STE(A)M Education

The 2014 Annual Coley Little STEM was the first effort to host a camp at the historic JH Sampson Life Center in Kinston, NC, where students from grades 4 -12 engaged in forensic science, compliments of NC State University.  Business, law, and technology experts mentored students. John Deere loane employee volunteers while North Carolina A&T's engineering student served as a counselor. In 2015, the Lin Dawson Boys Academy & Saturday Math Lab partnred with the Kinston Community Children's Garden to learn how to plant, harvest,and maintain a food and herb garden.

The 2015 Annual Coley Little STEM Camp was a partnership with the Kinston Community Garden and Eastern Carolina University's Food Science Department to engage students in learning food chemistry , nutrition,  agriculture, and cooking.  The Master Gardeners volunteered with NC State University Extension Program Coordinators, East Carolina University Food Science Department, and Fusion Fitness by Jelyse's Yoga with Youth.

The 2016 Annual Coley Little STEM Camp put testing equipment & water activities in the hands of campers, compliments of the STEM Research Center at East Carolina University and NASA. In addition students tested water on the Neuse River, created storm simulations, and discussed how race and class impacted the water tragedy in Flint, Michigan.  Our wellness director and co-director shared daily outdoor fitness.

We received another progressional development training from NASA to deliver the Solar Eclipse Curriculum to three Lenoir County Parks and Recreation sites engaging students. Thanks to former ECU Teaching Fellow/interns Todd Gabriel & Kinston High school student, Zynia Pitman who delivered STEAM instruction led by Margo Dawson. 

North Carolina Agriculture & Technical University, according to the U.S. News & World Report has accelerated graduation numbers in areas like STEM. We hold an annual invitation to the Women in Science & Tech Lunch/Tour. In 2019, we took nearly 50 girls from North Carolina to increase their knowledge on course preparation, study habits, and careers in STEM.

When we could not get funders to support our e-learning educational programs from 2017 - 2020, they didn't see COVID-19 coming.  As a result of being shut-down, we delivered a series of videos including science fun, literacy, puppetry, and downloadable activities.

Using technology, we launched our first Covid-Relief summer camp called Fit to Soar Girls Leadership Camp to foucs on careers, education preparation, fitness, and mentorship from over 20 women from the U.S. and Singapore. Partnerships included NCA&T, UNC-Chapel Hill, Harvard, Wake Tech Community College, and local businesses.

The co-directors of the Fit to Soar Girls camps n 2020 wrote the Fit t Soar Youth Mentoring Program. engaging students in digital technology instruction including a 57-page guidebook,  Mental Health Fitness & life coaching. Activities include self-assessment, research, interviews, reading exercises, journaling, surveys, and accessing the  digital mentor library that showcases a diverse group of professionals sharing their journeys from school to career.