Museum of Idaho receives more than $80,000
The Museum of Idaho (MOI) has received new grant and sponsorship money totaling more than $82,000 from the Idaho STEM Action Center.
The money is aimed at further enhancing the museum’s ability to provide educational opportunities surrounding the disciplines of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).
“We are fortunate to partner with entities like the STEM Action Center,” said Kimberly A. Lee, the museum’s Director of Grants. “They share our commitment to increasing access, for all Idaho students and families, to STEM-centered educational opportunities, while simultaneously increasing awareness of the STEM skills needed to propel Idahoans into future job markets.”
The sum from the Idaho STEM Action Center includes $35,000 traveling exhibit and gallery sponsorship for the museum’s multidisciplinary Discover Steampunk exhibit and $10,000 for the major presenting sponsorship of a Maker Faire, which MOI plans to host in September.
The grant portion provides funding for MOI to hire a full-time education assistant for a year as well as provide 30 need-based scholarships for area youth to attend the museum’s Rocky Mountain Adventure Camps this summer.
Additional grant money will allow MOI to offer its monthly parent/toddler education class free for a year.
The class, known currently as “Little Learners,” will be rebranded as “Growing STEM Strong.”
In late 2017, the STEM Action Center also awarded the museum nearly $20,000 for educator training through new Makey-Makey computer science workshops and MOI’s Rocky Mountain Adventure Educator Camps offered throughout the summer.
