STEAM Summer Camp Ignites Young Minds

M.A. Dworkin

St. Croix - The first annual “Ridge to Reef” STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) Summer Camp that recently held its graduation ceremony at the Florence Williams Public Library in Christiansted, served a far greater purpose than just getting young people off the streets during summer vacation, it ignited the imagination and cultural heritage of a group of impressionable young minds that were able to see life in wondrous and exciting new ways.

The camp is the brainchild of Kai Nielsen, VI-EPSCoR’s Community Engagement Specialist. VI-EPSCoR is a subset of the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI). It was instituted with the help of Amy DeSorbo, Territorial Director for the Department of Planning and Natural Resources’ (DPNR) Division of Libraries, Archives and Museums (DLAM). Also, the Interns were financially supported by the V.I. Department of Labor’s Summer Youth Career Exploration Program.

"It was amazing to collaborate with Kai Nielsen - we always do strong programming together and I look forward to our next project," said Ms. DeSorbo.  

The excitement at the graduation and awards ceremony was contagious. These young people had undertaken a unique three-week program which focused on the Virgin Islands’ marine and terrestrial environments through a “Ridge to Reef” exploration, aiming to inspire the young participants to become stewards of their natural surroundings. 

“Everything went well. We had over 400 kids who went through the camp,” said Kalin Smith, one of the Interns from YEE who helped run the programs. “It was a fun time. I learned a lot from my peers, and from the kids as well.”

The camp, which ran daily from 9am to 2pm, was made possible through a collaborative effort by several key partners dedicated to fostering youth development and environmental awareness in the Territory. 

“It was awesome,” said Shamani Stanley, a YEE Intern. “I was able to learn about what other people go through, what cheers them up and what keeps them down.”

A significant contribution to the camp comes from the Virgin Islands Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Outreach and Research (VI-EPSCoR). VI-EPSCor provided several newly trained Youth Earth Explorers (YEE). These enthusiastic educators, aged 17-20, co-facilitated the five-day camp alongside the program team, bringing fresh perspectives and energy to the activities. VI-EPSCor also generously supplied all the hands-on materials needed for the “Ridge to Reef” STEAM exploration, ensuring a rich and interactive learning experience for every participant.

“I got to learn about other people’s personalities, what they like and what they don’t like,” said DLAM Intern Malia Richards. “It was fun to hang out with them and interact with the kids. I would do it again. I was the storyteller to the kids, reading out of the book ‘Take Me to the Library’ to them.”  

Jarvon Stout led the creative placemaking for the camp, decorating the dedicated space at the Florence Williams Public Library to immerse participants in the “Ridge to Reef” theme. 

Participants were able to delve into engaging curricula, including the Marine Debris Curriculum, Water Heroes Curriculum and its revisions, and both the Youth Ocean Explorers (YOE) Curriculum and the Youth Earth Explorers (YEE) Curriculum. These resources guided the campers through an understanding of the interconnectedness of our land and sea environments.

“Everything was very engaging for the kids. They asked a lot of questions,” said YEE Intern Jamal Smith.

The “Ridge to Reef” STEAM summer camp was no doubt a win-win for all involved. It was an unforgettable week of learning, exploration, and fun, empowering the next generation of environmental champions in the U.S. Virgin Islands.