Asking. Learning. Uplifting.
The nationally recognized Youth Exploring Science (YES) program has created a legacy of success by working with underserved teens from the St. Louis area throughout their high school years to help prepare them for in-demand STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) careers of the future.
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Students enter YES as freshmen and engage in a curriculum focused on project development and interactive learning. Teens participate in the program all four years of high school – on Saturdays throughout the school year and daily during the summer. YES teens are provided with college and career readiness training and develop real-world skills that promote self-confidence and personal success for their academic journey ahead.
The teens are immersed in hands-on STEM study focus areas to support 21st century skills, including:
- Aerospace
- Agriscience
- Computer Science
- Engineering
- Entrepreneurship
- Integrative Medicine and Well-Being
Learning these skills empowers these predominately low-income students of color to recognize their abilities and strive for in-demand STEM careers that they may not have considered for their futures.
Students in the YES program also have the opportunity to serve as YES Teen Ambassadors, which are liaisons between YES and the community. Their primary role is to represent the YES program by promoting the importance of STEM-related careers. Ambassadors also serve as a steering committee representing their fellow YES peers in the program’s decision-making process.
The YES program also impacts St. Louis by delivering STEM learning to the community through outreach initiatives. Each summer, hundreds of elementary-aged children attend free Summertime Science camp at the YES facility. The YES teens serve as teachers and mentors for these younger children, delivering engaging STEM learning activities that they have helped develop.
