Destination Exploration brings STEM into homes with online outreach activities

Recognizing the need for engaging young minds with STEM lessons has never been greater, the University of Lethbridge’s Destination Exploration (DE) community outreach program has taken its delivery online with the launch of At Home with Destination Exploration.

The DE program was just getting used to its new outreach space in Science Commons when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the University to shift its operations to a remote delivery model. Destination Exploration was quick to adapt to a new way of reaching its audience and launched At Home with Destination Exploration on March 30. Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) activities are now delivered to an even wider audience and designed to excite the entire family.

“We are thrilled to engage with our STEM community (from big to small) in this new format,” says Valerie Archibald, the director of youth outreach for Destination Exploration. “Our day-to-day lives may look different, but we know that STEM hasn’t changed. Together, we can explore new ideas, create new projects and join others in our love of science, technology, engineering and math.”

Destination Exploration has always been about empowering and inspiring youth, parents and teachers to experience and learn about STEM in their lives. Just because many of us are now at home, doesn’t mean that has to change. The blog-style webpage will be filled with resources, challenges, activities and helpful hints on how to keep up with STEM at home. Whether it’s catching up on a science unit, learning a skill, making family time away from the tv and screens or just trying something new, Destination Exploration has it covered. They will post three times per week with fun ways to pass the time.

“The best part of STEM is that there is creativity in all of it. It’s not just following a procedure or working to check a box. It challenges us to think, explore and find ways to improve,” adds Elder, the program coordinator for DE.

She will be managing this new resource and is enthusiastic about the initiative.

“I am so excited to engage with everyone in this new format. My hope is that it brings families together to learn about all the neat STEM-related things we interact with every day, but don’t notice or realize,” says Elder. “What I’m going to miss is all of the “ah ha!” moments people get when something clicks. I hope everyone shares what they get up to because that’s my favourite part of all this and really makes my day.”

Join Destination Exploration as they explore STEM at home by visiting uleth.ca/destination-exploration/at-home, following @ULethbridgeDE and the hashtag #AtHomewithDE, or checking Facebook.