Exploring Underserved Youths’ Experiences at the National Air and Space Museum’s S.H.E Can STEAM Summer Camp

Client: Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum | Location: Washington, DC | Funding: Walton Family Foundation and the DaRin Butz Foundation

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We measured the effectiveness of a summer camp designed by the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum to empower underrepresented youth to succeed in STEAM.

OVERVIEW

In the winter, spring, and summer of 2022 and in the summer of 2023, we again worked with the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum to evaluate the Soaring High Explorers (S.H.E.) Can STEAM Camp, which serves traditionally underserved youth in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia and Springdale, Arkansas. We explored the effectiveness of the camp activities and facilitation strategies to boost participants’ confidence in STEAM and interest in aviation.

APPROACH

Our evaluation of the 2022 and 2023 programs was the second time we had explored participants’ experiences in the camp.  The methods were kept consistent with previous evaluations with slight modifications to allow for the museum’s interest in exploring more about how they could support participants in their STEAM pursuits outside the camp.  

We used a mixed-methods approach, including ethnographies, pre- and post-camp participant surveys, and guardian surveys. For 2022 programs, we also added interviews with interns and staff who facilitated the camp to understand how the program structure might be improved to enhance participant outcomes.

CLIENT TAKEAWAYS

Through engaging hands-on activities and field trips that provided real-world examples, normalized failure, and encouraged critical thinking, the S.H.E. Can Aviation STEAM Summer Camp was successful in exposing middle school participants to and sparking interest in a variety of STEAM and aviation careers. Facilitators’ inquiry-based methods helped participants persist to the end of an activity, encouraging them to try new approaches even if they never perfected or completed the activity. 

Participants enjoyed the camp, particularly the opportunity to fly an actual airplane, experience iFly, use the flight simulators, and launch rockets. Further, we found that participants reported a greater interest in and awareness of the breadth of aviation careers at the end of camp than at the beginning.  To support them in the pursuit of their STEAM and aviation interests, participants’ primary suggestions were to build their awareness of after-school activities in their area, including opportunities to continue flying, through regular email communications or a searchable database.