A popular outlet for youth interested in science and technology has partnered with Selkirk College to help continue building a stronger future for the region.
Growing Learning Opportunities With Science (GLOWS) has been offering youth programming in the West Kootenay-Boundary region since 2007 under the auspices of Kootenay Association for Science & Technology (KAST). The program will now be integrated into Selkirk College’s Community Education & Workplace Training (CEWT) department where hands-on science and technology initiatives will continue to flourish.
“We are very excited to become more involved with GLOWS,” says Selkirk College Vice President of Education & Students Neil Coburn. “The work GLOWS does with young people around our region meshes extremely well with the college’s mission to inspire lifelong learning and transform lives through education. We have enjoyed past collaborations with KAST to support this science and technology initiative, and now plan to build a sustainable future for it.”
Faced with significant challenges—primarily changes in priorities for programs and services—and wanting to keep the program going, the KAST board of directors made the decision earlier this year to transition GLOWS to Selkirk College. After a feasibility study, Selkirk College signed on to help administer and grow the program.
“With Selkirk College, the region’s education provider at the helm, GLOWS will build a future generation of scientists, engineers, educators and innovators who are personally invested in the Kootenays and who are most likely to share their talents and resources in the Kootenay-Boundary area, contributing to the region’s economic success and viability,” says Erin Handy, Executive Director of KAST.
GLOWS provides community-based science workshops, camps, events and initiatives, as well as outreach to youth aged five to 19. Programming is provided in many West Kootenay-Boundary communities and includes robotics, coding, chemistry, engineering, environmental science, physics and biology, among other subjects. GLOWS partners with schools, professional associations and other organizations to spur initiatives that allow children of all ages to participate in hands-on science exploration.