This summer, we hosted a STEM Camp for youth enrolled in our program to gain some hands-on experience tinkering with new technologies, engineering their own creations, and even learning about the geological history of our state with our resident scientist Dr. Trent Stephens and Idaho Museum of Natural History Mobile Educator Pam Pascali. The children learned so much during camp as they spent time with each other, their professional mentor, and our camp volunteers each day.

It was also an opportunity to see just how much of a difference the support of our professional mentors makes in real time. For example, during some of the engineering creation activities at STEM camp, one young girl named Dolly* began to get very frustrated. She didn't quite know how to ask for help. Then she said she didn't want any help. She said she didn't want to do anything. She went and sat on the bench, very frustrated and disengaged from the activity and the learning opportunity it presented.

Chelsae, her Friend, came over to her calmly and said, "Your behavior shows me that you need something. Maybe something to drink and some time to calm down?" Dolly said no, at first. But Chelsea persevered. She calmly offered different options, observing and connecting with Dolly's reactions. When Dolly eventually asked for some chocolate milk, it only took a moment or two for her to be ready to re-engage with the activity. She returned to the table and picked up where she had left off. Later, when things started to get challenging again for her, Dolly immediately left the table and walked over towards Chelsae. She didn't talk to her at first or do anything other than be close to her. Then, after a minute or two of being next to her Friend, she was able to return to her place at the table and complete the project, ultimately expressing her pride in her finished creation.

It was a beautiful example of how Dolly is learning to lean on her Friend when she needs co-regulation and learn what works for her body; as well as of the strength a Friend provides just by being there, day in and day out, providing patience, understanding, and acceptance. Even though we may have been focused on STEM activities during this summer camp, the social and emotional learning supported by our Friends is every bit as important. It is their supportive mentorship that empowers these young children to learn the tools they need to be successful – whether building a model car or eventually building a career or a family.

Thanks to the support of our community, these young children are not only building their understanding of science and math, they are learning to navigate situations of all kinds, building confidence and resilience along the way. A very special thank you to all of our summer camp volunteers, to Blackrock Dental for their donation of toothbrushes for our bristlebots experiment, and to Idaho Environmental Coalition and the STEM Equity Grant from Battelle Energy Alliance, Operator of Idaho National Laboratory, for their generous support of our STEM Summer Camp!

*Youth name changed to protect privacy.