Science Action Club

Graphical Abstract

Youth in Science Action Club (SAC) use citizen science to investigate nature, document their discoveries, share data with the scientific community, and design strategies to protect the planet. Through collaborations with regional and national partners, SAC expands access to environmental science curriculum and training resources.

Abstract

Mark, a student at a Northern California middle school located amongst towering redwoods, was not doing well in his classes. Teachers struggled to capture his interest, and he wasn’t connecting socially, either. As a last attempt to reach him, Mark’s science teacher suggested he join a new afterschool science club: Science Action Club (SAC). Although at first reluctant to participate in anything outside of school, Mark enjoyed the hands-on exploration of bugs. Afterschool staff noticed Mark’s growing interest and his difficulty with social interactions and started giving Mark leadership roles in the club. Soon, he became a mentor for younger club members and began researching insects on his own time. This research lead to conversations with his science teacher, who then helped support Mark in making up many of his missed assignments. After months of catch-up, Mark was successfully able to graduate from middle school with a special honor for his leadership role in SAC. Both the afterschool staff and the school day science teacher attributed Mark’s success to opportunities he had to explore a new interest in insects through the SAC program. Programs such as SAC, which give young people the chance to explore science and the environment beyond the classroom, can help cultivate an enthusiasm in students that supports in-school learning as well. In fact, 74% of youth in SAC say that these activities increased their excitement for in-school science. Reading about camouflage and looking at textbook diagrams, after all, is not the same as being able to engineer your own arthropod that blends in with its surroundings.

Keywords:

• Informal Education

Author Contributions

Laura Herszenhorn ([email protected]) is senior manager of Science Action Club at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, California.

Katie Levedahl ([email protected]) is director of education, informal learning, and national partnerships at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, California.

Suzi Taylor ([email protected]) is assistant director for outreach and communications at Montana State University’s Academic Technology and Outreach in Bozeman, Montana.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Laura Herszenhorn

Laura Herszenhorn ([email protected]) is senior manager of Science Action Club at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, California.

Katie Levedahl

Katie Levedahl ([email protected]) is director of education, informal learning, and national partnerships at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, California.

Suzi Taylor

Suzi Taylor ([email protected]) is assistant director for outreach and communications at Montana State University’s Academic Technology and Outreach in Bozeman, Montana.