Girl Scouts identify bones of different animals during a program at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center .
Science Superstars
LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS OFFER STEM PROGRAMMING THAT OPENS DOORS FOR YOUTHS IN LAGUNA BEACH AND BEYOND .
By ASHLEY RYAN
STEM — the study of science , technology , engineering and mathematics — plays a role in nearly everything we do . From flicking on a light switch or creating a financial budget to using smartphone GPS to navigate to a new destination , the impact of these types of careers is exponential .
According to “ STEM and the American Workforce ,” a collaborative study by several science-based organizations , these industries play a role in 67 % of jobs in the United States . Yet , for some reason , these types of careers are often thought of as difficult or hard to break into .
One way to ensure that local youths are prepared to take on challenging roles is to start them in STEM programming early on . “ STEM education provides an opportunity for young students to step into the role of a scientist and really see themselves as someone who can do science ,” says Kaitlin Magliano , former education manager for Crystal Cove Conservancy , who recently left the position to move abroad . “ So many students have an innate curiosity about how the world works , and I think it ’ s so important to cultivate that early on and create the next generation of scientists and stewards of the environment .”
A number of special workshops and camps in the Laguna area allow children to delve into everything from climate
COURTESY OF PACIFIC MARINE MAMMAL CENTER
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