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Category: Educational Services

  • September 8, 2025 - Kory Kay at Idaho State Department of Education

    I was tasked with reviewing some of the Idaho Workforce Development Council’s work on work-based learning and developing some resources for school leaders to use to begin developing quality work-based learning opportunities in their schools. I read through the standards on work-based learning that had been developed by the Idaho Workforce Development Council and was […]

  • September 8, 2025 - Joelle Anthon at Girls Scouts of Silver Sage

    I had the opportunity to work with the Girls Scouts of Silver Sage. I created detailed programs and lesson plans for specific badge requirements for their use next summer at camp. My goal was to complete the detailed lesson plans for seven badges, each requiring several explicit lesson plans. The intention is to make camp […]

  • September 8, 2025 - Carissa Abrams at Girl Scouts of Silver Sage

    I was tasked with designing curriculum for Girl Scout troops to be used to complete merit badges during their 2026 Girl Scout Camps. The Girl Scouts of Silver Sage hold these camps in McCall, Idaho and Swan Valley, Idaho. Each camp centered around a different age range (for example, Cadettes are middle school ages) and […]

  • September 8, 2025 - Melissa Beckman at University of Idaho College of Engineering

    During my time spent with the College of Engineering, I was tasked with multiple projects. The hosts organized a wonderful two-day tour of their facilities, showing me and the other externs the projects that various engineers were constructing. We got to see recycled wood being turned into homes. We experienced the craft of building circuits, […]

  • September 5, 2025 - Tami Vandegrift at Gizmo

    At Gizmo, I and two other externs were tasked with a handful of objectives, however our main task was planning and teaching a two-week exploratory camp for students aged 12+. The intention of this camp was twofold – first, giving students the opportunity to explore and use the tools at GIZMO. Second, to get them […]

  • September 4, 2025 - Robin McKinney at Silver Sage Girl Scouts

    The summer of 2025 marks my third year participating in the externship program. This has been the second summer working with Kristen at the Silver Sage Girl Scouts in Boise. I have very much enjoyed my time working with this program, and especially the Girl Scouts program. I worked to develop literature about upcoming changes […]

  • September 2, 2025 - Lorae Bowden at Idaho Innovation Center

    Developing the Future of Entrepreneurship: My Externship at the Idaho Innovation Center This summer, I had the opportunity to work with the Idaho Innovation Center in Idaho Falls to help launch an annual pitch competition for both adults and youth in Southeastern Idaho. The goal was to provide local youth with the skills to create […]

  • September 2, 2025 - Chelby Smith at University of Idaho College of Engineering

    This summer, I had the opportunity to serve as an educator extern at the University of Idaho College of Engineering. My work focused on creating lessons that integrate the engineering design process in ways K–12 and especially K–8 students can engage with. These lessons will be used in the college’s Adventure Club, where engineering ambassadors […]

  • August 28, 2025 - Lisa Mashburn at NCCE

    A Teacher’s Passion for STEM: My Idaho Externship Experience My name is Lisa Mashburn, and after 15 years in the classroom, I’ve learned that a teacher’s most important job is to constantly evolve. That’s why I was so excited to participate in the Idaho STEM Externship Program. As a fifth-grade teacher with a master’s in […]

  • August 28, 2025 - Vickie McCullough at Girl Scouts of Idaho

    This summer, I had the unique opportunity to partner with the Girl Scouts of Silver Sage in Idaho to bring new life to the patch program. Patches have been a fun and meaningful way for Girl Scouts to explore new interests, build skills, and celebrate their accomplishments. But like many traditions, some of the programs […]

  • August 27, 2025 - Caleb Drechsel at Gizmo Makerspace

    Gizmo – a Makerspace in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho – challenged us to design a week-long camp for students 12+ to identify a problem in their lives, community, or the world and design a boardgame from scratch! We wanted to engage students in real-life skills such as brainstorming, prototyping, design thinking, troubleshooting, and presenting their findings […]

  • August 27, 2025 - Talia Viera at Summit Innovation Lab

    During the summer I was given the opportunity to extern at Summit Innovation Lab, a STEM Learning Center that hosts education and activities for students in elementary and middle school. The summer was made up of different STEM-themed weeks, such as coding or engineering, and each week there would be anywhere from four to fifteen […]

  • August 27, 2025 - Samual Smith at University of Idaho: College of Engineering

    This summer I had the chance to work with middle school students at the University of Idaho Coding Camp in Boise, where I taught them how to program using Scratch and helped them dive into coding with the mBot robot. One of the highlights was being able to bring my daughter along as my “assistant.” […]

  • August 27, 2025 - Averie Newsome at Magic Valley Boys & Girls Club

    This summer, I had the opportunity to complete an externship at the Boys & Girls Club, where I was tasked with designing and leading hands-on STEM activities for elementary and middle school students. The overall goal of my project was to spark curiosity, show kids that science can be fun and approachable, and encourage them […]

  • August 27, 2025 - Shylo Garrett at NCCE

    My Summer Externship with NCCE This summer, I had the opportunity to complete an externship with the Northwest Council for Computer Education (NCCE), and it was an experience that stretched my skills, deepened my understanding of educational technology, and gave me a unique view of what goes into supporting educators beyond the classroom. The Project […]

