Our impact
& testimonials
"Programs like yours inspire kids like me to pursue careers in science. [At school], I was in the English as a Second Language program for Spanish-speaking students. Rather than participating in science lessons, I had private English lessons, so anything science-oriented was a rare treat. One year I had a teacher that would bring us to the Mission Science Workshop, and seeing the various objects there (shells, feathers, bones...etc), I was left with the curiosity of learning about the natural world. I want to thank MSW for making a difference in my life by sparking my interest in science, and teaching me that I don't need a classroom to learn about science. I probably would not have pursued a career in science otherwise. I am now a research assistant at a university, leading a research project looking into the population genetics of snook in South Texas (a marine fish in the Gulf of Mexico) and am involved in other research in marine ecology and landscape genetics."
- Alin Gonzalez, former student of Cesar Chavez Elementary
"Mission Science has always been a space that motivates students to question and wonder about their world."
- Teacher from Moscone Elementary School
"Every time we visit Mission Science Workshop, I hear my students -- even some of the more typically apathetic ones -- exclaiming how much they want to be scientists when they grow up! MSW's programs give kids the freedom to explore with their hands, and learn by doing. Students really seem to love and value the experience of experimenting, tinkering, building, and creating. And they often can't wait to revisit for the weekend programs!"
- Teacher from Monroe Elementary School
Cynthia Jerez, Mission Preparatory Head of School
We are grateful for the work that MSW does, and we believe
that their programs have the potential to impact the lives of our
students in truly transformative ways. We encourage all supporters
to fund MSW's current and future programs and to help ensure that
these invaluable experiences are available to as many students as
possible. Thank you for your commitment to education and to our community.
Thor Boucher, Monroe Elementary Principal
Mission Science Workshop strategies and activities support
cross-content learning in literacy, language development, math, and social and emotional development.
This opportunity,
especially for a school like Monroe that serves students, 76% which are socioeconomically disadvantaged levels the opportunity field when it comes to active engagement with science in
meaningful ways that promotes critical thinking, problem solving, and most importantly, a passion for learning.
Dr Vidriale Franklin, Dr Charles Drew College Preparatory Academy
Mission Science Workshop has
been an outstanding partner to our school over the years and has provided exciting hands-on
experiences for our students who would otherwise miss out on these amazing opportunities.
Mission Science Workshop has been an active community partner supporting our students, staff, and
families in accessing hands-on learning that promotes deeper understandings of science.
By the Numbers
We see over 16,000 individual students per year, across our several program offerings (field trips, after-school programs, summer programs, weekend drop-in days, and mobile programs)
On average, students visit our workshops at least 2 times per year, but usually more!
Most typically, we find that students that visit for a field trip later revisit for our weekend drop-in days, and bring their family members!
We partner with over 90 school and community organizations throughout the Bay Area
We offer a vast majority of our programs for free, or highly subsidized, to ensure that they remain as accessible as possible -- science is for everyone!