STEAM Ahead - Preparing our kids for tomorrow

BGCC believes that STE(A)M skills are important for all students, not just those aspiring to a career in the sciences.

Being STE(A)M-capable strengthens one's ability to succeed in an innovation-based economy as well as society in general. Acquiring these skills is critical for all young people to ultimately affect change in their own lives and their communities, and pave the way toward a successful future.

The overall goal of STE(A)M Ahead! is to help provide our young people with the resources to introduce, enhance, and expand their skills in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art/Design and Math.

Having researched, sourced and procured engineering design kits and video game development software licenses and training, BGCC moved ahead with the application process for STEA(M) Ahead!

A call for applications was opened for all Boys and Girls Clubs to apply to be part of the STE(A)M Ahead pilot in August, 2014. Application deadline was September 12th, at which point BGCC internally ranked and vetted the applications against the program goals and deliverables.

4 Boys and Girls Clubs were selected to be a part of the STE(A)M Ahead! pilot program:

• South Coast, BC
• Calgary, AB (up to 2 sites)
• Brantford, ON (up to 3 sites)
• East Dartmouth, NS (up to 3 sites)

A full-day training was held in Toronto for 2 staff from each of the 4 sites. Club staff were trained to use and deliver both the engineering build kits and the video game design software with the youth in their Clubs.

We also begun the process of designing the pilot evaluation with the help of a consultant. Staff have now returned to their Clubs and are preparing to deliver the program. We anticipate approximately 350 youth, ages 6-18, through the program by April 30th.

Thank you for your support of STE(A)M Ahead! We look forward to sharing more progress reports in the coming months.