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|  General NASA Programs  |  For Girls For Educators  |  National Engineer Week Activities  |  Summer Programs  |



    General 
  • Discover Engineering 
    This dynamic web site is designed to showcase the hows and whys of becoming an engineer to middle school students and educators. The site features an exciting video series and related hands on challenges, career information, engineer profiles, and links to related educational, professional, and corporate sites. 
    Contact: Not listed
    Grade Level: 9th-12th
    Availability: Nationally

  • Engineering For Kids
    Engineering For Kids brings science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), to kids ages 4 to 14 in a fun and challenging way through classes, camps, clubs, and parties.  We are proud to inspire children to build on their natural curiosity by teaching engineering concepts through hands-on learning.  Engineering is, after all, one of the fastest growing industries in the world!
    Contact: 540-288-1335 
    Grade Level: Pre-K - 9th
    Availability: Nationally 

  • Google in Education
    Their education initiatives focus on three key areas: Making learning magical; Empowering innovative communities; Building a foundation of technology and access. 
    Contact: N/A
    Grades: K-12th
    Availability: Nationally 

  • iSTEM After School Enrichment Program
    iSTEM Scholars Program is an initiative created in 2011 from a vision that every youth should have the ability to access opportunities and supports needed for a successful transition to a STEM related major or career. The program uses an intensive, immersive consulting model. Instructors, tutors and students closely collaborate to spark significant, measurable transformations in student performance.
    Contact: Furqan Haq -iSTEM Project Manager 
    Phone: 323-249-5707
    Grades: Various
    Availability: California

  • Kids Do Ecology
    The original focus of the KDE program was the development of the web site to teach elementary school students about ecology, experiments, and use of data. The KDE web is frequently reviewed and recommended, and continues to be heavily used in the United States and abroad.
    Contact: kids@nceas.ucsb.edu Phone: 805-892-2500 
    Grade Level: 4th-6th
    Availability: Nationally

  • MESA Schools Program - (Math Engineering Science Achievement)
    The MSP assists students at middle and senior high schools (and some elementary schools) so they excel in math and science and become competitively eligible for academically rigorous colleges and universities. The MSP partners with teachers, administrators, school district officials, schools and industry representatives to provide quality academic enrichment . Student selection and services are implemented through a collaboration involving teachers at participating schools and personnel from local MESA centers.
    Contact: 510-987-9337
    Grade Level: 6th-12th
    Availability: California

  • Museum of Science +Industry Chicago Online Science
    We invite you to interact with our exclusive online content. We hope you'll be inspired to share your inventive genius with others!
    Contact: contact@msichicago.org Phone: 773-684-1414
    Grade Level: Various
    Availability: Nationally

  • NOVA Online 
    On this Web site, you can test your engineering skills by trying to match the right bridge to the right location.
    Contact: novabeta@wgbh.org 
    Grade Level: Not listed
    Availability: Nationally 

  • Science & Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
    The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) provides an opportunity for students to participate in research at a Department of Navy (DoN) laboratory during the summer.  The goals of SEAP are to encourage participating students to pursue science and engineering careers, to further their education via mentoring by laboratory personnel and their participation in research, and to make them aware of DoN research and technology efforts, which can lead to employment within the DoN.
    Contact: seap@asee.org
    Grade Level: 9th-12th
    Availability: MD, FL, TX, CA, DC, MS, CT, MS, VA, IN, PA, RI, SC, AZ and CO

  • S.T.E.M. Booklist
    "To succeed in this new information-based and highly technological society, all students need to develop their capabilities in STEM to levels much beyond what was considered acceptable in the past... Strengthening STEM education across the Nation is critical to maintaining a high quality of life for our citizens and ensuring that Americans remain competitive in international science and technology. Public awareness and action are critical to addressing this crisis."  (from A National Action Plan for Addressing the Critical Needs of the U.S. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education System) 
    Contact: N/A
    Grade Level: 5th-12th
    Availability: Nationally

