Afterschool STEM Mentoring Program (ASMP) at the New York Academy of Sciences recruits undergraduate and graduate students, postdocs and STEM professionals to mentor middle school students at selected after-school program sites. Partnering with the Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) and Jersey City Board of Education (JCDoE), ASMP introduces inspiring STEM professionals to youths in underserved communities throughout New York City and Jersey City. Mentors will receive training in STEM curriculum as well as youth development and will work in pairs to implement weekly sessions. Upon completion of the program, Mentors will receive a New York Academy of Science Mentoring Credential.
Learn more about the Afterschool STEM Mentoring Program (ASMP) in the video below.
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For more information about the Afterschool STEM Mentoring Program, please contact:
Apply to Become an ASMP Mentor
We are currently accepting applications for the 2018-2019 school year. If you are interested in becoming an ASMP mentor, don’t hesitate to apply!
Additionally, if you would like to be notified when other mentoring opportunities arise, visit our Mentor Opportunities page, click on the NOTIFY ME button, and select the box for “In-Person” opportunities.
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Why become an ASMP mentor?
Hone your coaching and communication skills.
Mentors receive training and hands-on experience in pedagogy and youth development
Broaden your resume.
Mentors who complete 30 hours of mentoring and training during a single school year will receive a New York Academy of Sciences Mentoring Credential.
Make a difference!
By serving as a positive role model of a real-world scientist or engineer, you can inspire curiosity and excitement about STEM topics, and positively influence the career aspirations of students from underserved communities.
What are the requirements for becoming a mentor?
ASMP Mentor applicants must be:
- Undergraduate students, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, or professionals in the STEM field.
- Within commuting distance of New York City or Jersey City.
- Passionate about inspiring youth (age 9 to 13) to engage in STEM
- Committed to the program training and teaching schedule
To apply, applicants must:
- Complete the online application
- Submit a letter of acknowledgment from their PI or supervising scientist stating their awareness of the once-a-week commitment to this volunteer mentoring program and their support for the Mentor’s commitment to this program. The letter should be attached in the application or emailed to asmp@nyas.org with the subject line “Mentorship Letter of Support”. Please contact us if you have questions regarding this requirement.
- Complete a background check adhering to local policies at no cost to the Mentors as well as health form signed by a doctor.
How much time is involved?
Mentors will attend a one-day training on a selected STEM topic at the New York Academy of Sciences to become familiarized with the implementation of hands-on STEM lessons. Mentors will also receive a short online training on youth development and pedagogy. Mentors will be paired up and assigned to teach at a selected after-school program site once a week during after school hours (between 3:30 pm – 6 pm) and each session is 45–60 minutes. Mentors and their partners will work with after-school program directors to determine the weekly session time. ASMP 2018–19 runs from December 2018 through April 2019.
How do I apply?
We are currently accepting applications for the 2018–2019 school year. If you are interested in becoming an ASMP mentor, don’t hesitate to apply!
To apply for ASMP, click here.
Additionally, if you would like to be notified when other mentoring opportunities arise, visit our Mentor Opportunities page, click on the NOTIFY ME button, and select the box for “In-Person” opportunities.
Students in our Afterschool STEM Mentoring program may choose from among the curriculum options listed below. All are hands-on, dynamic, lessons designed to take advantage of the resources and technologies available in participating afterschool locations. After months of partnership and collaboration with mentors and their peers, students present a capstone project to showcase new knowledge.
(* = current curricula for 2018-2019 school year. Click this link to apply!)
STEM Bonanza *
The STEM Bonanza is an opportunity for students and mentors to share a project or lesson with parents, peers, and other mentors. The event, which concludes each year’s Afterschool Mentoring Program session, inspires leadership and a sense of pride and accomplishment for students and mentors, and allows students to show their families the result of their hard work during the school year. To find out how you can participate, email us at asmp@nyas.org.
Hack Your Garden* (Offering $800 stipend)
The primary goal of this program is to teach participants and site staff the basics of computer coding. By incorporating gardening with coding, the program aims to counter the preconception that coding is an activity that is sedentary and only to be done indoors. Students will be introduced to basic computer programming as well as how programs work via computer-less programming activities in order to start from a common base. Then staff and participants will utilize simple sensors in order to monitor garden health and activity. Ultimately participants and sites will use what they have learned to solve a real world problem in their communities that can be addressed through coding. Front line staff are the target audience and no coding experience is needed. What is most important is that the staff member who has been selected is able to commit to attending the three trainings as well as the culminating event. To cover the expenses to sites the Academy is offering an $800 stipend to mentors who complete at least 15 site visits.
Oysters and Restoration Ecology *
Aimed at restoring one billion live oysters to New York Harbor, the Oyster Restoration Ecology project is a hands-on experimental and educational program that engages thousands of students in the New York City area. From Oyster dissection and anatomy to modeling the effects of runoff and growing live oysters, students become active participants in restoring one of New York’s vital waterways.
Innovation *
The Global STEM Alliance (GSA) of the New York Academy of Sciences has developed an Innovation Curriculum to engage teens and young adults in real-world problem solving. This unique offering provides opportunities for students to build STEM content knowledge and 21st-century skills through collaborative inquiry-based learning, that can be taught in the classroom or club settings.
Brain 101 *
Brain 101 is an immersive journey through the human brain. Students learn about neurons by recording electrical impulses from insects and constructing neuron models, then move into a hands-on dissection and modeling of a sheep’s brain. Additional units of study include lessons on the sensory and motor systems, as well as memory, learning, and sleep.
Life Sciences 101 *
This lab-based program helps students develop a basic understanding of biology, genetics, and the structure of cells.
Code Club
Code Club is inspiring a new generation of computer coders around the globe by empowering volunteers to teach workshops for students ages 9-11. Students learn Scratch, HTML, and Python while designing games, building websites and creating animations.
Building 10x Solutions
These workshops encourage students to devise solutions to humanity's most difficult problems through ideas and strategies that aren’t just big—they’re exponential. These 10x workshops tackle issues from climate change, urbanization and zero waste initiatives.
Forensics
A re-created crime scene is the setting for lessons in the forensics skills used in real-world criminal investigations. Students will learn about classic forensic lab techniques including DNA barcoding and fingerprint identification.
Nutrition
Students will explore how the nutrients found in food allow the body to grow and function. Through reflective journaling and free-choice activities, students gain a holistic appreciation of their food choices.
DIY STEM: Sports in Science, Football *
Developed in partnership with the Victor Cruz Foundation and the Boys and Girls Club of Patterson, NJ, this curriculum focuses on fundamental principles of physics and mechanics, including how Newton’s Laws of Motion apply to the sport of football, and how weather conditions can impact a ball’s speed and trajectory.