Document Type
Article
Department/Program
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Publication Date
Summer 2019
Journal
Current: The Journal of Marine Education
Volume
33
Issue
2
First Page
20
Last Page
26
Abstract
Non-formal education programs, such as summer camps, offer opportunities for immersive learning and increased experiential science. Summer camps at the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Virginia provide hands-on marine science experiences for 1st–8th grade students. This article assesses the short-term learning gains and long-term impacts of attending a marine science summer camp. Across all age groups, there is evidence of short-term learning, high numbers of new experiences for campers, and increased scientific confidence in many campers. The longitudinal study revealed that these impacts may last until at minimum college, influencing career choice, extracurricular activities, and course enrollment.
Keywords
STEM education, education programs, summer camps, Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, CBNERR
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Munden, Mallory and Nuss, Sarah, Assessing Short-Term Learning and Long-Term Impacts of Non-Formal Education Programs (2019). Current: The Journal of Marine Education, 33(2), 20-26.
https://scholarworks.wm.edu/vimsarticles/1902
