Grant will help expand STREAMing Ahead Program

Oceanside CA— Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside (BGCO) received $25,000 from Genentech to expand the STREAMing Ahead program focused on providing youth a safe place to fearlessly explore science, technology, research, engineering, arts, and math careers. Funding will offer Club members opportunities to go on field trips, have guest speakers, and participate in science fairs during after school hours.
Through STREAMing Ahead, BGCO collaborates with professionals in the STREAM fields to inspire and motivate our youth. This collaboration takes form in two ways, through guest speakers at the Club and taking the youth to the work fields. Field trips including the STEAMakers workshop, STEM fairs, Genentech, San Diego Zoo, Girls in Aviation Day, Sea World, and the Birch Aquarium.
BGCO is currently building the Center for Innovation, a 2,000 square-foot addition which will include a Culinary Arts Teaching Kitchen, a Performing Arts Center, and a STREAM (Science, Technology, Research, Engineering, Arts, Math) Lab. The STREAM Lab will house many of BGCO’s programs that have already proven to be successful, like Earth Day Everyday, The Clever Chemists, Roaring Robotics and more. This project-based learning connects youth with big picture ideas. Digging in the garden provides farm-to-table knowledge to Club members just as playing with Dash-n-Dot Robots teaches programming and an understanding of how larger machinery like construction equipment may work.
“We want to ensure that our youth have the opportunity to learn the skills necessary to compete and be successful in the current marketplace,” said Jodi Diamond, CEO. “Thanks to community partners like Genentech, we are able to provide the programming and opportunities to spark interests in our youth in a way that is exciting and peaks their interests.”
For more information about the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside please contact Hannah Moss at HMoss@BGCOceanside.org, call (760) 433-8920, and visit our website BGCOceanside.org or Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/BGCOside .