Next Steps
These programs recommended by IWAK subjects were created to help today's kids find themselves, find their paths, and move forward with confidence.
AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC
Find out about Aquarium of the Pacific programs for young people here.
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BLACK ROCK FOREST
Angie's study site, Black Rock Forest, in New York State, hosts field trips and other programs for kids in nearby cities and towns. To find out more, click here. And check parks in your own area for similar experiences, free to kids.
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB
One-on-one mentorships to help young people succeed in school and life. Find out more here.
FOOD EMPOWERMENT PROJECT'S FIGHT FOR THE OCEAN PROJECT
Food is power! Preserving ocean species and their environment is key. Find out more here.
4-H
America's largest youth development organization, providing mentorship and skills for future leaders. 4-H: Dawn Wright’s ESRI Education Team works with them on GIS, but the organization supports many kids through agriculture and related science. Find it here.
Keri Nelson | Angelica Patterson | Dawn Wright
Future of Stem Scholars Initiative (FOSSI) American Chemistry Council program of scholarships for STEM students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Learn more here.
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GEOMENTOR
The American Association of Geographers hosts a geomentoring program that matches students and schools with professional geographers to work on ARC GIS projects. The GeoMentor network was set up to help young people use Geographic Information Systems. Information for teachers here.
GIRL SCOUTS OF AMERICA
Leadership, community, and skills for girls. Click here.
Angelica Patterson | Dawn Wright
IN SEARCH OF EARTH'S SECRETS TRAVELING EXHIBIT
The International Ocean Discovery Program sends out a publicity tour in the shape of a flock of kiosks used to explain the science that takes place aboard the JR, and a giant inflatable ship. On site wherever the exhibit travels, docents are brought on board to introduce the work of this group and their ship to the public. Learn about the traveling exhibit In Search of Earth's Secrets and its docent program here.
Ian Cortez | Dawn Wright | Karen Romano Young | Marta Torres | Lisa D. White | Chang Liu
KAMP KIMCHEE
This is a Minnesota day camp for kids adopted from Korea. Learn more here.
​Keri Nelson
NOT ALONE NOTES
Morgan Rondinelli and Molly Fishback founded this organization to send notes, information, and encouragement to people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Click here for more.
Morgan Rondinelli | Molly Fishback
OCEAN INSTITUTE OF DANA POINT
Ocean Institute at Dana Point (California) is a source for oceanography, biology, geology, geography, and more. Summer camp, too. Learn about it here.
PROJECT BLUE
Project Blue: Alta Sea, Port of Los Angeles: Find our more about it here.
REGERON ISEF
Regeron ISEF: Dawn Wright recommends the Society for Science's science fair. More here.
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Bright Stars Training as Research Scientists
FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
ESRI
Dawn Wright’s organization, ESRI, pioneered ARC GIS, software young people are learning to use to sandwich information they gather "on the ground" about how their cities and towns operate into maps. This creates towers of information that are being used to answer questions about such things as natural disasters, the spread of Covid-19, and racial equality. Read stories about this and learn how to get involved here.
FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA
This organization is devoted to fostering leadership in the science and business of agriculture. Find out more here.
LETTERS TO A PRE-SCIENTIST
Melinda Martinez takes part in the program Letters to a Pre-Scientist, which matches middle school and high school kids with scientists for one-on-one communications. Get involved -- and get letters -- here.
MODEL UNITED NATIONS
Shaina also was active in the nearly a century-old program, which involves students from 130 U.N. member countries in learning about global issues. Find out more here.
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OCEAN EXPLORATION TRUST/NAUTILUS LIVE
Pete often works aboard E/V Nautilus, a science exploration ship. High school students, undergraduates, early career, and advanced scientists are part of Nautilus's Corps of Explorers, which includes remote-operated vehicle pilots in training, videographers-in-training, and other roles for young people. Click here for more information.
Peter Girguis | Melinda Martinez | Karen Romano Young
SCIENCE OLYMPIAD
Team up and take on a challenge. Find out more here.
STAMP OF APPROVAL
Lisa D. White shared the work of Jacob Vazquez, a teen artist who designed a U.S. postage stamp in her honor, appreciating his talent and the initiative he showed in sending it to her. (Note, it's not an official postage stamp.) The photograph is by Thea Boodhoo.
STUDENT CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION
This organization sponsors groups of students who work in national parks and public lands as volunteers. Get community service hours, spend time in the wilderness, hike and camp, learn leadership, trailbuilding, and use skills, social skills, and more. Return as a leader, as George did. CLICK here.
TRANSFORM YOUR WORLD
Learn about international, national, and regional Youth Climate Summits and other ways that teens can get involved in learning, practice, policy, and activism. Find out more here.
YOUTH CLIMATE SAVE
This organization involves animals, agriculture, and the environment. Learn more here.
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GenSea
Global community of young ocean advocates united for networking, learning, and collective action to protect and restore our ocean planet. GenSea
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Teen Science Café Network
Find your people and your opportunities here.
