Where did the project take place?

• Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community 

What were the goals of the project?

• To inform the people how safe the water is within the community by measuring pH levels.

Please provide an overview of the project. Who and/or what did the project impact?

• The STEM Water Project would affect everyone living in the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian community and anyone using the water within the community. The youth hoped to bring great awareness to the community and the youth living here who use the water for many different things — such as having pets outside, watering plants, drinking from the faucet, and/or washing dirty clothes. The youth planned for this project to change the minds of others in the community to take better care of the water we have here. They wanted to help the community thrive on the water, and they wanted to share all the information they collected over time from different places that are most visited.  

Please share any quotes or statements from the youth about their work on the project and the impact it had on them and/or their community.

• The youth were all very excited to participate and collect data. While they collected data, they would talk with each other about the sites being tested. One youth said, “I hope it tests okay. We drink this water.”
• Another said, “That’s why we’re testing to see if any [results] come up different!” 

Where did the project take place?

• The peer mentors and mentees selected several parks in the Bakersfield community: Hart Memorial Park, Jastro Park, Beale Park, and the area around both E.L. Jack and Monica Armstrong Youth Center and Stockdale Club in Bakersfield, California. 

What were the goals of the project?

• The goal of the project was to teach mentors and mentees how pollution is affecting not only our planet but the animals as well.  Our goal was to make our community look better and feel safe by cleaning up parks and around our community. 

Please provide an overview of the project. Who and/or what did the project impact?

• As part of an environmental stewardship project, cleaning up the parks and area around the Club positively affected the community — particularly the STEM mentors and mentees. The environmental stewardship project educated our peer mentors and mentees on the issue of litter in our community, especially our community parks. It engaged them to take greater responsibility for improving their community. The peer mentors took the lead in selecting the areas of Bakersfield to focus their clean-up efforts. We received feedback from the community during the clean-ups that they loved seeing how our youth were helping make our parks and community feel better for others. 

Please share any quotes or statements from the youth about their work on the project and the impact it had on them and/or their community.

• Bobby B. (Peer Mentor) – “I now see why cleaning up our community can leave a positive impact on others and how one act of kindness can go a long way.”  
• Alaja G. (Peer Mentor) – “I realize that giving back is always the best way to go and that my future will always be bright here at the Boys & Girl’s Club of Kern County because we are always helping out others in our community.”  
• Semya (Peer Mentor) – “The cleaner it is, the better for the people around you.”  
• Noah (Mentee) – “We got to see others in our community help clean our parks.”  
• Christopher (Mentee) – “It was fun because I was able to do something positive with my friends.”  
• Brianna (Mentee) – “I got to experience helping the earth.”  
• Leeland (Mentee) – “I was able to help the environment in a positive way.”  
• Lea (Mentee) – “It was fun and interesting to see what people just throw on the floor.”  

Where did the project take place?

• The cat houses were built at the East Side Clubhouse over a series of days, but they are currently located in various areas of the community where we hope they will remain and be used for years to come. 

What were the goals of the project?

• The students’ main goal was to provide housing for feral cats in the Pueblo community. Additionally, they wanted to inform more of the community of the needs and presence of these animals. 

Please provide an overview of the project. Who and/or what did the project impact?

• This project was a continuation of a project that some of these students began through the Service-Learning Challenge in Destination Imagination. It was designed to help the feral cats throughout the Pueblo community by providing them with safe places to sleep that do not lead to them destroying community areas in their pursuit of shelter. This project was also used to teach new students about the project and the needs of our community and to create a few new community advocates.

Please share any quotes or statements from the youth about their work on the project and the impact it had on them and/or their community.

• “Working on these cat houses was an amazing experience. I learned many new skills during the project that I can use in the future. These cat houses are going to go to communities where the feral cats need shelter. I enjoyed doing this project and think it was a great success. I can’t wait to work on more projects in the future that can benefit the community.” — Sami O. 

Where did the project take place?

• Isabela, Puerto Rico

What were the goals of the project?

• The objective of the project was the integration of the kids in our Boys & Girls Club of Isabela to take care of the beaches in our community. Through this project, we intend to keep the beaches clean so we can have a safe environment for animals and people. Also, to encourage the importance of environmental conservation to kids. Due to this, the main focus was picking up trash at the beaches in Isabela, Puerto Rico.

Please provide an overview of the project. Who and/or what did the project impact?

• The project consisted of cleaning the beaches of the town of Isabela. The project intended to integrate the participants of STEM Mentoring and Keystone Club. Through this project, the town of Isabela, the marine animals, and the community’s tourism were impacted.

Please share any quotes or statements from the youth about their work on the project and the impact it had on them and/or their community.

• Aracelys: “Since the beginning, I always kept in mind that the project was going to positively impact our community because Isabela is a town known for its beautiful beaches. They needed and still need maintenance, but we at least contributed a little to their cleanliness and, at the same time, involved more youth.”
• Jeanielys: “The impact that the project had for me was achieving support from other youth and encouraging other groups to clean the beaches so we can help our community faster.”

¿Dónde se llevó a cabo el proyecto?

• Isabela, Puerto Rico

¿Cuáles eran los objetivos del proyecto?

• El objetivo del proyecto fue la integración de niños de nuestra casa Club de Isabela en el cuidado de las playas de la comunidad. Mediante el mismo se pretende mantener las playas limpias para tener un ambiente seguro para los animales y las persona. A su vez fomentar la importancia de la conservación del ambiente en los niños. Por ende el enfoque principal fue el recogido de basura de las playas de Isabela, Puerto Rico.

