|
At the University of Idaho, the state is our campus, from Bonners Ferry to Bear Lake. In between are gems like the McCall Field Campus, which provides incredible experiences for everyone from kindergarteners to post-graduates.
The McCall Outdoor Science School, or MOSS, is the premier experiential STEM Education program in Idaho. Each year, thousands of Idaho K-12 students visit the McCall Field Campus to gain hands-on education in STEM fields.
U of I student Hallie Parsons visited MOSS as a sixth grader and the week-long visit left a lasting impact. She spent the fall at Semester in the Wild, where students live and learn at Taylor Wilderness Research Station, taking immersive courses in ecology, environmental writing, wilderness management, outdoor leadership and environmental history.
“MOSS was honestly a magical experience for me,” Parsons said. “If it weren’t for MOSS, I don’t think I would hold the same love and affinity for nature and science that I do today. It was such a pivotal place for me.”
The Idaho State Board of Education’s data shows that MOSS students are more likely to attend college, with go-on rates 20% higher than the statewide average. MOSS provides students the inspiration and confidence to persist in school and prepares them for a variety of in-demand career fields.
Leaders at Micron are aiming to develop their workforce by expanding K-12 STEM learning opportunities across Idaho. Expanding access to MOSS builds the pipeline of students to meet the needs of Idaho companies.
In addition to K-12 students, hundreds of Idaho educators — formal classroom teachers as well as those working in local governmental agencies and nonprofits — have trained on the MOSS model. Through professional development programs, educators are equipped to excite young people in Idaho’s rural and urban school districts about STEM and natural resources careers.
Our McCall Field Campus is also a haven for U of I students. Freshmen in the College of Natural Resources visit the campus along the shores of Payette Lake each fall to explore career paths and form bonds with peers that often last through graduation and beyond. The weekend orientation session opens students’ eyes to the challenges they’ll face and the opportunities available in their chosen fields.
By leveraging facilities like the McCall Field Campus, the U of I equips students for the jobs Idaho needs and inspires them to meet the state’s biggest challenges.
|
