Support TFO's Mission
Rashedah, mother of TFO students
"I have two eighth graders in the program. Both love coming here. I've never seen them more engaged in school and with friends. Of course they like to hang around their friends, but I've never seen them more excited about science and math. TFO gets the kids not just involved, but excited about learning. I love being involved with them, so to chaperone and be involved with their education and their extracurricular activities means a lot to me. Seeing them excited about learning, going on these field trips, and seeing things they've never seen before (and I've never seen before) is great. I hope to continue that even when they're done."
Research shows that summer learning loss is real—test scores flatten or drop during summer vacation, with the most significant declines occurring in math. For elementary and middle school students in underserved communities across Metro Atlanta and Phoenix, summer break can play a significant role in widening the achievement gap. Together Friends Organization's summer STEAM/e enrichment program is designed to keep academic skills sharp in a fun and engaging environment.
Open to students entering grades K-8, the 4-5 week program introduces students to hands-on STEAM/e enrichment activities that build on classroom learning. Through engaging projects and real-world exploration, students discover their individual strengths, develop confidence, and gain a head start on the academic year ahead.
Our summer participants will:
Our core values and guiding principles teach that learning is an active process, and we encourage members to take charge of their own learning journey. At our summer camp, students practice evaluating their own performance on projects. This self-assessment, coupled with the setting of short-term and long-term goals, helps them create and achieve their own milestones in the future.
Students with Captain Jay from Delta Airlines
Activities are designed to help members explore new passions in STEAM/e fields, but we also prioritize exposing students to real-world scenarios. We host weekly guest speakers who share their backgrounds and reasons for choosing their career paths as well as the challenges they have overcome. Our field trips provide members with a better understanding of STEAM/e career options that they might not have known about. We want students to understand why it's important to learn about math and science, and help them make the connection between STEAM/e projects with TFO and where it could lead them.
Weekly team discussions and regular journal reflections help guide students through this program. Participants discuss what they learned, what STEAM/e careers they were exposed to (through projects, field trips, or guest speakers), and consider how certain activities made them feel. For example, if a math exercise made them feel nervous or if a science problem made them feel excited. Through this process, students explore what STEAM/e fields might be of interest to them.
Support Our Mission
Your contribution can make a profound difference. By donating to TFO, you help us continue to provide essential resources and opportunities to students who need them most. Join us in our mission to transform lives and build a brighter future for all. Donate today and be a part of our impactful work.