Proporcione una descripción general del proyecto. ¿Sobre a quién y qué impactó el proyecto?

• El proyecto consiste en la limpieza de playa del municipio de Isabela. El mismo pretende la integración de los participantes del grupo STEM Mentoring y Keystone Club. Mediante el proyecto se impactó a la comunidad isabelina, los animales marinos y el turismo del Municipio.

Comparta cualquier cita o declaración de los jóvenes sobre su trabajo en el proyecto y el impacto que tuvo en ellos y/o en su comunidad.

• Aracelys: “Desde un comienzo siempre tuve presente que el proyecto iba a impactar positivamente a mi comunidad ya que Isabela es un pueblo reconocido por sus hermosas playas. Necesitaban y necesitan mantenimiento, pero por medio de nosotros logramos contribuir un poquito a la limpieza y a su vez envolver a más jóvenes.”
• Jeanielys: “El impacto que tuvo el proyecto para mí fue lograr recibir apoyo de otros jóvenes y fomentar en otros grupos la limpieza de playas para así poder ayudar a nuestra comunidad más rápido.”

Where did the project take place?

• Outside in the back garden adjacent to our Boys & Girls Club. 

What were the goals of the project?

• As the monarch butterfly is an endangered species, the goal of this project is to provide a safe place for the butterflies to rest, eat, and lay their eggs. 

Please provide an overview of the project. Who and/or what did the project impact?

• The overview of this project is to help the butterflies through their migration process. We want to teach the kids about the life cycle of butterflies. We also want to teach them about caring for and cleaning butterfly eggs and caterpillars. The mentors from the STEM Mentoring program will also educate and supervise the kids who join the Club on the project, and we will also have butterfly activities to do after our outdoor sessions!

Please share any quotes or statements from the youth about their work on the project and the impact it had on them and/or their community.

• Lexi brought her little sister (a non Club member) to help! Their mom also watched them help dig up dirt and plant the pollinators. Other members are always eager to go outside and help. They even rolled their leggings up to “get dirty” and into the gardening session. They always love to help and water the plants. I can’t wait to see what they will do or say once the butterflies start laying their eggs and see the whole life cycle process. 

Where did the project take place?

• Various Boys & Girls Clubs across Snohomish County, including the Everett, Sultan, Monroe, and Cascade Clubs. 

What were the goals of the project?

• To introduce and/or reinforce good recycling habits throughout the Snohomish County Boys & Girls Clubs. 

Please provide an overview of the project. Who and/or what did the project impact?

• We contacted the Club sites within the Snohomish County Boys & Girls Clubs to see if they were currently recycling. We also asked whether they would begin a recycling program within their Club if they were to receive bins and information. We purchased bins for those Clubs that needed them and printed out some fun, informational packets. We brought the items to the Clubs that were open and able to participate. Some Clubs had no recycling services in their area. This project truly impacts all our communities by educating the youth and staff on how to be kinder to the environment and reducing the amount of waste headed to landfills. 

Please share any quotes or statements from the youth about their work on the project and the impact it had on them and/or their community.

• Esteban said, “I didn’t know that I couldn’t recycle pizza boxes if they had food on it, wow!” 
• Martin said, “I am going to tell my Mom to recycle more.” 
• McKayla: “I like the big blue bin.” 
• Tristan: “I like teaching the kids to help take care of the earth, it’s important.” 

Where did the project take place?

• At our Club site in Ozark, Alabama.

What were the goals of the project?

• To give monarch butterflies a safe place to lay eggs.

Please provide an overview of the project. Who and/or what did the project impact?

• Our project is a butterfly garden that not only the butterflies but also all our members can enjoy. This is a project that we started last year, and we wanted the project to grow. In this garden, our mentees have planted a variety of butterfly– friendly plants — including milkweed, which is a favorite of the monarch butterfly. The goal of this garden is to help the monarch population grow, as monarchs are an endangered species. 

Please share any quotes or statements from the youth about their work on the project and the impact it had on them and/or their community.

• “I had so much fun planting and learning about monarch butterflies when we did our butterfly garden project!” – Precious 
• “I think our butterfly garden is beautiful!” – Ava  
• “My favorite part of this project was getting to plant all the pretty plants in our garden.” – Reese  
• “My favorite part of the butterfly garden is watching the plants grow bigger” – Kelle 

Where did the project take place?

• The project took place at our Boys & Girls Club site in Blount County, Tennessee. 

What were the goals of the project?

• The project’s goal was to spread the mission of environmental education through continued mentorship and hands–on environmental activities. There was a heavy focus on literacy as well. 

Please provide an overview of the project. Who and/or what did the project impact?

• Our peer mentors were incredibly inspired by their trip last summer to the STEM Mentoring program’s Peer Mentor Leadership Academy and wanted to continue the mission of environmental education. The purpose of T.U.R.T.L.E Club is to continue the mentoring model of STEM Mentoring while also promoting a message of environmental stewardship. T.U.R.T.L.E stands for Teaching, Uniting, Reviving The Local Environment. The second big initiative that they’ve started at our Club is a collaboration with Discover Life in America (DLiA). DLiA is a small nonprofit that is working with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to catalog all living species. 

Please share any quotes or statements from the youth about their work on the project and the impact it had on them and/or their community.

• “Teaching kids younger than me definitely taught me a lesson in patience. It was really eye opening to see learning from a new perspective. I really enjoyed teaching about the environment and getting to do activities with kids in T.U.R.T.L.E Club.” – Sharon C.