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The Challenger Learning Center-St. Louis has been awarded two grants for teacher and student programs that will spark students’ interest in and understanding of science concepts as well as boost their teamwork and communication skills.

“Project Earth: A Prescription for a Healthy Planet” is a $15,000 program that has been funded by the Express Scripts Foundation. It includes a teacher professional development workshop and a planetarium program, which will be delivered to five area schools about the environment. The teachers and schools will be identified later this spring and will selected based on need and interest, with a particular emphasis on underserved schools in the North County area.

The second program, entitled “Girls Rock-It in Science” is being funded in part by the Express Scripts Foundation through a partnership with Girls Inc. of St. Louis® and the Missouri Space Grant Consortium. Both funders are providing $15,000 for the Challenger Learning Center to provide interactive space science programs to participating students at Girls Inc. of St. Louis® this spring and summer. The program includes simulated space missions, rocket-building workshops, planetarium programs and other hands-on activities for over 300 girls ages 6-12. The participants will be enrolled in a spring break and/or summer camp program at Girls Inc. of St. Louis® and are from primarily high-risk and underserved areas.

“The Express Scripts Foundation supports efforts that will help educate and inspire future generation of scientists to use critical thinking to help improve our community,” said Susan Stith, Sr. Director, Diversity and Inclusion. “We are pleased to continue our support to the Challenger Learning Center and Girls Inc., whose innovative programs provide meaningful experiences for both students and teachers.”

The award-winning Challenger Learning Center, located at 205 Brotherton Road in Ferguson, Missouri, provides simulated space missions and other science education programs for schools, scouts and corporate groups as well as for the general public. It features a replica Mission Control center and an orbiting space station.

The Challenger Learning Center-St. Louis is a partnership of the Ferguson-Florissant School District, the Saint Louis Science Center and the Cooperating School Districts and is part of the Challenger Center for Space Science Education. For more information, visit www.clcstlouis.org.