Impacts of a STEM-Focused Summer Camp on Postsecondary Aspirations for Rural Appalachian High School Students

Out-of-school experiences are important opportunities for career and educational development, especially for underserved students. This study explored the experiences of rural Appalachian high school students who attended a STEM-based summer camp and the impacts on their college and STEM attitudes and beliefs. Grounded in Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT; Lent et al., 1994 ), the camp provided hands-on learning experiences, mentorship, and career exploration opportunities with the goal of increasing students’ college-going self-efficacy, science identity, and STEM career interest. Findings indicate that students who attended the summer program experienced an immediate increase in self-efficacy and science identity following the summer camp, as well as a positive increase in STEM career interest over time compared to a matched sample of non-participants. These results highlight the potential of out-of-school STEM programming to support college and career development and extend the longer-term impact of STEM interventions.