Teaching STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) to youth is unbelievably important.  According to the Council of Canadian Academies, elementary school is the best time to start introducing STEM topics, like Ryves Up! does for Franklin Elementary students in Terre Haute.  Children at this age start to form their attitudes toward STEM subjects.  Developing interest and having fun with STEM, such as laughing third grader Carmen McMurray stating the red fluid from a white radish looks like a chopped off finger, makes kids more likely to pursue STEM in the future.

Kids that are taught STEM at an early age are set up for success in their futures.  The U.S. Department of Commerce says STEM occupations are growing almost twice as fast as non-STEM majors, at 17% compared to 9.8%.  An article from Engineering For Kids discusses the benefits of providing kids a STEM education.  This article mentions STEM taught children will be more likely to pursue STEM degrees, and that STEM degree holders have a higher average income even in non-STEM careers.  The STEM education from Ryves Up! helps teach kids problem solving, critical thinking, and sets them up for a more sustainable economic future for themselves and their future families.

STEM teaches kids about topics with real life applications, which keeps the kids interested and engaged, similar to this video. An article from Deseret News discusses the room for growth in the future for STEM.  All careers, especially as time goes on, will require basic STEM competencies whether they are STEM or non-STEM.  The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology reports there will be a deficiency of 1,000,000 STEM graduates from now until 2025.  This means kids that pursue STEM will be in an advantageous position to obtain STEM careers.