A six-week, sustained program for female STEM students to learn…
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT • TEAM COLLABORATION • TECH TOPICS
2025 Spring Program Schedule
Middle school and High school sessions: 9:00am – 11:30am
Middle School
- Leadership Focus: Understanding leadership and personal strengths.
- Activity: Design and build a mini hydroponic system.
- STEM Tie-In: Learn about water systems and plant science.
High School
- Leadership Focus: Vision setting and goal alignment.
- Activity: Design and build an advanced hydroponic system prototype with a resource plan.
- STEM Tie-In: Dive into the science of hydroponics, exploring sustainability implications.
3/29/2025 • Session 2: Collaboration & Team Dynamics (Virtual)
Middle School
- Leadership Focus: Building trust and teamwork.
- Activity: Group activity preparing soil enriched with sea kelp for planting seeds.
- STEM Tie-In: Study the benefits of soil health and its impact on plant growth.
High School
- Leadership Focus: Collaborative problem-solving and communication.
- Activity: Plan a garden ecosystem incorporating hydroponics and soil methods.
- STEM Tie-In: Compare hydroponics and soil growth systems for efficiency and sustainability.
4/5/2025 • Session 3: Problem-Solving & Adaptability (Virtual)
Middle School
- Leadership Focus: Flexible thinking and overcoming challenges.
- Activity: Monitor hydroponic and soil systems for growth patterns.
- STEM Tie-In: Record data on plant health and environmental factors.
High School
- Leadership Focus: Strategic thinking and adaptability in leadership roles.
- Activity: Analyze and adapt systems for maximum efficiency.
- STEM Tie-In: Explore advanced data tracking and growth optimization strategies.
4/12/2025 • Field Day (In Person)
4/26/2025 • Session 4: Creativity & Innovation (Virtual)
Middle School
- Leadership Focus: Generating creative solutions.
- Activity: Brainstorm improvements for their growing systems.
- STEM Tie-In: Experiment with natural fertilizers or lighting conditions to enhance growth.
High School
- Leadership Focus: Driving innovation and leading with impact.
- Activity: Develop a proposal for a food-growing solution for a local community.
- STEM Tie-In: Create prototypes and visual presentations.
5/03/2025 • Session 5: Prototyping & Presentation Skills (Virtual)
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Middle School
- Leadership Focus: Presentation and confidence-building.
- Activity: Refine prototypes and practice presenting solutions.
- STEM Tie-In: Integrate graphics and storytelling into presentations.
- Tech Talk >> Mystery Speaker!!
High School
- Leadership Focus: Public speaking and persuasive communication.
- Activity: Finalize and rehearse presentations.
- STEM Tie-In: Polish presentations with data visualization and design tools.
- Tech Talk >> Mystery Speaker!!
5/10/2025 • Session 6: Onsite Makerspace Prototyping Challenge
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All Participants
- Challenge: Solve a real-world challenge faced by Independence Gardens (e.g., enhancing fresh food accessibility through innovative systems).
- Leadership Focus: Execution and teamwork under time constraints.
- Activity: Build and present prototypes to judges.
- STEM Tie-In: Showcase working models that integrate engineering, sustainability, and design.