  • August 19, 2025 - Caitlin McLeod at Think Make Create Labs

    This summer, I had the opportunity to work remotely with TMC (Think, Make, Create) Labs through the Idaho Out-of-School Network. As I head into my 8th year of teaching 5th grade at Nezperce Elementary, I applied for this externship with the goal of growing as a science educator and bringing more hand-on learning into my […]

  • August 8, 2025 - Kristy Chaney at Girl Scouts of Silver Sage

    This summer, I had the privilege of partnering with the Girl Scouts of Silver Sage. As a first-time participant in this program, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect, but my experience quickly became both meaningful and impactful. My host, Kristen, was incredibly supportive, providing me with the background knowledge I needed and helping me […]

  • August 7, 2025 - Myriame Fisse at Boise OnRamp

    A Summer of STEM, Creativity, and Community This summer has been one of the most energizing and inspiring seasons of my career. I had the incredible opportunity to participate in the Idaho Stem Action Center Externship through a partnership with Boise State University’s ONRAMP. As a library educator who values equity, creativity, and community connected […]

  • August 7, 2025 - Elizabeth Owens at Boise Urban Gardens (BUGS)

    This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to step outside the classroom and into the dirt—literally. I spent my days working with preschoolers and elementary-age students (kindergarten through 3rd grade) in a garden-based camp, and later with tweens and teens at a beekeeping camp at BUGS (Boise Urban Gardens). These experiences not only gave me […]

  • August 6, 2025 - Sherise Porchia at Idaho Workforce Development Council

    This summer, I returned to the Idaho Workforce Development Council (WDC) for my second externship with them and third overall. This time around, my focus was on reviewing key tools used by educators and families—like the Idaho Counselor and Parent Playbook, Next Steps Idaho’s Video – Resource Libraries- Curriculum, and the Idaho LAUNCH page. My […]

  • August 5, 2025 - Ashley Wheeler at INL

    I was so lucky to work with the INL STEM camp this summer!!! We learned about teamwork, the engineering process, building circuits, and built future park models using recyclable materials. We worked with students from 1st grade to 8th grade. It was so fun seeing each age group work together and how unique all their […]

  • August 4, 2025 - Theresa McSweeney at Summit Innovation Labs

    Summit Innovation Lab serves preK-8 grade students in the Treasure Valley by offering rich STEM programs for educational purposes. Students attend camp during week-long thematic camps. I was able to plan and administer one full week of camp and then assist as an administrator throughout the rest of my time. Administrators would dictate the camp […]

  • August 4, 2025 - Drew Nelson at Boise WaterShed

    This summer, I had the pleasure to join the team at the Boise Watershed, one of the water renewal facilities in Boise. It was a joy to work with them and all the different groups that came to tour the facility. Over the course of the summer, I learned all about the water renewal facility […]

  • August 4, 2025 - Alicia Johnson at INL Stem Scholars Camp

    The externship opportunity I was tasked with was working for the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) for their summer STEM Scholars Camp. I worked with ages K-8, each week being a different age group, for example, Week 6 was grades 6,7,8 and week 7 was grades K, 1, 2. I used a provided curriculum, and the […]

  • August 4, 2025 - Christopher Glascock at Idaho Department of Education: College and Career Readiness

    Bringing the Classroom to the Policy Table: An Educator’s Perspective on College & Career Readiness As a classroom teacher, I’ve always believed that preparing students for life after school takes more than just good intentions. It takes clear goals, consistent language, and tools that actually work in the classroom. This summer, I got to step […]

  • July 31, 2025 - Kate Metz at NCCE

    I was tasked with finding, testing, and writing about different education technologies. In the world of AI, there are so many new tools available for teachers that most of us just never have had the time to try out. I was able to do that and write up what I learned about them to help […]

  • July 31, 2025 - Tatyana Struk at OnRamp

    During my time at OnRamp, I was tasked with working alongside the summer school program and Parks and Recreation to introduce technology skills to students in grades K–6 by encouraging them to use their creativity and imagination. The primary goals of the project were to make technology more accessible and engaging for young learners while […]

  • July 31, 2025 - Sarah Jones at ION and TMC Labs

    This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to participate in an externship through the Idaho STEM Action Center with the Idaho Out-of-School Network (ION) and TMC (Think, Make, Create) STEM Labs—and it was nothing short of inspiring. As a Special Education teacher at Declo Junior High in the Cassia County School District, I work with […]

  • July 31, 2025 - Rachael Clarke at Idaho Falls Zoo

    This summer I was able to work at the Idaho Falls Zoo in the Education Center. One of my responsibilities there was taking guest surveys about their experiences at animal exhibits, exploration carts, keeper chats, and zoo signage in order to understand guest experiences and enhance the zoo. I also was able to teach guests […]

  • July 29, 2025 - Elaine Goodwin at Idaho Falls Zoo at Tautphus Park

    This summer, I completed an externship at the Idaho Falls Zoo. My primary project involved helping develop curriculum zoo’s education department, supporting their efforts to promote animal conservation and empathy through education. A key component of the project was collecting guest surveys to assess how effectively the zoo fosters empathy for animals and communicates conservation […]

