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Hancock, Michigan – Copper Country Intermediate School District (CCISD) was awarded a $3,000 grant to purchase high-tech scientific equipment as a part of Keweenaw Community Foundation (KCF)’s Youth Advisory Council (YAC) Fall 2016 granting cycle.
In the fall of 2016, the CCISD was awarded a $3,000 grant from the Kellogg Youth Fund at Keweenaw Community Foundation to purchase high-tech scientific equipment to utilize in the outdoor science investigations field trip program for middle and high school classes in order to enhance student engagement and better prepare young people for the jobs of the future, which will require a clear understanding and use of a wide variety of technology. Since 2000, the Western U.P. Center for Science, Math and Environmental Education, in collaboration with the Michigan Tech Center for Science & Environmental Outreach, has lead an outdoor science investigation field trip program for K-12 students from schools in the four western counties of the Upper Peninsula. Two lessons have been developed for each grade, for fall, winter and spring. During the 2015-2016 school year, 5000 students participated in 225 field trips. Students from Houghton County schools comprised 60% of the participants, participating in 135 outdoor field trips.
Funds from the 2016 grant were used to purchase various scientific devices in order to introduce students to current and innovative technologies in the field. The use of the purchased technology has and will continue to prepare students for future careers in science and technology; improve students’ confidence and skills in using technology, and made science classes and field trips more exciting and engaging for students who previously were not excited about science careers. Six lessons were developed for use with the new technology and deployed into field trips and after school classes for a total or fifteen classes from April 2017 to October 2017. The technology purchased for the project included 4 iPad Air Tablets, 4 Micro Mobile Digital Microscopes, 4 Thermal Imaging Cameras, and 2 Trail Cameras.
The Western UP Center for Science, Mathematics and Environmental Education is a partnership of Michigan Tech’s Center for Science & Environmental Outreach and the CCISD and Gogebic-Ontonagon ISD comprising of 19 school districts. The Center’s mission is to enhance the teaching and learning of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, which it accomplishes using a place-based education approach. The Center’s programs serve 10,000-15,000 students, teachers, and community members annually.
For more information on giving or grant opportunities, please visit the KCF website (www.keweenawgives.org) or email mail@k-c-f.org. To be placed on KCF’s request for proposals list, please email your contact information to hailey@k-c-f.org. You will be notified when grants become available.
Tax deductible contributions may be made to the Kellogg Youth Fund (or to any of KCF’s 80+ other funds) online at www.keweenawgives.org. All contributions to a permanent endowment of KCF qualify for a Federal Tax Credit.
