NYLF Pathways to STEM Curriculum
The curriculum encourages students to investigate their interests while simultaneously developing leadership skills, unleashing the power to grow through adventures that excite the imagination, and unlocking new doors of learning.
The forum consists of three unique pathways and Leadership Group meetings that take students beyond the typical classroom experience and invigorate the natural curiosity that is the gift of childhood. Through hands-on workshops and interactive simulations, students will discover the vast opportunities in the innovative STEM fields.
Medicine Pathway
As prospective medical professionals, your students will embark on a fascinating journey into the most complex of machines—the human body. Students explore aspects of human anatomy, focusing on the heart and lungs. They even participate in an emergency medicine simulation and perform a dissection.
Engineering Pathway
The engineers of tomorrow undertake hands-on design challenges as they delve into the world of engineering and explore the engineering design process. To further practice their engineering design skills, students program mBot robots, which they use to complete a mission that contributes to solving a case and then are able to take home after the program to continue their STEM exploration.
CSI Pathway
Young detectives probe deep into the world of crime scene investigation as they attempt to crack a case using finger print and blood drop analysis, deductive reasoning, and forensic chemistry. These super sleuths will uncover critical clues as they seek to identify the guilty party and recover the missing item.
Leadership Groups
The Leadership Group meetings are the cornerstone of the NYLF Pathways to STEM experience. Daily interactive learning activities present students with guided practice and individual application in small team settings. The important concepts and skills introduced lay the groundwork for growth and personal development in five key leadership areas: Emotional Awareness, Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, and Goal Setting.
NYLF Pathways to STEM Sample Schedule

The New York Academy of Sciences’ STEM Certification Program is designed to advance quality STEM education worldwide. Certified programs must meet rigorous standards to show that they prepare students for 21st century careers in science, technology, engineering, and math. These programs are reviewed by independent experts to ensure that they build essential content knowledge and career-readiness skills like critical thinking, creativity, and communication.
The Impact of Nominating
Since 1985, Envision by WorldStrides has helped more than 800,000 high-achieving students, ranging from elementary school through college, expand their leadership abilities, discover their passion for a future career, and realize the power of their potential. A majority of those students were nominated by caring, inspiring teachers who recognized their potential for a bright future and rewarded them with a nomination to an Envision program.
The value and positive impact your nomination has on a student cannot be overstated. Even if your nominees decide not to attend a program, just being selected is an empowering and often a life-changing event. You have the power to make an impact—your vote of confidence in their hard work and dedication builds confidence and inspires them to keep reaching their goals.