Res 2018-062/approving the recommendation of the San Marcos Commission on Children and Youth to allocate $50,285 in 2017-2018 Fiscal Year funding for 14 youth programs that contribute to implementation of the Youth Master Plan

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Amount Requested: $5,000Commission on Children and Youth Recommendation: $4,000 Texas State University Aquatic Science Adventure Camp –We all learned in school that 2/3rds of the Earth’s surface is covered in water, but only 3% of that is freshwater. And of that, only a tiny fraction is available for humanuse; comparable to taking a single drop from a gallon jug. In Central Texas, rapid population growth coupled with inconsistent rainfall, exacerbated by climate change, leads to water conservation being discussed with ever-increasing urgency. It is no surprise that we find our water resources being stretched more with each passing decade. Training the next generation of water-wise San Martians is key to our future as a city and state. The Edwards Aquifer Research and Data Center at Texas State University was founded in the 1970’s to study and promote conservation of our region’s limited water resources. Central to that mission is the Aquatic Science Adventure Camp, which is celebrating 30 years of operation this year and is one of the longest running summer science camps in Texas.At the Aquatic Science Adventure Camp, campers spend a week on the Texas State campus and surrounding areas learning about water and the environment through an array of outdoor recreational activities and scientific investigations. Our goal at the camp is to give children a genuinely fun, engaging, and educational experience that opens their eyes to wonders of nature and inspires their innate desire to understand it. Our motto here at the camp is “Real Science, Real Fun!”because we take science learning out of the classroom and allow our campers to discover how much fun being a scientist can be! By working with active research scientists and science teachers, in university setting, we give campers a taste of what a career in science is really like. How they will measure program success: 1) By tracking parents' opinion of program results through an online survey sent out in a post-camp email. 2) By tracking the number of returning students each year. 3) Age-appropriate surveys and evaluations will be given out to camp participants to gauge knowledge retention and impact as well as to provide data to inform future directions for the camp. Priority Areas that this program will fulfill:Outcome/GOAL 3 -San Marcos will have a college and career ready workforce capable of attracting industry to improve economic development and quality of life. 1.Increase high school graduation rates 2. Establish long term research of 8th grade postsecondary plans 6. Improve access and participation in “Bobcat Promise” 7. Get up to 60% high school to college admission rates 8. Improve college graduation rate of students from SCMISD 9. Advocate for local jobs that pay more than living wage STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields are among the fastest growing sectors in the economy. Reaching students from underrepresented populations and introducing them to STEM fields and careers is critical for our success as a city and nation. Our program focuses on middle and early high school students because many of them are still in the process of deciding what they want to be when they grow up. Research has shown that involvement in extra-curricular science education programs has a substantial impact on college admission odds and success in college and beyond. We want to break down the divide in San Marcos between “town and gown” and get local students involved in learning in a campus setting from university faculty, staff, and students. These early impressions are key for inspiring students to pursue post-secondary education. Outcome/GOAL 2 -All children are physically and mentally healthy. Every day at camp, our campers will be engaging in fun and exciting outdoor recreation activities, learning new skills and discovering passions that we hope will stick with them for a lifetime. Students will learn how to paddle a kayak or raft, how to scuba dive, how to snorkel and swim in a river safely, how to walk in nature and identify plants and animals, how to explore a cave, how to climb a rock wall, and much more. We want our campers to challenge their minds and bodies each day and grow in confidence and self-worth. Our counselors and staff engage with each child to encourage them andtalk with them about their lives and interests. We believe that inspiring a love of nature in children will help them stay physically and mentally healthy throughout their lifetimes.