  • STEM-UP
    This STEM-Up© pilot initiative will take a community by community approach. In the Boyle Heights area of East Los Angeles, it will connect 80,000 residents to the surrounding STEM Community, consisting of institutions of higher learning, government agencies, corporations and other organizations.
    Contact: Monica Villafaña, Esq. -  Director - mvillafana@greatmindsinstem.org 
    Address: Great Minds in STEM |  3900 Whiteside Street |  Los Angeles, CA 90063
    Phone:  323-262-0997
    Grade Level: Various
    Availability: Nationally 

     

    NASA PROGRAMS

  • Dropping In a Microgravity Environment
    DIME & WING are components of a NASA competition allowing teams to design and build a science experiment that will then be performed in a NASA microgravity drop tower facility. This competition is a project-oriented activity that lasts one school year for the selected teams. A DIME team will be comprised of high-school-aged students, while a WING team will be made up of students in grades 5-8. Teams may be formed from groups such as a science class, a combination of classes, a science club, a Scout troop or simply a bunch of friends. Each team, whether DIME or WING, must have an adult advisor, such as a teacher, parent or technical consultant.
    Contact: nancy.r.hall@nasa.gov
    Phone: 216-433-5643
    Grade Level: 5th-12th
    Availability: Nationally

  • FIRST Robotics
    FIRST, is a nonprofit organization that brings together an alliance of business, education and government organizations through innovative programs to inspire today's youth in the areas of science, engineering and technology. Many major American corporations, government organizations and universities play an important role in this national engineering competition, joining student teams as they build their robots. The professional participants provide insider know-how on how to brainstorm ideas, design devices and put them to the test. Robots, created by each team, compete with other robots in two-minute contests. Regional competitions are held at various sites across the United States. Participating teams may go on to a national championship that caps each year's robot-building race.
    Contact: drew.r.price@nasa.gov
    Phone: 650-604-1924
    Grade Level: 9th-12th
    Availability: Nationally

  • INSPIRE
    The Interdisciplinary National Science Project Incorporating Research and Education Experience, or INSPIRE, is a multitier year-round project designed for students in ninth to 12th grade who are interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, education and careers.
    Contact: steven.h.chance@nasa.gov
    Grade Level: 9th-12th
    Availability: Nationally

  • Science, Engineering, Mathematics and Aerospace Academy
    The NASA Science Engineering Mathematics and Aerospace Academy, or SEMAA, is a national, innovative project designed to increase participation and retention of historically underrepresented K-12 youth in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM.
    Contact: GRC-SEMAA@mail.nasa.gov
    Phone: 216-433-6656
    Grade Level: K-12th
    Availability: CA, FL, GA, IN, MD, MI, NM, NY, NC, OH, SD, TN, TX, VA and WV

  • Zero Robotics
    "Zero Robotics" is a robotics programming competition where the robots are SPHERES satellites inside the International Space Station. The competition starts online, where teams compete to solve an annual challenge guided by mentors. Participants can create, edit, share, save, simulate and submit code, all from a web browser. After several phases of virtual competition, finalists are selected to compete in a live championship aboard the ISS. An astronaut will conduct the championship competition in microgravity with a live broadcast!
    Contact: zerorobotics@mit.edu
    Grade Level: 9th-12th
    Availability: Nationally

 

