FY25_ImpactReport_Digi_081826 - Flipbook - Page 11
CONNECTEEN
ConnecTEEN, supported by Lockheed
Martin, offers teens a unique opportunity
to explore STEM careers while serving
their community. This applicationbased summer volunteer program
brings together cohorts of students for
immersive two-week experiences that
combine hands-on Museum engagement
with real-world career exploration.
The 2025 summer program expanded
industry partnerships, offering students
five to seven professional workshops
per cohort. Teens worked alongside
experts from companies including
Children’s Health, Flowserve, GM, PepsiCo
R&D, and Jacobs, gaining authentic
insight into diverse STEM careers while
developing workforce readiness skills.
The summer program served 110
students and delivered more than 50
workshops, while a generous grant from
UWorld enabled the Museum to run fall
and winter sessions for Dallas ISD
students. This comprehensive approach
to teen engagement creates a pipeline
of inspired, prepared students ready
to shape the future of STEM.
SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS
The Perot Museum welcomed more than
135,000 students this year for field trip
experiences that transform how kids
see science. Students investigated fossils,
built circuits, explored insects, solved
chemistry mysteries, and conducted
dissections — all guided by trained Museum
educators. Every program is aligned
with the Texas Essential Knowledge
and Skills (TEKS) standards, helping
students connect Museum experiences
directly to their classroom curriculum.
Research makes clear why these visits
matter so much: Children who develop
an interest in science by middle school
are two to three times more likely to
pursue STEM careers. For children ages
6-11, the years when science excitement
is the strongest predictor of future STEM
pursuits, informal learning experiences
like a Museum field trip aren’t just
enriching — they’re essential. Studies show
that 65% to 85% of students leave a
science museum visit with a heightened
interest in STEM. In a region where those
careers are growing at twice the national
rate, that spark of curiosity can create
pathways that last a lifetime.
Through partnerships with school districts
across North Texas and financial aid
for Title I schools, we opened the door
to students who might never otherwise
walk through it — ensuring that every
child, regardless of circumstance, has
the chance to discover that science
belongs to them.
2025 IMPACT REPORT | 11
