Resources for Leaf & STEM
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Creating opportunities for youth in afterschool and summer programs to use the outdoors to explore
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math
Through Leaf & STEM, POST is able to offer curriculum and training to afterschool programs, for little to no fee, thanks to our generous sponsors. Our most recent training, sponsored by TIME WARNER CABLE CHARLOTTE, was:
Fly To Learn: Flight Simulator and STEM curriculum, January 7th, 2012 at Charlotte Latin School. We were happy to have 15 engaged staff on board.
Do you work with middle school and/or high school youth in an out-of-school time program? Do you have computers that can be equipped with Fly To Learn software? Do you have the need and desire to instill STEM concepts and fun, hands-on learning into your programs? This, then, is for YOU! Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with your interest for a FUTURE Fly To Learn training.
Stay current with other Leaf & STEM trainings as part of our MASAP trainings. Visit our MASAP page for membership info & training dates.
Organization Participation
Why should my organization participate?
☼ To expose your youth to new career possibilities!
☼ It’s FREE! All training and curriculum will be provided at minimal to no cost to your organization.
☼ To increase your organization’s capacity to provide quality STEM programming.
Leaf & STEM will impact youth through:
Improved test scores: Research shows persuasively that environmental, outdoor curriculum helps students improve standardized test scores in math and science.
Improved 21st Century skills: Environmental education improves critical thinking skills and motivates students to achieve higher levels of success in the classroom.
Career exploration: Leaf & STEM experiences will provide access to new career possibilities. Such as biology, physical sciences, geology, physics, green technology, computer programming and mechanics.
Increased inclusion: Access to quality outdoor curriculum can affect students’ concept of community: the interdependence people have as they share an environment.
Great Science for Girls
POST was excited to enter into a second year as a Great Science for Girls intermediary. Through this unique program, Charlotte area after school programs received free training, curriculum, and technical assistance to deliver high quality STEM programming to youth. Between August 2009 and August 2010, 23 programs have taken part in two separate three-day institutes to become familiar with and proficient in delivering the After-School Science PLUS curriculum.
Although the impetus is for girls to become more involved in STEM, boys are more than welcome to join in--and have done so at many of our programs!
We are again excited that the GSG training team returned to Charlotte in March 2011. We have 24 new programs, from four different community-based organizations, that participated as we "rebooted" our out-of-school time staff for equity-based teaching principles and STEM activities. Science has taken root in Charlotte!
Most recently, (June 2011) in a partnership between POST and Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools' After School Enrichment Program (ASEP,) 41 staff from four Summer Enrichment Day Camps took part in an intensive morning of training on the After-School Science PLUS curriculum. We look forward to visiting these programs this summer and observing STEM in action! Way to go, ASEP!
We were able to expand the impetus of Great Science for Girls once again, through yet another three-day training from Ben Dworken and Maryann Stimmer, trainers extraordinaire from FHI360 in New York City. Program staff were able to actively participate in the wonderfully hands-on AfterSchool Math PLUS curriculum September 27-29, 2011. Staff from A Better World Charlotte, Bethlehem Center, CMS/ASEP (Berryhill, JV Washam, Ranson and Westerly Hills), Freedom School Partners, Greater Enrichment, Safe Hands Learning Center and 10 YWCA of the Central Carolinas sites were the lucky recipients. Who knew that Math could be so much fun?
Watch for information about a Summer STEM Summit coming Spring 2012. Thanks to our partnership with Time Warner Cable for bringing Maryann, Ben and AfterSchool Math PLUS to Charlotte!
More information about Great Science for Girls can be found here. GSG's AfterSchool Math PLUS will be in Charlotte this September. Contact kvinson@postcarolinas.org for more information. Space is very limited.
Crossroads Charlotte
Leaf & STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) was prompted by Crossroads Charlotte. Learn more about Crossroads Charlotte at
THANK YOU, CrossRoads Charlotte, for helping fund Great Science for Girls this March 2011. A record 36 staff representing 24 programs from across Charlotte-Mecklenburg and Union counties, came together for three half-days of equity-based and inquiry-based STEM training. We look forward to visiting this "in action" this summer and fall. We couldn't have done it without your help!
We look forward to continuing the work of Leaf & STEM with YOUR support funding coordination of more trainings throughout 2012!