Forty one rising 8th Graders participated in the District 7430 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics ) YEA (Youth Explorer Academy) at Albright College. The curriculum focused on “Astrobiology – Search for Life on Mars” developed with the SETI Education Staff and Albright SRI Educators. The Academy is part of the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) organized by Rotarians that provide intensive leadership experience to develop skills for youth as a leader while having fun and making connections. The goal of the 4-day 3-night hands-on learning experience: deliver an immersive STEM curriculum that sparks intellectual curiosity and a love of lifelong learning. STEM is critical to building a more secure future based on science, humanity, and understanding commensurate with Rotary International principles. Hatboro Rotary is proud to have sponsored 2 students to this program. Hayden Renk visited our club this morning and provided a look at what they did for those 4 days and 3 nights at Albright. The students were off to MARS...the Mission would take 9 months to get there, 3.5 years on MARS and 9 months to return. Divided into groups, each group had to work together to complete their tasks which required critical thinking, working together, problem solving, creativity, decision making, leadership, acceptance of failure and a host of other things. When asked what he liked best, Hayden replied, "the social aspect" and he likes "rocks and stuff". This is a link to photos taken during the Academy and provided to the students. http://photos.app.goo.gl/UC1vrBMUJVP7V15H9
