STEM Club members plan enrichment opportunities

Since the inaugural year in 2014, the LRHS Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Club has experienced a 300 percent increase in membership.

Beginning with five students and the goal of improving college readiness and career awareness, today the 25-member STEM Club maintains the same shared goal.

To explain the increase in participation, returning member Sharon Anderson stated, “I think a majority of the new members this year were influenced from existing members to join because they saw the impact it had on the members last year and the interesting field trips we go on.”

The first of these field trips for the year included both STEM Club members and Advanced Placement Environmental Science (APES) students to Mineral Ridge on Lake Coeur d’Alene on Wednesday, Sept. 27.

The trip provided APES students with the opportunity to collect field data on biodiversity, and provided the opportunity for others in the club to gain insight into forest ecology.

After experiencing the Mineral Ridge trip, Ellie Gering explained, “I joined STEM Club because I wanted to increase my knowledge in science, technology, engineering, and math by attending field trips and planning activities within the club.”

She continued, “I really enjoy learning about these four areas, so I decided to join to be able to experience them outside of just schoolwork.”

With a current interest in forensic science, Tamera Wolf said, “I wanted to join STEM specifically because I think the projects and activities we do will help improve my knowledge required for my career path.”

“And,” she added of her motivation to join, “simply because I enjoy science.”

The Mineral Ridge trip is one that the club has returned to each year since 2015.

Adviser Jason Aldrich explained, “It’s a classroom in the forest.”

Not only does the trail have stations and coordinating guidebooks to serve as curriculum, but “the area provides a good outdoor laboratory for the APES class.”

Of his first STEM Club field trip, Cole Cameron reflected, “My favorite part about the field trip was learning new information about the types of environments that different living things need, and learning some of the effects humans have that can harm the forest.”

Similarly, Anderson said, “My favorite part of the field trip was being able to see how much biodiversity differs based on elevation. I have learned about that in my science classes, but it was cool to see that first-hand.”

“It helped me understand the concept better,” Anderson added.

Apart from growing academically, the trip allowed personal growth as well: “The adults and friends associated with STEM club are smart, talented, and awesome people to hang out with,” explained Spencer Gering. “My favorite part of the field trip was connecting with peers I don’t always talk with often.”

In hopes of continuing efforts towards the goal of college readiness and career awareness, the STEM Club has several more field trips and activities planned throughout the year. This includes touring the Columbia Breaks Fire Interpretive Center, Mobius Science Center, Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility, and Stantec’s Spokane regional office.

Activities will include the annual Bi-County STEM Challenge this fall, where Aldrich pressed, “We have to defend our championship.”

Cameron said, “The activities I’m looking forward to are the ones where I get to learn something new and get to have fun while doing it.”

Another significant project for the STEM Club will be their awareness week in the spring.

Wolf, who was in the audience at the middle school demonstration two years ago, said, “I’m looking forward to awareness week, where we will hopefully demonstrate projects that spark kids’ interests. As a kid, most people think science is nerdy, and I want the younger students to see that it’s… enjoyable.”

Overall, STEM Club’s new and returning members will continue to engage in meaningful outreach and participate in exciting field trips.

Gering concluded, “I’m really looking forward to all of the upcoming field trips and activities because they are not only fun, but enriching as well.”