The South Fork Natural History Museum (SOFO) has announced its new year-round educational alliance in After School STEAM Enrichment programming with the Bridgehampton Child Care and Recreational Center.
Students at BHCCRC will explore science, technology, engineering, art, and math through visits to the museum and outdoor guided nature walks led by SOFO environmental educators, as well as hands-on workshops at BHCCRC with SOFO and Innovation Camp (iCAMP) instructors. This program, which began in January, will run through June, and then continue September through December.
STEAM enrichment workshops focus on project-based learning that connects observations in nature to the technology tools we use to make our observations better and understand the world around us. Melanie Meade, Education and Outreach Coordinator at SOFO, in collaboration with Steve Phillips, Curriculum Director at iCAMP and STEAM enrichment program instructor, developed the curriculum so that it reflects the use of technology as we explore the natural world. Winter to Spring 2021 sessions will focus on our Earth. Fall 2021 sessions will focus on living things and their relationships to the earth and to each other.
“We are very happy to welcome the Bridgehampton Child Care & Recreational Center to the SOFO family and to our After School STEAM programming,” said Frank Quevedo, SOFO’s Executive Director. “We have long admired BHCCRC’s mission and dedication to giving back to our community, which aligns completely with our efforts and goals.”
“After school STEAM enrichment classes empower students to ask thought-provoking questions that promote creativity and exploration, as they experience project-based learning that connects nature observations to the technology tools we use to make our observations better and understand the world around us,” said Meade.
Adds Bonnie Cannon, Executive Director of BHCCRC, “This is a wonderful opportunity for our youth and teens. STEAM has always been an initiative that was missing from our curriculum. Thanks to our partnership with SOFO, our students can now immerse themselves in STEAM programming. This is the future, and we want our youth and teens to be prepared and equipped with needed tools for what is to come. Thank you SOFO for making this happen for our children!”
For more information, visit www.sofo.org.