Students and teachers in Salt Lake City’s YouthCity program announced Thursday a half a million dollar boost to their program with a new grant for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, or STEM education. YouthCity has centers throughout the city that provide out-of-school activities for young people. Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker says the programs are offered free to middle and high school students in the city.
“So this really is an opportunity for students that otherwise would not be getting an opportunity through their regular education,” says Mayor Becker.
Damian Choi is the director of YouthCity’s northwest program. He says it’s important to provide students with these types of interactive learning experiences.
”We will start with a class called the Hunger Games, which talks about food science and sustainability. We’ll be looking at a food justice model and talking and utilizing cooking and science projects to help students understand where their food is coming from,” says Choi.
Choi says the other segment of the class focuses on the ecology on the Jordan River where students spend extended time outdoors. He says he’s excited to imagine how many students will benefit from experiencing this program over the next three years.