The PAST bridge programs offer an array of exciting projects that students, adults, teachers and partners can become involved in. The projects are structured fro both day and overnight throughout the summer months. Each program targets a specific audience and is structured to meet the needs of participants.
View a complete list of our current programs >>
Over the past ten years PAST programs have evolved into bridge programs as the PAST Foundation team strives to build programs that use the world as schoolroom, immerse students in learning and have real outcomes. Bridge Programs stand apart from concept to implementation. The term bridge is a way to help students move from one way of thinking or one level of thinking to the next. The programs provide the bridge reinforcing critical thinking and exposing students to at least three levels of problem-based learning.
Level I: Bridge Level I programs target students entering 8th and 9th grades providing immersion experience in hands-on learning and the scientific methodology used to produce results.
Level II: Bridge Level II programs challenge students entering the 10th grade and higher with real world issues that require real solutions. Students take on the challenge and present their recommendation to program partners.
Level III: Bridge Level III are about leadership and stewardship. These programs fall into two categories; opportunities for students entering the 11th and 12th grades (high school) to grow into leadership roles within Bridge Level II programs and second for collegiate students and adults to gain deep content experience in a specialty field such as Forensic Anthropology or Underwater Archaeology.
Bridge program success is derived from several years of planning, scaling, testing, and defining real world issues and partnerships with engaging education. There are four vital components of the Bridge program structure — real issues, real partners, a transdisciplinary approach and a polished presentation of learning following the traditional cycle of design principles used in all scientific methodologies.
Using the bridge program structure the PAST Foundation touches hundreds of life long learners each year. Each program has its own unique qualities and activities. Each program has a practical goal and set of presentations. Each program reaches out to the public in real time through social networking and later through podcasts.
