Over 15 foster youth and their Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Volunteers joined our staff for an interactive science explorer event, Young Scientist STEM Fest. The enriching experiments and activities took place at our Milpitas office on Saturday, January 21, 2023.
With kid-friendly music filling the office, our children checked in at our registration table with staff where they briefly gave instructions on the setup and each science station. Each station was staffed with a CASA Specialist to give instructions on the specific experiment.
The CASAs and kids wandered through age-appropriate experiments that varied from making ice cream, to creating chromatography t-shirts and personal lava lamps. Each station had a different scientific lesson and facts from kinetic energy to a chain reaction.
During the event, kids were challenged to work in groups to collaborate and build a marshmallow spaghetti tower where the groups who build a strong tower that met the challenge received prizes. Following a fun afternoon of learning, the kids had nutritional snacks and socialized. Once everyone had a bite to eat, the kids received STEM kits and slime-making kits. The event concluded with CASAs and the kids exploring the CASA Store, a dedicated room in the office filled with free items for our youth.
Foster kids statistically test poorer academic skills, especially in STEM fields. Providing children in foster care the opportunities and access to STEM-related activities nurtures their interest in the field while facilitating learning as a fun event. By the end of the day, the kids learned basic experiments they can do at home while growing enthusiasm for science.
If you have any questions or are interested in sponsoring a youth-related event, please get in touch with our development department at development@childadvocatessv.org.
