To support the efforts of schools, youth groups and educators across the state who are hosting or participating in an AZ OnTrack Summer Camps, Governor Doug Ducey is providing access to nationally recognized, online STEM and Computer Science career platform Learning Blade and accompanying professional development opportunities for teachers around the state. The initiative includes a partnership with Generation Schools Network . The system is 100 percent free of charge to the camps and will extend to all Arizona school districts throughout the 2022-23 school year.
“AZ OnTrack Summer Camps will provide a wide range of learning opportunities for Arizona kids, while giving them more opportunities to have fun with their peers,” said Governor Ducey.
“Learning Blade will help ensure kids across the state strengthen their STEM and computer science skills, preparing them for the upcoming school year and putting them on the path to success for years to come. My thanks goes to the team at Learning Blade and everyone working to keep Arizona kids on track this summer.”
The Learning Blade program includes an online platform, aligned to Arizona state academic standards that will educate students in grades fifth through ninth about a wide variety of STEM and CS careers using real-life situations in a mission-based format. “Providing students and educators in Arizona with access to high-quality educational resources that introduce careers in IT, Cybersecurity, Advanced Manufacturing, Bioengineering, Energy, Robotics, Entrepreneurship, Agriculture and more to students helps to build the future workforce,” stated Sheila Boyington, CEO of Learning Blade. " Learning Blade helps develop student interest in these high-demand careers by increasing awareness of the occupational fields and relating academics to social issues that youth care about."
In addition to the 200+ hours of online and offline lessons and activities, Learning Blade has developed a 10-session collection of lessons specifically designed for use in summer camps called STEMmer Camp.
Wendy Loloff Cooper, CEO of GSN commented “As Learning Blade has been validated to have an impact on student’s goals and future aspirations in schools and summer programs across the United States, we believe it aligns with the mission of Generation Schools Network to support all students in being college/career ready. We are excited to partner with Learning Blade in support of this effort in Arizona.”
Schools, educational organizations, and summer camps serving these age groups can sign up for this at no charge at www.LearningBlade.com/AZ . Each week from June 1 to Aug. 1, Learning Blade will be awarding a $100 gift certificate to support an ice cream party for campers to five AZonTrack camps that utilize the free Learning Blade Resources. Gift certificates will be limited to one per camp per summer.