IslandTime Treasures Announces New “STEM through Art” Based After-School Program

New STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) based after-school program is the foundation for additional programs featuring build-your-own learning activities for children ages 3-13 plus!

(Ellenton, FL) April 9, 2014 - IslandTime Treasures is excited to announce “Connecting STEM through Art” – a brand new after-school program developed to support our new focus on education.

The new course teaches the science of shells, the engineering of sand-casting, the math of mixing child-safe plaster, and how it is applied to create a build-your-own project. The new after-school program is tailored for children aged 3-13+, and provided at schools, preschools, daycares, and camps by trained staff members of IslandTime Treasures franchise locations.

Integrating Arts into STEM education has been met with enthusiasm and is being advocated for by many lawmakers. In early 2013, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Congressman Aaron Schock (R-IL) announced the formation of the Congressional STEAM (STEM+Arts and Design) Caucus. The caucus group is an advocate for policy changes that will encourage educators to integrate arts with traditional STEM curriculum, increase awareness of the importance of STEAM education, and explore new strategies to advocate for STEAM programs.

“Effective learning is reinforced with hands-on activities. We feel teaching children the fundamentals of STEM and how it directly relates to an art project they are building, creates knowledge stickiness from that learning experience. This is particularly true for children with a short attention span or who are not quick academic learners. Our after-school program gives those children the opportunity to learn without fear of messing something up. This sparks their creativity and provides them with a really cool project to take home for their parents.” said Lonnie Helgerson, Co-Founder and President of IslandTime Treasures. “Additionally, with steep funding and program cuts continually being made to schools nationwide, we saw a need for our style of build-your-own projects and it how it incorporates STEM learning into the process. Our program is cost-effective for parents and fills the void left by the funding cuts.”

For more information, or to schedule a “Connecting STEM through Art” after-school program, please visit www.IslandTimeTreasures.com

About IslandTime Treasures

Build a Treasure in the Sand… Playing on the popularity of make-your-own concepts like Build-A-Bear, IslandTime Treasures allows guest artists to design crafts using beach sand and a proprietary plaster called “Island Mud”. Initially conceived as a home-based mobile operation for birthdays, fairs, festivals, and other public venues – IslandTime Treasures is expanding into project based craft activities for schools, preschools, daycares, and camps. IslandTime Treasures is a brand of Gulfstream Brands LLC and currently has locations in Arkansas, Florida, Nevada, North Carolina, and South Carolina. www.IslandTimeTreasures.com

Media Contact:

Lonnie Helgerson, CFE

President

727-455-0056

lonnie@islandtimetreasures.com

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