MYSTIC — The Mystic Aquarium has been awarded a $4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s Multistate Mentoring Programs initiative to expand its STEM Mentoring program.
The 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization said that the funding will enable the aquarium to bring conservation-based STEM education and mentoring experiences to youth in communities across more than 25 states and territories.
The aquarium’s STEM Mentoring program is designed to positively impact the social development and academic achievement of youth by connecting them with caring mentors through hands-on experiences in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The program aims to help young people build confidence, leadership skills, community resilience, and interest in future STEM careers. 
“This $4 million investment represents a transformational opportunity to expand the reach and impact of Mystic Aquarium’s STEM Mentoring program nationwide,” Mystic Aquarium President and Chief Executive Officer Susette Tibus said in a statement. “By combining mentoring, hands-on STEM experiences, and strong community partnerships, we will help thousands of young people build confidence, develop critical life skills, and explore future career pathways. We are proud to partner with the U.S. Department of Justice in advancing mentoring as a powerful strategy to help youth thrive.”
The aquarium media transformational investment will substantially increase Mystic Aquarium’s national reach, impact and visibility, according to the statement. Over the life of the grant, the program will expand to approximately 85 after-school sites nationwide, bringing the aquarium’s mission, educational expertise, and conservation leadership to communities across the country. Potential partner organizations include sites in Tennessee, Alabama California, Connecticut, Indiana, South Dakota, Rhode Island, and many other states and territories.
In alignment with Mystic Aquarium’s strategic plan, the funding will support the development of a new aquarium-specific STEM curriculum centered on the organization’s animal rescue, conservation and scientific research programs. The grant will also expand the aquarium’s national training opportunities for partner organizations, grow its Peer Mentor Leadership Academy and strengthen its nationwide network of STEM Mentoring affiliate sites.
The grant also will support the continued growth of Mystic Aquarium’s Peer Mentor Leadership Academy (PMLA), an immersive summer program for peer mentors ages 12–17. Hosted by the aquarium, the PMLA brings together young leaders from across the country for hands-on STEM experiences, leadership workshops, conservation learning, career exploration and mentor development. Participants return to their communities equipped to serve as role models while helping their mentees build confidence, resilience and STEM skills.
The STEM mentoring model pairs youth with peer and adult mentors in weekly after-school sessions that blend relationship-building, leadership development, career exploration, and STEM learning through the lens of conservation. Example activities include monitoring water quality, making a butterfly feeding station, playing a game about seabird migration, participating in a nature-based scavenger hunt and exploring STEM careers. Participants will also design and conduct projects to address conservation challenges unique to their communities.
“At Mystic Aquarium, we believe every young person deserves access to caring mentors, engaging STEM experiences, and opportunities to envision their future,” said MaryEllen Mateleska, vice president of Education and Conservation. “This funding will expand our proven STEM Mentoring program to reach thousands of youth across the country, strengthen mentoring relationships, and inspire the next generation of STEM leaders. We’re excited to partner with organizations nationwide to create lasting impact for youth, families and communities.”
The aquarium thanked several individuals and organizations who supported making the award possible, including U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, and U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney (D-2nd District) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-3rd District).
The program will start with comprehensive training for staff at participating organizations, mentee and mentor recruitment and training, as well as include the launch of weekly mentoring sessions. Expected outcomes for participants include increased social competencies, reduced risk indicators, stronger academic interest, and strengthened mentoring relationships.
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