Fraser’s Mathematics Solutions
STEAM Summer Program
Over the past 10 years, jobs in the STEM field are growing three times faster than jobs in the non-STEM fields. According to the U.S Department of Commerce, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics workers play a key role in the sustained growth and stability of the U.S economy and are a vital factor in helping the U.S win the future. While people of color and women make up 31% and 47% of the labor force in the United States respectively, they only comprise of 16% and 27% of careers in the STEM field. By the 8th grade, students, especially those of color and girls, lose interest and feel less confident in STEM because of social stereotypes and their own fear of making mistakes.
The FMS STEAM Summer Program exists to provide students with exposure to grade-appropriate STEM Illumination Labs, with a natural infusion of the Arts. Early access to authentic STEAM experiences will allow students to become comfortable with computational and critical thinking- two skills needed to excel in their future careers – especially for jobs that do not yet exist. Our program will stimulate and support students from ages 7-16 with week-long sessions to develop their critical thinking abilities while driving into culturally relevant, current, and real-world STEAM and computer science experiences. Students will be engaged throughout the summer so that they are able to take those skills back to school with them in the fall.
Examples of activities that students will be engaged in include but are not limited to:
Coding
3D Printing
Museum Visits
Engineering Site Visits
STEM Experiments
Newark watershed science and leadership academy
The Newark Watershed Science and Leadership Academy (NWSLA), created by the City of Newark, the Newark Department of Water and Sewer Utilities and in collaboration with Fraser’s Mathematics Solutions, is a comprehensive program designed to encourage and empower students to take more of an active role in their community while learning how to embrace and command various fields of science.
A watershed is an area of land from which all runoff drains, or ‘sheds’ to the same river, lake or other body of water. Newark’s watershed is located at 223 Echo Lake Rd. Newfoundland, NJ.
Students take monthly visits to the watershed where they complete five modules that include leadership, theory, and application components. Students who successfully complete the program are presented with a certificate as Young Scientific Leaders of Tomorrow during the closing ceremony. By the end of the program students will have first hand knowledge of the improvements to the city’s water and infrastructure.
The City of Newark’s Watershed was:
- purchased by the city in 1900
- has about 35,000 acres of open space
- is located in 6 separated municipalities
- is made up of 5 reservoirs
- has an average reservoir size of 396 acres wide and is 43 feet deep
- In 2019, the NWSLA was created by Tiffany Stewart, the Assistant Director and Attorney of The Department of Water & Sewer Utilities.
- The program continues to grow and has already reached/helped over 663 students within the Newark area.
- The program benefits students on various learning levels from 5th to 11th grade
- After program completion, students can be admitted to a summer internship program with the Newark Water Department.