Get Green for Blue kicks off June 13

(Broken Arrow, Okla.)-- The Summer Academy program Get Green for Blue: Outdoor STEM Investigations Connecting Water to You kicks off on June 13for five days of non-stop adventure, as eighth, ninth and 10th graders take their science skills outdoors and get their hands dirty.

The Academy will convene on the Northeastern State University Broken Arrow campus from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.each day, with pre-planned field trips set forJune 14 and 15. The remaining days include indoor and outdoor activities on campus.

Transportation and lunch will be provided, and there is no cost for participation.

The program aims to teach up to 24 students about the relationships among the environment, water quality, natural science and mathematics.

In teams, students will learn about water quality through data collection, analysis of water bodies and possible solutions to water quality problems. All activities will be supervised and safety emphasized.

Three key personnel from NSU faculty will conduct the program: Dr. Kathi McDowell, biologist; Dr. Pamela Christol, environmental scientist and Dr. Martha Parrott, mathematics education specialist.

Christol saidengaging outdoor experiences, once part of most kids daily lives, are becoming increasingly rare.

The beauty of this program is that it is designed to get students into the great outdoors while participating in meaningful science, technology, engineering and mathematics experiences intended to instill a passion for learning. Teamwork, leadership and communication skills are seamlessly integrated as kids work together to collect data in fun and interactive ways.

The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, NSU and a partnership agreement with Rogers County Conservation District outdoor classroom made it possible for the program to be free of charge. Students who complete the Summer Academy will receive a $35 stipend.

Christol said NSU is passionate about providing experiences to students of all ages that will expand their horizons and inspire them to set educational and career goals.

The more meaningful experiences they are exposed to, the more likely they are to know what they want and have the confidence to reach their goals. By providing stimulating learning opportunities, our NSU summer academy has been inspiring students and expanding their career and educational aspirations for years.

This year marks the seventh year the academy is being run.