Anyone who knows Abigail, knows that she is a smart, kind, and curious child.
Abigail's 3rd grade teacher nominated Abigail to attend the National Youth Leadership Forum (NYLF) Pathways to STEM summer camp.
Abigail was accepted to attend the camp in Seattle June 16 - 21, 2024, and we couldn't be more proud of her! Loving science is one thing, but being recognized as a leader among her peers is a great accomplishment.
The cost to attend the camp is $3, 245, and we hope to raise all the funds needed to send Abigail on this extraordinary adventure. We will have to drive to Seattle for Abigail to attend camp, and the rest of the funds we are hoping to raise will help us cover the cost of travel. Help us make Abigail's science dreams come true!
Abigail was asked by NYLF to write an essay about what she would like to be when she grows up. Here is Abigail's response:
What I Want To Be When I Grow Up By Abigail Cronin
When I grow up I want to be an astrogeologist. An astrogeologist studies rocks from other planets and space. I want to study the rocks on other planets to look for evidence of life. I would like to go to Mars to study the rocks in their natural habitat. I want to discover whether other planets could sustain life so we could have colonies on them if the Earth becomes overpopulated or too polluted.
I would use science and chemistry to figure out what the rocks are made of. Chemistry can tell us what minerals and elements are in the rocks and that can tell us whether the rocks could be dangerous or safe or whether the rocks might have things in them to help people live on the planets. I would also use engineering to help repair the machinery and tools that we would use to collect and look at rocks.
I would also like to be an astronaut so I can be part of the crew and go to the planets to study the geology and hopefully discover new kinds of space rocks. There might be new materials we could use to build stronger buildings in case of earthquakes and floods. There could also be new minerals that could help fight pollution on earth by filtering the air or water.
STEM is important to me because I really like learning science and math. Without STEM we never would have gotten to the moon and we wouldn’t have the technology that we use every day. Math helps me figure out the world. When I see a problem in life, I see a math equation. Math can help us solve a lot of the problems in the world. By learning more about STEM, I hope I can help solve some problems like pollution or people not being treated equally.
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NYLF Pathways to STEM is a unique learning experience for bright, forward-thinking elementary school students who will evolve into next generation innovators, engineers, doctors, software developers, and scientists.
Students learn by doing during hands-on simulations and workshops. They also have the opportunity to choose the experience that is best suited for them by selecting either the six-day Residential or the five-day Day program.
Virtually all career fields today require a solid foundation of STEM. That’s precisely why these are the fastest growing areas of study, and the reason that STEM professionals are in the highest demand in the United States and throughout the world. Early exposure to these fields can set today’s kids on a path to success by giving them the tools needed to make informed decisions about the future.
NYLF Pathways to STEM is a fantastic opportunity for curious and high-aspiring young students to make new friends and enjoy unforgettable adventures while exploring the frontiers of 21st century science and technology.
Learn more about the program here .
