Date: June 2, 2025

Time: 1:30 PM

Location: International Rescue Committee, 5348 University Ave., Suite 205, San Diego, CA 92105

SAN DIEGO — ROOTS welcomed refugee students to its 2025 STEM Camp at the International Rescue Committee tutoring room in City Heights, continuing the organization’s annual program of free, hands-on science education.

Eighteen students, primarily ages 9–13, participated in activities covering chemistry, biology, physics, mathematics, technology, and engineering. ROOTS Club members led lessons designed to give students opportunities to experiment, observe, build, and solve problems rather than simply listen to explanations.

Working with students from varied educational and language backgrounds continued to influence how ROOTS volunteers taught. Lessons emphasized demonstrations, pictures, simple language, and direct experimentation so that students could understand scientific ideas through what they could see and do.

By 2025, the summer camp had become only one part of ROOTS’ year-round programming. STEM Days, educational field trips, book drives, university visits, and community activities allowed many students to return repeatedly. That continuity has helped ROOTS move from simply introducing children to STEM toward supporting their curiosity and confidence over a longer period of time.

About ROOTS

ROOTS, the Refugee Children’s Organization for Tech and Science, is a youth-led volunteer organization dedicated to expanding access to STEM education and enrichment opportunities for refugee children in San Diego. Through partnerships with refugee-serving organizations, schools, universities, and community institutions, ROOTS organizes free STEM camps, STEM Days, educational field trips, book drives, benefit concerts, and other programs designed to build curiosity, confidence, friendship, and community among young learners.