Middle School Girls’ STEEM Summer Institute: Wilderness Stewardship

The STEEM Program provides middle school girls with a professional mentorship opportunity while simultaneously building their confidence and competence in the sciences.
The Summer Institute focuses on a different STEEM topic each week. The week is spent building trust, confidence, and courage in the fields of science, technology, engineering, environment, and math. Activities include hands-on experiential learning opportunities with leaders in STEEM fields, practice in science communication, and setting personal goals for professional and academic careers.
In Wilderness Stewardship week, participants will explore who keeps our trails safe and accessible and the importance of maintaining balance between humans and wild areas. Participants in the Wilderness Stewardship Camp will embark on a journey to answer these questions themselves. This week will include ample hiking, hands-on activities with seasoned professionals, and group collaborations. Wilderness Stewardship week aims to foster a love for nature, kindle scientific inquiry, and highlight the critical role that STEEM disciplines play in conservation efforts.

This year, MNHC is partnering with the Selway-Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation’s Youth Wilderness Program, which aims to connect youth to our forests and encourage the next generation of Wilderness stewards. One of our camp days will be spent with SBFC in the Bitterroot National Forest, campers will explore conservation areas, observe wildlife, and learn how to maintain Wilderness trails using primitive hand tools. Along the way, we will dig into the meaning and history of Wilderness-designated areas and principles for living, traveling, and working in the backcountry.