SUMMER Mentors 2025

From Campfires to Coding: Bringing STEM to Life in Goshen County 

This summer, Ashley Baros, Jada Floyd, Maisie Baros, and Mia Saucedo brought creativity, curiosity, and community connection to their roles in Goshen County’s Summer BREAK — an extension of The PRACTICE After School Program. The program served nearly 50 young people while offering a safe and engaging place to learn, explore, and grow.  

PRACTICE is an academic enhancement, tutoring, community activity/enrichment, and prevention youth program dedicated to serving the whole child. “I love that we can provide a safe environment,” Ashley said. “Parents and the community appreciate what we offer—PRACTICE is really a huge part of the community.” 

Taking a Team Approach to STEM Mentorship 

The four staff members from Summer BREAK participated in the Wyoming Enrichment Network’s Summer STEM Mentor program where they engaged in in-person and virtual workshops to grow their skills in youth development, facilitation, and STEM programming. WYEN focuses on STEM because, as STEM Next says, “Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) can spark curiosity in children that can inspire a lasting love of learning.”  

Ashley’s connection to out-of-school-time (OST) began in 8th grade, when she started volunteering with PRACTICE. “I wasn’t technically a student,” she said, “but I did start helping at a young age.” Over the years, she has learned to see STEM in everyday life and now blends hands-on activities with lessons in coding. 

Jada is a University of Wyoming student majoring in Psychology, and she was inspired by the day-to-day interaction with the young people: “Every day was different, and seeing how much the kids learned and grew, both in confidence and curiosity, was genuinely fulfilling. It gave me a deeper appreciation for the kind of impact we can have when we create space for kids to explore, ask questions, and just be themselves. Being part of that process felt meaningful — not just for them, but for me too knowing I contribute to the healthy development of kids in my community!”  

Maisie has been involved with the PRACTICE Program since she was in 4th grade. Now, as a staff member, she sees how “each young person is unique and they bring their own life experiences, needs, and expectations.” Because of this, she appreciates the power of mentorship: “I feel as though I can be that person for them: a mentor and a professional friend.”  

Mia’s ties run just as deep—her mother started the program, and she grew up in it. “I love science and how things work,” she said. “I just love to wonder about things.” She’s particularly inspired by the way young people engage with their surroundings. “The curiosity of it all is amazing.” One of her favorite activities was a simple one: handing each child a six-inch ruler. “They ran around measuring everything,” she said, laughing. 

Explore, Problem-Solve, and Find the Solution 

The season’s programming encouraged kids to explore, problem-solve, and “find the solution.” The team at Summer BREAK built lessons that mixed fun with future-ready skills. In one week, that was themed around fire safety, they invited the local fire department, then followed up with Mia’s crowd-pleasing “Fire Bubbles” experiment—carefully lighting a handful of soap bubbles to teach about gases and combustion. 

As Mia noted, “Kids these days are used to ‘T’—technology.” That’s why they balanced digital skills with hands-on problem-solving. “Kids forget things during the summer,” Mia added. “This keeps them learning, keeps them curious.”  

Organizing seasonally appropriate activities can help to make hands-on learning more relevant. One of the popular activities was an indoor camping adventure! They practiced ‘E’–engineering by building their own tents and creating an imaginary campfire. Ashley said, “It was exciting to watch great structures being built by young students. This activity became a crowd favorite and the kids would often ask to build daily!” 

Summer BREAK Tip  

S’mores Snack Mix Recipe:  

•  Cinnamon Toast Crunch 

• Marshmallows 

• Chocolate chips  

Campfire Activity Instructions: 

Enjoy the S’mores around the “campfire” and use the Boys Town social skills to practice making introductions.  

1. Look at the person. Smile. 
2. Use a pleasant voice. 
3. Say, “Hi, my name is…” 
4. Shake hands (when appropriate). 
5. When you leave, say, “It was nice to meet you, [state the other person’s name].” 

Uncover College and Career Readiness with Community Support

With a focus on college and career readiness, Summer BREAK used field trips and guest visits to broaden the students’ horizons.  

Parents and community members pitched in by leading activities and sharing their expertise. “I’ve never had anyone say no,” Ashley said. “They’re always so willing to help—they put time and effort in, and we really appreciate it.” Ashley noted that these experiences made a big impact on the young people who discover the local industries, workplaces, and pathways: “They just stay curious for those things when we visit those places.”  

At the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Extension Center (SAREC) in Lingle, youth learned about irrigation, insect growth, cattle tagging, and agricultural research. Cent$ible Nutrition educators offered lesson plans and hands-on sessions about healthy living.

[Get activity tips from Cent$ible Nutrition!] 

Summer BREAK took a longer field trip to Cheyenne where they explored the Botanic Gardens. They connected virtually to the Innovation Wyrkshop in Laramie and utilized their Junior Maker Guide.  

With resources and guidance from the Summer STEM Mentors program, Ashley found a renewed interest in lesson planning around STEM—often sparked by recycled materials. “There is so much creating we can do with everyday items,” she said. “STEM is everywhere!” 

[Featured Resource from Innovation Wyrkshop: Download the Junior Maker Guide and find the “Destination: Woodshop” activity with its handy ruler on Page 8.] 

Building Connections While Supporting Youth-Serving Programs 

Summer BREAK in Goshen County shows what happens when young people are given room to explore their interests, build relationships, and grow into leaders. From Ashley and Mia’s commitment to hands-on learning, to Maisie’s journey from participant to mentor, to Jada’s reflections on the power of connection, the program reflects a cycle of growth that strengthens both young people and the community as a whole.  

WYEN is proud to boost this work through the Summer STEM Mentorship program. As Mia noted, “It’s really helped broaden our thinking,” she said. “It makes us feel more supported.”