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Due to recent government restrictions, all workshops will be held at the NASA ERC. A school system may provide travel expenses for educator trainings.
The NASA ERC is happy to announce its new partnership with KVC West Virginia and the national nonprofit, First Star, in the coordination of the West Virginia First Star Academy! This is a STEM education initiative with year long programming and the culminating experience of a two-week residential SPACE camp. The camp will be hosted by Fairmont State University from July 10th-22nd. This program is dedicated solely to West Virginia, high school aged, youth in foster and kinship care!
Born out of the necessity for increased support for the most vulnerable population of youth in the state, the WV First Star Academy is dedicated to the success of high school students in foster care. With staggeringly low high school graduation rates and even lower rates for the pursuit of postsecondary education, youth aging out of foster care are at a higher risk for homelessness, incarceration and unemployment. The goal of the WV First Star Academy is to support the mindful growth of students by keeping them on track to graduate high school, developing their personal and life skill sets and advocating for their success. All of which is being done through the unique approach of outdoor adventure and STEM education.
The curriculum for the WV First Star Academy is based on the model of SPACE Camp, originally created by the nonprofit Destination Space Inc., who will be partnering with the ERC to bring this program to life and helping lead this unique STEM education experience for the two week residential summer SPACE camp.
The summer programming will be split into two curriculum focuses, with one week dedicated to robots and rocketry and the other to weather and climate. The students will also take part in a series of life skills trainings as well as outdoor adventure education activities such as the Coopers Rock High Ropes course led by Adventure WV and a fly fishing day trip led by Experience Learning.
Programming will continue throughout the year in the form of monthly Saturday Academies, which aim to expand upon the summer curriculum as well as maintain a cohesive connection between the students and mentors. Students will have access to First2 Network ambassadors, who can provide guidance and assistance to those interested in postsecondary education in STEM.
WV First Star Academy Partnerships
Founded and directed by Dr. DeWayne Cecil, Destination Space is a not-for-profit organization designed to cultivate excitement and interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) with a focus on aerospace and aviation programs and projects. They accomplish this through interactive and hands-on educational outreach programs and student-led technology development and science applications. They are based in Asheville, North Carolina and have been directing SPACE camps since 2017.
KVC West Virginia is a private, nonprofit child welfare organization that provides a diverse array of services including foster care, adoption, in-home family preservation services, outpatient psychiatric and behavioral healthcare, and educational support for middle and high school students through their First Star Academy. In partnership with the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources Bureau for Children and Families, they utilize the Safe at Home West Virginia program to maximize the benefits of home and community-based services for children in out-of-home care. They are committed to enriching and enhancing the lives of West Virginia children and families.
First Star is a national non-profit designed to improve the lives of foster youth by partnering with child welfare agencies, universities, and school districts to ensure foster youth have the academic, life skills, and adult supports needed to transition to higher education and adulthood successfully. They pursue their mission through innovative, university-based college-preparatory programs, providing technical assistance to stakeholders, and advocating for policy change.
Experience Learning has been delivering outdoor experiential learning opportunities to youth since 1972. Beyond their mountain campus on top of Spruce Knob, they design and deliver nature-based programming to schools and communities across the state. At the root of all of their programs is a vision of a world where individuals have the competence and confidence to bring positive change in their own lives, the lives of others, their communities, and the world around them. For the First Star WV program, Experience Learning will be implementing the Mayfly Project, a national program that uses fly fishing as a catalyst to mentor and support children in foster care. The mission of The Mayfly Project is to provide support for children in the foster care system through fly fishing. This project will teach participants basic fly-fishing principles, educate them on their local water ecosystems and conservation ethics, gift them with the appropriate gear to continue fly fishing, and provide mentorship throughout the project outings.
Gritstone Climbing and Fitness is a state-of-the-art climbing gym with 14,500 square feet of wall space in a 20,000 square foot facility, with terrain for all levels of climbers located in Morgantown, WV. Not only is Gritstone one of the largest climbing gyms in the nation, located 30 minutes from the Fairmont State campus, but it is also staffed by professionals with decades in the industry and climbing education, who share a deep connection to community and serving at-risk youth. Students will gain far more than climbing skills and knowledge. The program will focus on team building, self-confidence, trust, self-worth, and self-efficacy.
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