Authentic STEM Career Experiences

A look at Learning Undefeated’s 2018 YSEP Baltimore camp.

This summer, Learning Undefeated is partnering with several Maryland-based organizations to offer YSEP across the state. These programs are currently full. We will update this site if additional locations or spaces become available.

Our YSEP curriculum is available for partner organizations to implement at their own facility. If you want to host a YSEP camp at your site, please contact Alejandro Cardemil for partnership information.

The Young Science Explorers Program (YSEP) is an intensive 30-hour summer program where middle school students can explore STEM-related industry and careers. Rising 7th and 8th graders who participate in YSEP gain increased access to information about bioscience industry products, research, and related careers through project and inquiry-based laboratory experiences that are aligned with local, state and national curriculum standards.

YSEP participants have shown a statistically significant increase of 27 percent in content knowledge and measurable gains in attitude and interest in science as a career.

Curriculum

Students will be engaged in a weeklong project using current bioscience laboratory techniques. In addition to intensive hands on laboratory work taught by experienced instructors, students will also participate in several field trips to local Maryland science organizations, be engaged in science career exploration, and meet with local scientists.

This program targets middle school students as they begin to form opinions about science and their future careers. Students will experience a wide variety of careers and ways that Maryland organizations are researching and developing products and therapies that will shape participants career decisions positively and influence their view of science as a career.

In addition to formal discussions about science careers, a large component of career exploration for students is to visit local organizations. During these visits participants will learn about the organization’s research and/or products and experience first-hand the different types of careers, people and positions within the organization. Past organization visits included MedImmune, Emergent BioSolutions, J. Craig Venter Institute, QIAGEN, Proctor & Gamble, and University of Maryland BioPark, BreakAway Games, MindGrub, McCormick, Pure Technologies, CNSI, and more!