Program Introduction/Background

STEM Saturdays is a longstanding community outreach initiative by Florida International University (FIU) that brings hands-on STEM education to K-12 students in accessible, familiar settings—such as public schools, libraries, churches, and community centers—across more than 15 neighborhoods in Miami-Dade County. In response to growing interest in environmental issues and to better connect STEM learning with students' daily lives, we introduced a new solar energy activity into our monthly sessions. This addition aims to enhance existing programming with sustainability-focused content while using Miami’s abundant sunlight as an engaging and relatable entry point to STEM conceptsRelevance to ASPBP

This innovation aligns with ASPBP’s mission to strengthen pathway programs that support early STEM engagement and career exploration. Our solar module serves as a replicable and cost-effective enhancement to existing outreach activities, supporting a broad conversation on equity in energy access and climate education. By fostering scientific curiosity and reinforcing real-world applications of science, the program contributes to the shared goal of widening participation in STEM fields from an early age.
 

Target Population

Our primary audience includes elementary and middle school students attending public schools across Miami-Dade County. Many participants are from economically disadvantaged backgrounds or come from historically excluded communities with limited access to extracurricular STEM experiences. Programming is delivered bilingually (English and Spanish) to meet the linguistic needs of the students and families we serve.
 

Lessons Learned, Challenges and Accomplishments, Best Practices, and/or Innovations or General Program Framework Description, Transferability

We integrated solar-powered car kits into our curriculum, offering students an interactive way to explore engineering, energy conversion, and sustainability. These activities are conducted outdoors to maximize sunlight and are aligned with seasonal programming, especially effective during the sunny summer months. Key challenges included material durability and ensuring age-appropriate facilitation, which we addressed by choosing low-cost, reusable components and providing targeted training for volunteers.

Student and teacher feedback indicates increased enthusiasm for STEM topics, particularly around sustainability and renewable energy careers. The group-based format encourages collaboration and communication skills. Our bilingual, modular approach ensures ease of replication for other institutions interested in enhancing STEM outreach with climate-relevant content.
 

Expanded Impact and Future Directions

Preliminary evaluations show that students have improved their understanding of solar energy and increased interest in STEM careers, particularly in renewable energy. Site leaders report greater engagement and curiosity during sessions. Partnerships with local schools and community organizations have been essential in reaching underserved populations and ensuring cultural and linguistic relevance. Moving forward, we plan to expand similar activities to include additional renewable technologies. This scalable model can be adopted by other programs seeking to close STEM education gaps and promote climate literacy, helping prepare the next generation of scientists and engineers.