Attendees of the Project Exploration summer student showcase strolling the project gallery walk on July 30, 2026. Credit: Emma Bradford 
One of the performance groups showcasing their dance for families and other Project Exploration summer participants at the Columbus Park Refectory on July 30, 2026. Credit: Emma Bradford 
After performing the song they worked on during the summer program, young participants take a bow to a crowd filled with families at the Columbus Park Refectory on July 30, 2026. Credit: Emma Bradford 
A Project Exploration young participant of the bat program stands looking at the display for the gallery walk on July 30, 2026. Credit: Emma Bradford
On a warm and humid July 30, youth from the West and South sides gathered at the Columbus Park Refectory to show off what they had been learning all summer long. The day was filled with hip-hop dances, musical performances, cups of perfect lemonade, hatched chickens and a gallery walk of all of the other projects.
Project Exploration was founded in 1999 to provide transformative STEM learning opportunities for young people who have historically been underrepresented in those fields.
One of this summer’s program leaders was Stefania Briones, a Field Museum bat biologist who is both from and trained in Guatemala.
Briones’s program focused on techniques for monitoring bats in Columbus Park, because “we conserve what we know,” she said.
“We do not conserve what we don’t know, so the more we can learn and know about the things that live in our neighborhood and that share our green spaces, the better we will be at conserving them,” said Briones.
The students learned how to make casts of animal tracks, use camera traps, ultrasonic detectors, and various software and programming tools, and even went on three bat walks.
“They did pretty well, and I’m really proud of them,” Briones said.
The organization helps youth build confidence, develop skills, and discover pathways to future education and careers through school-based programs. Programs include community STEM learning centers, career exploration, youth employment, and partnerships with schools, community organizations and STEM professionals.
During the summer, West- and South-side youth can participate in hands-on STEM learning, career exploration, leadership development and paid employment opportunities across multiple Chicago partnerships and organizations.
Aside from learning experiences, Project Exploration hired around 200 young people from the West and South sides of Chicago for the summer program, said Amber Neal, who oversees the youth employment program.
Neal said the summer program is typically the busiest, but “we are an organization that offers many different opportunities for the community.”
That includes fall, winter and spring programs along with after-school programs.
A hydroponic system booth at the gallery walk for the Project Exploration summer student showcase on July 30, 2026. Credit: Emma Bradford 
A row of poster boards at the gallery walk for the Project Exploration summer student showcase on July 30, 2026. Credit: Emma Bradford 
Three houses and their floor plans sitting on a table for the outdoor portion of the gallery walk at the Project Exploration summer student showcase on July 30, 2026. Credit: Emma Bradford 
A table at the gallery walk with poster boards and project diagrams for the Project Exploration summer student showcase on July 30, 2026. Credit: Emma Bradford 
Two participants handling and showing off one of the hatched chicks from their summer program at the Project Exploration summer student showcase on July 30, 2026. Credit: Emma Bradford
“It’s like a family organization,” said Joseph Puckett, a learning behavioral specialist and English teacher at Frederick Douglass Academy High School. “We get to really deep dive into the youth’s life outside the classroom and really help them prepare.”
After graduating from DePaul University, he and other learning behavioral specialists went to Austin to begin working with the community, to work not only with the youth in classrooms but also to reach the whole child, he said. After some networking, they collaborated with Project Exploration to provide STEM and employment opportunities to young people on the West Side.
“These are great opportunities that allow our students to have things during the summer to do and stay out of trouble,” Puckett said. “A lot of our students, some of them, they just have different scenarios, but giving them the opportunity to be exposed to STEM programming and to make money while also learning … I’ve seen students step up in tremendous ways.”
While this session ended, Puckett said many students asked about going into the fall program.
“I’m loving just to see the things that they’re exposed to and the things that they’re learning, and the opportunities that they want to take on now,” he said.
Emma Bradford is an intern for NEWSWELL CHICAGO through Report for America’s Local News Internship Program.