So...What Else Do We Do?

Expeditions in Education is a 501c3 nonprofit organization providing innovative science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) training programs for educators, students, and families. Programs provide unique virtual and in person STEM opportunities connecting students and educators to national and global real-world issues. With a “STEM for all” vision, trainings include a variety of virtual classroom field trips for students and educators and in person onsite educator trainings in National Parks across the nation.
Goals and Program Impact
1. STEM for All
Engaging STEM activities make a difference in student learning; building critical thinking and the ability to innovate and preparing young learners to apply school-based information to real-world situations. Many schools lack the reserves for students and educators to access meaningful STEM challenges and professional development opportunities. Expeditions in Education provides virtual and in person STEM trainings, with most programs being offered free of charge.

• From 2018-2022, Expeditions in Education hosted 102 National Parks Expedition virtual field trips, which were viewed by thousands of classrooms across the nation, represented by 2.2 million students.
• On-demand STEM challenges reached more than 100,000 students in 2020 and over 200,000 students in 2021. STEM for ALL! 

​2. REAL WORLD Problem-Solving
Expeditions in Education creates short films in
National Parks across the country to bring the Park
alive for students, families, and educators. Each film
explores the Park and describes its history, place in
the world, and impact on its surroundings. National
Park sessions also include a STEM challenge
connected to one of the 17 United Nations
Sustainable Goals. The UN global goals, such as no
poverty, zero hunger, and education for all present
an opportunity for students and educators to develop
innovative solutions and change the world.
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3. RELATIONSHIPS and CAPACITY BUILDING
The “power up” of Expeditions in Education is in the opportunities for follow up and relationship building built into programs. Relationships between lead trainer Dacia Penley Jones (aka Dr. Drizzle) and educators, as well as relationships among educator cohort groups, are an integral part of Expeditions in Education programs. It is the ongoing conversations and emails, chats set up to touch base, and follow up activities for cohorts, which stretch single incident learning events into opportunities for long-term capacity building. 

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