  • July 29, 2025 - Travis Pizinger at Idaho Falls Zoo

    Our mission this year was to help the zoo education program create more expedition carts, which is an educational opportunity using specific animals in the zoo for a conservation message. We discussed messages involving animals such as the Snow Leopard and the Fenic Fox, which we used to build connections with guests to provide messages […]

  • July 28, 2025 - Brianna Stahly-Hale at Foothills Learning Center

    During my externship, the project focused on exposing kids to nature and helping them build a meaningful connection to the environment. The goal was to create engaging, outdoor learning experiences that encouraged curiosity, exploration, and environmental awareness, while also equipping educators with skills to bring this kind of hands-on science learning into the classroom. We […]

  • July 28, 2025 - Esther Emery at Foothills Learning Center

    At the Foothills Learning Center, I collaborated with environmental educators to provide educational outdoor experiences in a summer camp format. I personally believe deeply in this work. Elementary school teachers are widely reporting that our students need skill development in self-regulation, resiliency, and collaboration. This summer I participated in helping young children to develop exactly […]

  • July 24, 2025 - Stephanie Aguilera at Wilder Academy of Virtual Education

    This summer, I had the wonderful opportunity to extern with Wilder Academy of Virtual Education (WAVE), where I created a digital bootcamp to help students build the skills they need to succeed as online learners. The course covers important topics like Google Suite apps, responsible use of AI, and other essential tools students need to […]

  • July 22, 2025 - Molly Thornton at Lee Pesky Learning Center

    During my externship with Lee Pesky Learning Center, I was given the opportunity to help modernize their systems and procedures by building a SharePoint site designed to make file management more streamlined and collaboration across staff more efficient. The big goal was to create a hub where everything was easier to access, organize, and share—freeing […]

  • July 22, 2025 - Andrew Hutchings at Micron

    During my time working for Micron, I helped develop educational modules for their Educator Hub webpage. My main goal was to create 3–4 publishable modules that met updated company standards. Early on, my supervisor and I also agreed it would be valuable for me to deepen my understanding of semiconductor production and gain in-depth knowledge […]

  • July 21, 2025 - Josh Duersch at Idaho National Lab

    This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to participate in an externship with the STEM Action Center. As a post-secondary educator with nearly two decades of experience, this experience offered a unique and refreshing perspective, allowing me to engage with a younger audience and help ignite their passion for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. It […]

  • July 15, 2025 - Nikki Bothman at Foothills Learning Center

    I had the privilege of working with the team and other externs at Foothills Learning Center. Throughout the summer campers came and participate in nature camp. The camps range from learning about pollinators, native and non-native plants in Idaho and how to be good stewards to the land around us.I was learning alongside the students. […]

  • July 14, 2025 - Linda Lopez at Boys and Girls Club of Magic Valley Rupert Facility

    I was mainly working with 5th graders, and we did many different projects. We worked on building projects to see how they worked, what we could do to improve them, and stabilize them. During the visit with Bryan, we learned about magnetism and its omnipresence. We discussed the Earth and its magnetic poles and how […]

  • July 12, 2025 - Carmen Buttcane at Stemfinity.com

    After being hired at Stemfinity.com, I was tasked with learning about the products that this company sells. And gave a presentation on those products. I also helped make storyboards for several projects. Emailed past clients. And double checked standards for 30 states in the United States and made sure that a technology tool called Ozobots […]

  • July 12, 2025 - Brian Coffey at TRIO Upward Bound Summer Program 2025, Boise State University

    I was tasked with being the Internship Assistant for the TRIO Upward Bound Summer Program 2025 at Boise State University, which is a 5-week educational experience for TRIO students from Meridian H.S., Nampa H.S., Caldwell H.S. and Owyhee H.S. (the one at the Duck Valley Indian Reservation, not the one in Meridian). My initial goals […]

  • July 3, 2025 - Neva Noe at TRIO Upward Bound

    My assigned externship gave me the opportunity to teach TRIO Upward Bound high school students, many of whom are first-generation college bound. I was assigned to teach two classes: Multimedia and STEM Career Exploration. The expectations set for me included guiding students in the Multimedia class to complete a digital yearbook that could also be […]

  • July 2, 2025 - Jennifer Gorczyca at Stemfinity

    Discovering the Possibilities: My Externship with Stemfinity and the Idaho STEM Action Center This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to participate in an externship with Stemfinity through the Idaho STEM Action Center, and I can confidently say—it has been a game-changer for me as an educator. When I began this journey, I honestly had […]

  • July 1, 2025 - Cara Mia Dorrian at Wilder School District/Wilder Academy of Virtual Education

    For the Wilder School District’s online program, Stephanie Aguilera and I (Cara Mia Dorrian) were tasked with designing and building a comprehensive Digital Boot Camp course that introduces students to the essential tools and skills needed to be successful in a virtual learning environment. As an online school, WAVE (Wilder Academy of Virtual Education) students […]