Pathways To Learning

Pathways to Learning showed significant progress in two of our key initiatives for 2022. Our Pathways for Youth in Foster Systems program has seen remarkable success in improving outcomes for children in the foster care system, providing them with the support they need to succeed . Additionally, our Pathways to Progressive Learning program, focused on STEM/STEAM experiential learning, has made great strides in creating interest and identity in STEM pathways. Pathways to Learning (Pathways) in 2022 was awarded a grant to develop a Foster Family Program that integrates their teaching framework of "Green Studio" (GS) into various outdoor learning platforms. The program aims to provide intentionally created, nature-based experiences to foster families, with the ultimate goal of reducing anxiety and improving resiliency. The positive impact of the program will be shared through various media and events, allowing prospective foster families to learn about the benefits of this unique approach. In addition, the program will teach foster youth and their families how to transfer these strategies into other situations. This innovative program will not only benefit foster families but will also contribute to the growing body of research on the effectiveness of nature-based interventions for mental health. Pathways is excited to be at the forefront of this movement and looks forward to the positive outcomes that the Foster Family Program will bring. This program will benefit 1,322 family participants, 333 foster youth and 232 families. Pathways to Progressive Learning (PPL) is a program we grew in 2022. PPL supports grade-level communities by organizing and facilitating nature-based STEM inquiry through various learning platforms. With the ongoing pandemic, it has become even more important to enhance ongoing classroom instruction. PPL programming seeks to achieve this by connecting nature-based activities to wide-ranging content, core concepts, and practices. Additionally, outdoor group activities are designed to improve well-being and socio-emotional development through novel inquiry into familiar aspects of local landscapes such as water, rocks, sunlight, and more. PPL's whole-person programming is an effective way to stem learning loss and support teachers. In 2022, it received foundation funding to bring this program to Title 1 schools throughout the state. This means that students who may not have had access to these types of learning opportunities before will now have a chance to engage in hands-on, nature-based STEM inquiry. By providing safe spaces outdoors at schools, PPL is creating a unique and safe learning environment for students. We believe that this program will have a positive impact on students' academic achievements and socio-emotional development, and we are excited to see the results of its implementation in Title 1 schools. PPL has been focused on developing relationships and partnerships throughout 2022 to further develop its programs focused on STEM and STEAM. These programs have been delivered with a focus on utilizing our outdoor learning platform to create pathways for opportunity youth. There are three learning platforms that have been developed for this purpose, including Applied Learning Tools-STEAM in a Backpack, Ag.in a Bag, and AZ Wild Space. Each of these platforms includes five to six modules with curriculum cards or activity books that are supplemented with supporting items. The curriculum for these programs has been developed in collaboration with PTL, ASU, and U of A. Additionally, PPL has developed a Mobile STEM Discovery Lab which is used to teach STEM concepts directly from the lab at schools. Lastly, PPL has created Residential Outdoor Learning Platforms which offer day or overnight learning programs for students. These programs have been designed to provide engaging and interactive learning experiences that promote hands-on learning and exploration.