Nap Ford Community School Learns about Entrepreneurship via STEM $ells

ORLANDO, Fla. - April 3, 2014 - PRLog -- This summer Frontline Outreach Center in urban Orlando, will host students from the Nap Ford Community School for a one-of-a-kind STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) camp sponsored by Miss Science and Community Food & Outreach. "Statistics show students who don't have the opportunity for quality, informal learning (such as a STEM camp) start the school year at a disadvantage,” says STEM $ells creator, Sherri Smith-Dodgson (aka:Miss Science). “Through this incredible partnership we will change those statistics by providing a camp that engages students with relevant STEM curriculum while teaching them to innovate a product and get it to the marketplace through entrepreneurship.

"Today's student will become part of an economy and workforce that requires critical thinking, analytical skills and a lot of creativity. By focusing on developing both hard and soft skills, STEM $ells prepares students to compete globally," adds Miss Science.

This year’s theme will be, From Seed to Shelf – the Science, Innovation and Business of what we eat. From June 16^th-20^th students will learn about germination, plant development, gardening, and nutrition. Students will also develop their writing skills by creating marketing and advertising materials to sell the products they have innovated for their marketplace. A tradeshow will take place on the final day of camp, allowing campers to work on their soft-skills through sales and meeting their investors who are local business owners from the Orlando community.

Not only will the students of Nap Ford participate in the STEM $ells camp, also in attendance will be two Nap Ford Master-level teachers. These dedicated teachers will work side-by-side with Miss Science utilizing the week’s curriculum as professional development to advance their skills in preparing students for a 21^st century workforce through STEM subjects. “Summer-learning becomes sustainable, because these teachers can take what they’ve learned back to Nap Ford for the next school year,” says Miss Science. “The reach from this camp will not only improve the skills of the students in attendance, but will ultimately have an effect on the entire Nap Ford learning commuinty.”

Last year Community Food & Outreach partnered with Miss Science and students from the Reeves Terrace community  to learn about the Science and Business of a Lemonade Stand raising over $300 in lemonade sales for South Street Ministries.

About Miss Science™: Miss Science, Sherri Smith-Dodgson is an informal science educator that "Makes SMART Cool!" After many years as a classroom teacher and science educator in 2009 Discover Science 4 Kids and Miss Science were born! It is the mission of Miss Science to make STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fun and relevant for everyone. As one of the only women in media advocating for STEM education Miss Science shares with viewers the importance of STEM learning through easy, engaging, hands-on demonstrations. As a leader in informal STEM education Sherri travels across the country to promote STEM learning through presentations, student workshops, summer camps and teacher workshops/professional development.