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Joint SCIENCE EDUCATION PROJECT (JSEP)
International collaboration between Greenland, the U.S., and Denmark to educate and inspire the next generation of polar and STEAM professionals. High school and university students and teachers.JSEP
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right Stars Training as Research Scientists
Burroughs Wellcome Diversity-in-science Fund for
Financing for graduate students and postdocs. Learn more here.
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CHANGE TO CHILL
Chang Liu struggled to balance activity with studies. Now, working on a ship, he maintains his efficiency by balancing work and physical activity. Change to Chill offers similar recommendations for athletes trying to stay focused on work. Learn more here.
Chang Liu
INTERNSHIPS​
Lisa D. White credits three summers' worth of internships with the U.S. Geological Survey for the experiences that led her into paleontology. Other scientists recall an internship (or two) as turning points in helping them find their way, including finding mentors and programs.
Lisa D. White | Brandon Enalls | Melinda Martinez
LGBTQ+ PROGRAMS
These vary per college campus.
MBARI SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute’s Summer Internship Program provides an opportunity for talented college students (undergraduate and graduate) and educators to come to MBARI for a period of 10 weeks to work on a specific project under MBARI staff supervision. While the focus of the MBARI internship is on the intern’s professional development—learning research techniques and improving communication and collaboration skills—interns also participate in a variety of activities which afford them the opportunity to explore California’s central coast and to establish a sense of camaraderie with their fellow interns. These activities may include: assisting with MBARI’s annual open house event; a “behind the scenes” tour of the Monterey Bay Aquarium; and a kayaking trip on Elkhorn Slough. Click here.
MULTICULTURAL STUDENT SUMMER LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
This program, featured on many university campuses, gives incoming freshmen a head start and pairs them with upperclassmen mentors. Find out more here.
OCEAN EXPLORATION TRUST/NAUTILUS LIVE
Pete often works aboard E/V Nautilus, a science exploration ship. High school students, undergraduates, early career, and advanced scientists are part of Nautilus's Corps of Explorers, which includes remote-operated vehicle pilots in training, videographers-in-training, and other roles for young people. Click here for more information.
Peter Girguis | Melinda Martinez | Karen Romano Young
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE FOR UNDERGRADUATES (REU)
Many college campuses feature these programs.
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Joint SCIENCE EDUCATION PROJECT (JSEP)
International collaboration between Greenland, the U.S., and Denmark to educate and inspire the next generation of polar and STEAM professionals. High school and university students and teachers.JSEP
College and
Graduate
STUDENTS
AGE 21 AND OLDER
ECOLOG
Melinda Martinez joined the Ecological Society of America's (Ecolog) in order to get the news about her field, including openings in scientists' labs. Learn more about Ecology here.
OCEAN EXPLORATION TRUST/NAUTILUS LIVE
Pete often works aboard E/V Nautilus, a science exploration ship. High school students, undergraduates, early career, and advanced scientists are part of Nautilus's Corps of Explorers, which includes remote-operated vehicle pilots in training, videographers-in-training, and other roles for young people. Click here for more information.
Peter Girguis | Melinda Martinez | Karen Romano Young
POLAR IMPACTS
Learn about Polar Impacts/Minorities in Polar Science, the organization that Prem Gill founded, here.
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Joint SCIENCE EDUCATION PROJECT (JSEP)
International collaboration between Greenland, the U.S., and Denmark to educate and inspire the next generation of polar and STEAM professionals. High school and university students and teachers.JSEP
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UNITED STATES ANTARCTIC PROGRAM
Antarctica is dedicated to scientific research, but it takes many careers besides science careers to get the big job done. People 21 and older can apply to work at one of the three U.S. stations in cooking and cleaning jobs, as administrators or drivers, as carpenters or electricians, and much more. Find our more here.
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Project Ice
The American Meteorological Society is now accepting applications from K-12 teachers to participate in its summer 2024 Project Ice teacher professional development course, offered as part of the NSF/Oregon State University (OSU)-led Center for Oldest Ice Exploration (COLDEX). Teachers will be selected competitively from across the country, with focus on those impacting underserved students. Participants will engage in a graduate-level, multi-week hybrid course in paleoclimatology and ice core science that includes a workshop at OSU in Corvallis, OR, where they will engage with COLDEX scientists and visit the OSU ice core lab and Marine Geology Repository. Travel, lodging, meals, and tuition will be provided for about 22 selected teachers. The online portion of the course runs from May 28 - June 22, 2024, with the on-site residence experience from June 23-29. For more information and to apply, visit https://www.ametsoc.org/index.cfm/ams/education-careers/education-program/k-12-teachers/project-ice/how-to-apply/. The application deadline is November 30, 2023. For more information, please contact Beth Mills at bmills@ametsoc.org.
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SCHOLARSHIPS
Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Grants, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Learn more about available scholarships and grants here.
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