Programs

  • Youth Science Education Programs

    YSI'S CORE PROGRAMS ARE SCHOOL AND GROUP PROGRAMS, SUMMER SCIENCE CAMPS, AND SCIENCE SAFARIS, TEACHING HANDS-ON, NATURE-BASED SCIENCE TO NEARLY 30,000 INDIVIDUALS PER YEAR. THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE INDIVIDUALS YSI TEACHES ARE SCHOOLCHILDREN (K-6) WHO ARE INTRODUCED TO YSI THROUGH ITS SCHOOL AND GROUP PROGRAMS. YSI IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING THESE PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE TO LOW-INCOME, ACADEMICALLY AT-RISK, AND UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS.YOUTH SCIENCE PROGRAMS-FOR OVER 70 YEARS, YSI HAS INSPIRED ENTHUSIASM FOR SCIENCE AND A LOVE OF LEARNING IN THE BAY AREA, DELIVERING IMPACTFUL HANDS-ON, NATURE-BASED SCIENCE PROGRAMS TO NEARLY 30,000 INDIVIDUALS ANNUALLY. AS SCIENCE PROGRAMS AND FUNDING HAVE BEEN HUGELY IMPACTED RECENTLY, YSI ADDRESSED THIS GAP THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING THAT MAKES SCIENCE RELEVANT AND MEMORABLE. PROGRAMS FEATURE NATURE WALKS AND HANDS-ON ENCOUNTERS WITH LIVE ANIMALS, FROM TOADS AND NEWTS TO BEARDED DRAGONS AND CHINCHILLASCORE PROGRAMS AND IMPACT-DURING THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR, YSI DELIVERED 894 HANDS-ON PROGRAMS SERVING 19,640 CHILDREN. FOR EXAMPLE, THE POPULAR "ANIMALS AND THEIR ADAPTATIONS" PROGRAM ALLOWS STUDENTS TO EXAMINE LIVE ANIMALS FROM VARIOUS TAXONOMIC GROUPS, LEARNING ABOUT DIET, HABITAT, ECOLOGICAL ROLES, AND ANIMAL STRUCTURES. THE SUMMER OF 2023 SAW 538 CAMPERS ATTENDING 709 SESSIONS AT VASONA PARK EXPLORING LOCAL ECOSYSTEMS, DEVELOPING NEW SKILLS, AND BUILDING CONFIDENCE, WITH A 95% FAMILY RECOMMENDATION RATE. PROGRAMS INCLUDED HERPETOLOGY, BIKE SAFETY TRAINING, WATER CYCLE STUDIES, AND ECOSYSTEM EXPLORATION. EDUCATIONAL CENTER AND COMMUNITY IMPACT-YSI MAINTAINS THREE SCIENCE AND NATURE CENTERS DELIVERING HANDS-ON, NATURE-BASED SCIENCE PROGRAMS: ALUM ROCK PARK, SAN JOSE; SANBORN COUNTY PARK, SARATOGA; AND VASONA LAKE COUNTY PARK, LOS GATOS. EACH SCIENCE AND NATURE CENTER HAS SPECIALIZED AND UNIQUE ARTIFACTS, COLLECTIONS, AND RESOURCES THAT CONNECT CHILDREN WITH NATURE WHILE TEACHING SCIENCE. THESE NATURE CENTERS WELCOMED APPROXIMATELY 15,000 VISITORS AND HOUSED OVER 70 ANIMAL AMBASSADORS. THE EXPERIENCE OF VISITING A YSI NATURE CENTER PROVIDES YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES CONNECTION TO NATURE THROUGH DIRECT INTERACTION WITH LOCAL PLANTS AND ANIMALS, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP DEVELOPMENT, AND LEARNING AND SCIENTIFIC PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS. COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY-YSI REMAINS DEDICATED TO SERVING LOW-INCOME, ACADEMICALLY AT-RISK, AND UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS. CURRENTLY, YSI PROVIDES 237 TITLE I SCHOOL PROGRAMS THAT SERVER 5,510 STUDENTS AT LOW OR NO COST. ADDITIONALLY, YSI HOSTED 18 FREE COMMUNITY EVENTS ATTENDED BY 129 FAMILIES, OFFERING ACTIVITIES LIKE SCIENCE SAFARIS, STORYTIMES, AND NATURE WALKS.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jun 1, 2023 – May 31, 2024
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $824K