Projects

North Fork Valley Math and Science Center

Contact Information:
OSM/VISTA: Calista Brower
Supervisor: Melinda Merriam
Address: PO Box 202, Hotchkiss, CO 81419
Phone: 541.207.2084
Email: calistabrower AT gmail DOT com
US Congressional District: 3
County: Delta

Description of Organization and Mission:

The mission of the North Fork Valley Math & Science Center is to provide hands-on opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics for North Fork Valley children in order to foster in the children both a passion for math and science learning and the confidence in their abilities and experiences to pursue their math and science passions without limits.

The NFV Math & Science Center is a non-profit educational organization that was founded in Hotchkiss, CO in May 2009. The center is currently under review to become a certified 501 (c) 3 organization and is in the first stages of fundraising and capacity building within the community.

The NFV Math and Science Center has established a three-phase plan to becoming an established Center in the North Fork Valley. It is currently in the first stage, which includes volunteer recruitment, grant writing, local fundraising, community networking, and researching which educational areas need attention. The second phase of the plan involves securing the necessary funding for building a science center and organizing a science kit loan program to provide to local schools.

The third phase will require solid results from the previous phases because it is the operation of a fully sustainable Math and Science Center, complete with labs, exhibits, volunteers, an executive director, and math and science interns.

North Fork Valley Math and Science Center's Guiding Principles:

• Children in the North Fork Valley must be provided abundant hands-on opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics from early childhood until adulthood.
• Children will engage with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics as personal interests after exposure and successful hands-on experiences.
• Children in the North Fork Valley deserve to compete as equals with children from anywhere else in the world in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, without the rural nature of their upbringing holding them back.
• Children in the North Fork Valley may be more likely to consider careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics after completing successful hands-on experiences and working with professionals in these fields.
• Exposure to professionals in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics will increase a child's understanding of these fields of study and their relevance in today's world.
• Schools need more resources than allowed by the constant constraints of time and money.
• Extending the learning time to include after-school and summertime will result in academic progress for children.
• When children self-identify as scientists or mathematicians, their self-confidence grows, leading to increased self-esteem, which benefits all academic areas and social interactions.

Goal of OSM/VISTA in the North Fork Valley Math and Science Center:

The NFV Math and Science Center secured its first VISTA in July 2009. It was imperative for the organization to have a full-time volunteer working to move along the center's start-up efforts. The primary goal of the VISTA is to increase the capacity of the new organization. This involves building the foundation of the to-be center through community relationships, non-profit partnerships, and volunteer recruitment. Additionally, the VISTA is responsible for immediately finding funding via grants and fundraisers to support the expenses involved with stage one of the Math and Science Center's plan.

Further goals and duties of the VISTA include networking with the local school district and existing community volunteers to learn what efforts are needed to make such a center most effective and stimulating to youth in the North Fork Valley. Along with efforts directly related to the NFV Science Center, the VISTA will make the necessary arrangements to secure funding to provide another VISTA for year two of the organizations operation.