    FOR GIRLS
  • Engineer Girl
    The EngineerGirl website is a service of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE). It grew out of the work of the Committee on the Diversity of the Engineering Workforce, and was launched in February of 2001. The EngineerGirl website is part of an NAE project to bring national attention to the opportunity that engineering represents to all people at any age, but particularly to women and girls. Bright, energetic girls from all around United States and Canada helped the NAE with the initial development of this site by serving on the Girls Advisory Board. The ongoing work of the site is overseen by the EngineerGirl Steering Committee. and we owe our continued existence to the generous support of our sponsors.
    Contact: engineergirl@nae.edu
    Grades: 6th - 8th
    Availability: Nationally
  • Engineer Your Life
    What's your idea of a dream job? Check out www.EngineerYourLife.org to learn about the many cool jobs in engineering, the inspiring experiences of women engineers, what it's like to be a student in an engineering program, and how you can get started on this exciting career path.
    Contact: No direct contact information is available, however linking permissions/guidelines are directly available on the site.
    Grades: 9th - 12th
    Availability: Nationally
  • Girl Scouts of the USA
    Girls push boundaries, test limits, and look at the world around them with inquisitive eyes. They're natural scientists! Girl Scouts introduces girls of every age to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) activities that are relevant to everyday life. Whether they're discovering how a car's engine runs, becoming math whizzes, or learning about careers in STEM fields, girls are moving forward into the future. They can host science fairs, design Web sites, plan for space exploration, visit geological sites and more.
    Contact: Girl Scouts of the USA 
    Phone: 800-478-7248
    Grades: 
    Availability: Nationally 
  • Girl Start
    Girlstart's mission is to empower girls in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Founded in Austin, Texas, in 1997, Girlstart is one of the few community-based informal education programs in the nation specifically dedicated to empowering and equipping K–12 girls in STEM. Girlstart develops and implements a range of innovative, research-based education and mentorship programs designed to promote girls’ early engagement and academic success in STEM, encourage postsecondary aspirations and persistence in the STEM pipeline among women and other under-represented groups, and develop a diverse STEM workforce for the 21st century.
    Contact: info@girlstart.org      
    Phone:  512-916-4775 x21
    Grades: K-12th 
    Availability: Austin, TX
  • NASA GIRLS Virtual Mentoring Program
    NASA G.I.R.L.S (Giving Initiative and Relevance to Learning Science) is a virtual mentoring program using commercially available video chat programs to pair Women @NASA mentors with a young girl anywhere in the country. 
    Contact: Mamta Patel Nagaraja                         
    Email:  hq-women@nasa.gov
    Grades: 5th - 8th


For Educators
  • How to Smile
    SMILE is a national partnership among science and technology centers, museums, community-based organizations, and out-of-school educators. We are dedicated to making science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) exciting and engaging for all learners. Our organizations are resource hubs for educational programs that involve people of all ages and backgrounds. 
    Contact: questions@howtosmile.org 
    Grades: Pre-K - 12th
    Availability: Nationally

  • NASA Explorer Schools
    The NASA Explorer Schools Project is NASA's classroom-based gateway for middle and high school students (grades 4-12) that provide authentic learning experiences designed around NASA's unique missions while promoting student engagement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics based on NASA's resources.   NES focuses on student opportunities, giving students a sense of relevance and involvement by linking STEM classroom topics to real-world NASA activities that inspire middle and high school students' interest in STEM disciplines. Through partnerships with national educational organizations and use of best educational practices, the NES project hopes to inspire students to participate in NASA missions and develop their aptitudes in STEM.
    Contact: robert.f.lasalvia@nasa.gov  
    Phone: 216-433-8981
    Grades: Educators 4th - 12th
    Availability: Nationally

  • NASA Innovations in Climate Education
    NASA Innovations in Climate Education, or NICE, is designed to improve the quality of the nation’s STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education and enhance students’ and teachers’ literacy about global climate and Earth system change, from elementary grades to lifelong learners. The project is motivated by recommendations made in the National Research Council report "Earth Science and Applications from Space: National Imperatives for the Next Decade and Beyond." This Earth decadal study identifies responding to our changing planet as one of the greatest and most important intellectual challenges facing humanity. The study specifies that both the acquisition of new knowledge about the Earth system and the use of Earth observation data are equally important in meeting the complex challenges of global change.
    Contact: Sharon.S.Welch@nasa.gov   
    Phone: 757-864-6611
    Grades: Educators K - 12th
    Availability: Nationally
  • PBS Teachers STEM Education Resource Center
    PBS is well known for science series such as NOVA , NATURE and SID THE SCIENCE KID. PBS Teachers offers hundreds of standards-based, online resources designed to help teachers promote understanding of science concepts and development of hands-on science skills.
    Contact: http://www.pbs.org/teachers/feedback.html 
    Grades: Pre-K - 12th
    Availability: Nationally
  • Summer of Innovation
    The Summer of Innovation is designed to foster the high-quality engagement of students in summer and after-school programming. NASA aims to assist schools and organizations to inspire and support youth by involving them in exciting and challenging learning opportunities centered on NASA’s unique mission of research and discovery.
    Contact: terri.d.rodgers@nasa.gov,  priscilla.a.mobley@nasa.gov
    Phone: 216-433-8740 Phone: 216-433-8333
    Grades: Educators 4th - 9th
    Availability: Nationally
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Nationsl Engineer Week Activities
  • Discover E
    The National Engineers Week Foundation created Discover-e as part of its on-going mission to encourage youth to explore potential careers and opportunities in engineering. Discover-e connects you to engineering related resources in your area through maps, event calendars, event searches and an engineer network.
    Contact: info@eweek.org
    Phone: 703-684-2852
    Grades: Pre-K - 12th
    Availability: Nationally

