BEST PRACTICES FOR CREATING A SUSTAINABLE, COLLECTIVE IMPACT YOUTH OUTREACH PROGRAM TO BROADEN PARTICIPATION IN THE EARTH SCIENCES

Youth outreach programs are essential in the effort to broaden participation for marginalized and underserved populations in the sciences. This is especially true for the field of Earth sciences, where young students are often less likely to identify these professionals in their everyday life. Beyond developing interest from an introduction to the field, outreach programs provide a foundational understanding of academic and career pathways, and overall familial, community, and societal impact, which are both important factors of students’ college and major choice. When creating youth outreach programs, planning for longevity, sustainability, and collaboration are just as important as teaching an earth science curriculum in hopes of creating interest in students. There are countless benefits to all stakeholders when leaders establish a long-term strategic plan for continuity of the program.

This talk employs unique qualities of a well-established youth outreach program in the Earth sciences as a theoretical framework for program development best practices. Key takeaways for participants include 1) a better understanding of the most essential factors of sustainability and longevity in youth outreach programs 2) ideas for collaborative partnerships to maximize impact, and 3) discussion for how these programs can exist with resources at every type of institution.