with support from camp staff, teachers, and classmates.
Each school has varying capacity to raise the amount of money required to pay for their camp experience. Parents are sometimes not able to raise supplemental funds to provide the deep, enriching opportunities that spark curiosity, promote the exploration of possible career options, and practice problem solving to the same degree as other more affluent school communities. GEF helps subsidize the bus transportation costs, providing support for schools and families where this cost would be prohibitive.
Educating the Whole Child through School Gardens
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