  • Discover Engineering Family Day
    The annual Discover Engineering Family Day is enjoyed by over six thousand visitors to the National Building Museum in Washington DC every February. The festival features dozens of hands-on activities provided by local engineering chapters and national organizations. Every year at the start of Engineers Week, the impressive main hall of the National Building Museum is taken over by thousands of children of all ages experiencing the excitement of engineering, not to mention gumdrops, toothpicks, and slime.
    Contact: Information@EWEEKDCFAMILYDAY.ORG
    Grades: Pre-K - 12th
    Availability: Washington, DC
  • Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day
    Each year “Girl Day” gives thousands of women engineers, with support from their male counterparts, the chance to directly mentor more than one million girls and young women in grades K through12. This section of the www.eweek.org website has been translated into Spanish. Girl Day celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2011. (2001-2011).
    Contact: eweek@nspe.org
    Grades: Pre-K - 12thAvailability: Nationally 

    Summer Programs
  • iEngineer
    iEngineer@ at UMD is a summer STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) camp for rising 4th and 5th grade students. This one-week commuter day camp is an exciting opportunity for girls and boys to learn more about STEM through a variety of fun, hands-on activities!
    Contact: Denise Park 
    Email: park@umd.edu                
    Phone: 301-405-9434
    Grades: Rising 4th and 5th 
    Availability: University of Maryland

  • S.P.I.C.E. Camp
    S.P.I.C.E. Camp is a week long commuter program for young women who will be entering the 9th and 10th grade next fall and would like to learn more about engineering. Students are introduced to the world of engineering through projects, tours, and guest speakers. Each activity is intended to highlight the relevance of engineering in our daily life and how engineering can work to improve societal problems. All activities will be supervised by current engineering students and conducted in a safe learning environment at the University of Maryland, College Park. 
    Contact: Mr. Bruk Berhane - Center for Minorities in Science and Engineering
    Email: bberhane@umd.edu
    Phone: 301-405-8106
    Ms. Bria McElroy - Women in Engineering Program
    Email: bmcelroy@umd.edu
    Phone: 301-405-3283
    Grades: Young women entering grades 9th & 10th
    Availability: University of Maryland
  • Pre-Engineering Summer Camps
    A camp directory that lists summer camps for K-12 students in engineering throughout the United States and Canada that are and were previously offered. The directory lists camps that have been hosted by Universities and research centers in the past. Please note that all camps may not be offered every year and that new camps and programs are currently being added.
    Grades: Various
    Contact: questions@engineeringedu.com
    Availability: Nationally
  • Stepping Stones to Your Future
    Stepping Stones to your future is an annual summer engineering camp for rising 7th and 8th graders, offered by the University of Maryland, College Park. This one-week commuter camp is an excellent opportunity for young men and women who are interested in science and engineering to work with current University of Maryland students on a variety of fun and hands-on engineering activities.
    Contact: Elizabeth Remmers                                   
    Email:  eremmers@umd.edu                
    Phone: 301-405-0315 
    Grades: Rising 7th and 8th
    Availability: University of Maryland