This recent article in the Baton Rouge Advocate provides a
shining example of what our state will need to build a growing economy – kids interested
in STEM. Camp Quest, a week-long summer
STEM camp held last week, has many elements of what the Noyce Foundation would
label a STEM ecosystem. STEM learning ecosystems, a new term
used to describe formal and informal education collaborations, “encompasses schools,
community settings such as after-school and summer programs, science centers
and museums, and informal experiences at home and in a variety of environments
that together constitute a rich array of learning opportunities for young
people.” This unique collaboration between
faith-based community, STEM-related business and organizations, as well as
teachers from the community provided inquiry-based programming and field trips that not only sparked interest in STEM careers but also reinforced positive
relationships all around. 
Organizations such as Solvay and the Interdenominational Faith Assembly should be applauded for sponsoring this effort, as well as volunteer teachers, LIGO, and Pennington Biomedical Research Center for participating.
Link to article: Camp Quest gives kids exposure to science, math fields: A Quest for Learning (July 1, 2014), Kyle Peveto and photos by Hilary Scheinuk http://theadvocate.com/features/people/9474855-123/camp-quest-gives-kids-exposure
Noyce Foundation white paper: How Cross-Sector Collaborations are Advancing STEM Learning (February, 2014), Kathleen Traphagen and Saskia Traill. http://www.noycefdn.org/documents/STEM_ECOSYSTEMS_REPORT_140128.pdf
