"YouthSF… truly a role model for how youth programs should operate."

T. Davidson

Mission

YouthSF prepares students (K-12) from underserved populations to more actively participate in the digital revolution that is transforming our world.

YSF is pioneering a Tec Rec™ pedagogy designed to engage and inspire students in the study of science, technology, engineering, math, maker & media arts; STEM/MM.

Tec Rec™ enables students to learn subject material, but more importantly, promotes learning how to learn.

YSF’s student run lab in San Francisco and afterschool programs are part computer lab, toy store, makerspace, science lab, electronics shop, playground and internet café.

YouthSF provides dynamic learning environments bursting with stimulating ideas, products and projects where students explore, discover, play, create, collaborate and… learn... without realizing they are “learning”.

    • A student-centric framework allows student’s to follow their own interests and organically expand their exploration.

    • Peer-to-peer exploration & collaboration are fostered.

    • The primary role of trained facilitators is to offer encouragement and support.

    • YSF believes that deep learning is fostered by active, hands-on, projects.

    • STEM fields of study require the application of ideas to physical constructs.

    • Most importantly, making stuff is FUN!

    • Projects add an important dimension to academic study.

    • Collaboration is fostered in project-based learning.

    • Communication skills improve through project collaboration

    • Adding a real-world component to academic studies can help bring ideas and theories to life.

    • Engaging students in real-world issues promotes understanding and social awareness.

    • Mistakes are celebrated but perseverance is expected. Engagement is our key metric.

TEC REC™

Inspiration

The Mike Homer Innovation Program seeks to promote creativity in the study of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) by offering FUN, inventive and inspiring projects through distance learning. The program will help prepare students and schools for a new digital world. A world where many of the jobs students will hold do not yet exist! Creative thinking has been identified as a crucial 21st century skill needed to drive innovation.