Enhancing Access to High School Summer STEM Programs Through Proactive Planning and Budgeting.
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| Title: | Enhancing Access to High School Summer STEM Programs Through Proactive Planning and Budgeting. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Solomon, Kelsey J.1 (AUTHOR), Cross, Denzell A.2 (AUTHOR), Pendergast, Crystal L.3 (AUTHOR), McFarland, Madison D.3 (AUTHOR), Capps, Krista A.3 (AUTHOR) kcapps@uga.edu |
| Source: | Ecology & Evolution (20457758). Feb2026, Vol. 16 Issue 2, p1-10. 10p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Environmental education, Budget, Participation, STEM education, High school students, Educational equalization, Summer schools |
| Abstract: | Summer programs are a powerful educational tool for increasing student interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers. However, barriers such as lack of awareness, transportation challenges, and financial constraints can hinder participation. This study examines Water Dawgs, a paid summer initiative designed to provide high school students with hands‐on freshwater science education while ensuring accessibility for all interested students. Using Water Dawgs as a case study, we explore how proactive planning and budgeting can help mitigate these participation barriers. Water Dawgs successfully engaged 16 participants, and survey results indicate increased self‐efficacy in STEM as well as greater awareness of how environmental science impacts daily life and career opportunities. We identify five key barriers—information gaps, resource deficiencies, transportation disparities, food insecurity, and economic limitations—and offer practical recommendations for addressing them through proactive planning and budgeting of direct costs. Strategies include planning and engagement well in advance of the event, allocating direct expenditures to compensate teacher partners and participants for their work, providing all necessary supplies for both classroom and field activities, offering transportation options for all participants, and ensuring access to meals. Our case study highlights the importance of thoughtful program planning and budget development that fully accounts for direct costs associated with removing barriers, making STEM summer programs an option for all interested students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Ecology & Evolution (20457758) is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | GreenFILE |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: 8gh DbLabel: GreenFILE An: 194548545 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Enhancing Access to High School Summer STEM Programs Through Proactive Planning and Budgeting. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Solomon%2C+Kelsey+J%2E%22">Solomon, Kelsey J.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Cross%2C+Denzell+A%2E%22">Cross, Denzell A.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Pendergast%2C+Crystal+L%2E%22">Pendergast, Crystal L.</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22McFarland%2C+Madison+D%2E%22">McFarland, Madison D.</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Capps%2C+Krista+A%2E%22">Capps, Krista A.</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> kcapps@uga.edu</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Ecology+%26+Evolution+%2820457758%29%22">Ecology & Evolution (20457758)</searchLink>. Feb2026, Vol. 16 Issue 2, p1-10. 10p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Environmental+education%22">Environmental education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Budget%22">Budget</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Participation%22">Participation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22STEM+education%22">STEM education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22High+school+students%22">High school students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+equalization%22">Educational equalization</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Summer+schools%22">Summer schools</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Summer programs are a powerful educational tool for increasing student interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers. However, barriers such as lack of awareness, transportation challenges, and financial constraints can hinder participation. This study examines Water Dawgs, a paid summer initiative designed to provide high school students with hands‐on freshwater science education while ensuring accessibility for all interested students. Using Water Dawgs as a case study, we explore how proactive planning and budgeting can help mitigate these participation barriers. Water Dawgs successfully engaged 16 participants, and survey results indicate increased self‐efficacy in STEM as well as greater awareness of how environmental science impacts daily life and career opportunities. We identify five key barriers—information gaps, resource deficiencies, transportation disparities, food insecurity, and economic limitations—and offer practical recommendations for addressing them through proactive planning and budgeting of direct costs. Strategies include planning and engagement well in advance of the event, allocating direct expenditures to compensate teacher partners and participants for their work, providing all necessary supplies for both classroom and field activities, offering transportation options for all participants, and ensuring access to meals. Our case study highlights the importance of thoughtful program planning and budget development that fully accounts for direct costs associated with removing barriers, making STEM summer programs an option for all interested students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Ecology & Evolution (20457758) is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1002/ece3.73069 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 10 StartPage: 1 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Environmental education Type: general – SubjectFull: Budget Type: general – SubjectFull: Participation Type: general – SubjectFull: STEM education Type: general – SubjectFull: High school students Type: general – SubjectFull: Educational equalization Type: general – SubjectFull: Summer schools Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Enhancing Access to High School Summer STEM Programs Through Proactive Planning and Budgeting. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Solomon, Kelsey J. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Cross, Denzell A. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Pendergast, Crystal L. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: McFarland, Madison D. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Capps, Krista A. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 02 Text: Feb2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 20457758 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 16 – Type: issue Value: 2 Titles: – TitleFull: Ecology & Evolution (20457758) Type: main |
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