Youth Science Institute

Our very own Allyson Dudzinski and Jack Smestad sharing all that’s wonderful about the YSI with Santa Clara educators at the Environmental Literacy Summit! Excited to give out our new wildflower seed balls to make some local pollinators very happy! 🐞🐝

YSI is spending this day of action surrounded by educators and other nonprofits who are dedicated to nature-based learning at the Santa Clara County Office of Education Environmental Literacy Summit. We are inspired by the keynote from Jose G. Gonzalez of Latino Outdoors on how to “Be with nature, as nature, in radical and revolutionary balance” and having a Life-honoring worldview.

📣 YSI is still accepting scholarship applications for Summer Camp 2025! We aim to sponsor 8-10 more free weeks of camp for eligible families. Our camps combine scientific concepts with hiking, arts & crafts, and interactive games with special programs featuring our live animal ambassadors. If you know anyone who might be interested, please send them our way! Info on eligibility is available here: https://lnkd.in/gQq-JjvP

YSI is thrilled to attend and exhibit at the Santa Clara County Office of Education 🌳 Environmental Literacy Summit 🌳 this Saturday, April 5th in #SanJose. Stop by our booth to learn about our latest programs that engage young learners in nature-based science education. 🐞 🔬 Want to join? Register here: https://lnkd.in/g5jHJbmg #STEM #STEMEducation #BayArea #Sustainability #ClimateChange #SiliconValley

We are excited to announce a new partnership between the Youth Science Institute and CP Mentorship! 🎉 This collaboration kicks off with a birdwatching event on March 23rd in Alviso, where participants will have the opportunity to connect with nature and learn about local bird species. CP Mentorship, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing enriching camps and hands-on learning experiences, aligns perfectly with our mission to foster a deeper appreciation for the natural world. 🌎 We look forward to a fruitful collaboration that enhances educational opportunities for students across various programs. Join us in this and future endeavors as we continue to inspire and educate. 🌱 Visit our website and navigate to our 'Events' tab to register! #YSI #CPMentorship #Birdwatching #NatureEducation #CommunityPartnership #STEMEducation

Do your kids love painting and being out in Nature? If so, register for a week-long mural camp hosted by CP Mentorship Summer Camp at South Bay Yacht Club as they paint a mural in beautiful Vasona Lake Park, part of Santa Clara County Parks. We cannot wait to see how the mural turns out! A special thank you to Catherine Liu for her hard work and dedication to #youth #education. Learn more and register here: https://lnkd.in/g-dMAyXN

YSI is hiring for summer camp instructors! If you love science, nature, and helping kids explore - this is the role for you (or your grown up kids). We have >10 instructor roles to fill and provide How to be a Camp Instructor/CPR/First Aid training. Details are in the job posting. Reach out if you have questions. 🧬🔭

Summer is right around the corner, and we cannot wait! Our 2025 Summer Camp season is going to be our best yet. Join our outstanding team and help us make science come alive for young minds! This is more than a summer job - it's an opportunity to inspire future scientists and nature enthusiasts while having fun outdoors in beautiful Vasona Lake County Park 🔬 🌲 🐞 Learn more and apply: https://lnkd.in/gNa82KkT Explore our summer camps - they are filling up fast! https://lnkd.in/gJ2zsBDe #BayArea #Jobs #Education #STEM #SummerCamp #YouthCamp #Career #Hiring #Sustainability

Seeking Spectacular Volunteer Board Members! Youth Science Institute (YSI) is seeking spectacular volunteer board members to join a dynamic organization. We are specifically looking for individuals with a fundraising and/or accounting background. Previous board experience preferred, but not required. The Youth Science Institute (YSI) is a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization whose mission is "to inspire enthusiasm for science and a love of learning". We fulfill our mission by offering hands-on, nature-based, science education to children, families, and the general public. We offer School and Group Programs, Summer Science Camps, weekend Science Safaris, and annual community events. Many of our programs include live animals and nature hikes. Each year, we deliver inquiry-based life, physical, earth, and social science to nearly 30,000 pre-K to sixth-grade students. Since our founding in 1953, we have served hundreds of thousands of children. YSI maintains three Science and Nature Centers, where we deliver our hands-on science and experiential environmental education programs: Alum Rock Park, San Jose, CA; Sanborn County Park, Saratoga, CA; and Vasona Lake County Park, Los Gatos, CA. Each Center has unique artifacts, collections, and resources that connect the public with nature while teaching science. Potential volunteer board members for this role would be expected to attend one Committee meeting per month and one Board meeting per month. This is an approximate five hour per week time commitment. Interested? Please email volunteer@ysi-ca.org.