Afterschool Resilient Mentoring Program
Building connections, confidence, and curiosity through consistent mentorship.
The Afterschool Resilient Mentoring Program connects Duke University Marine Lab students with K-12 students at the Boys & Girls Club of the Coastal Plain through consistent, relationship-centered afterschool programming. Duke student volunteers serve as near-peer mentors, supporting youth with homework, hands-on STEM learning, and everyday opportunities to build confidence, practice curiosity, and make meaningful connections.
By showing up throughout the school year, mentors become familiar and supportive faces for students while gaining experience working alongside local youth and community partners.
What Mentoring Looks Like
Throughout the 2025-2026 academic year, CSI coordinated and trained 15 Duke Marine Lab student volunteers to participate in afterschool programming at the Boys & Girls Club three days each week.
Mentors worked directly with students through a combination of:
- Homework Support: helping students work through assignments and build confidence in school.
- STEM Exploration: engaging youth in informal science, technology, engineering, and environmental learning.
- Near-Peer Mentorship: creating consistent opportunities for young people to connect with college and graduate students.
- Relationship Building: spending time talking, playing, learning, and building trusted relationships with students.
Together, Duke volunteers completed 43 visits and contributed more than 2,200 youth contact hours during the year.
Beyond Weekly Mentoring
The partnership also creates opportunities for youth to experience STEM beyond regular afterschool programming.
Coding with Ozobots
Teen Center participants explored introductory coding and problem-solving through hands-on activities with Ozobots (programmable robots), designed by UNC-IMS PhD Sally Dowd, allowing students to experiment with coding concepts in an interactive and accessible way.
Summer STEM Experiences
CSI also hosted a two-day summer STEM camp for youth from the Boys & Girls Club’s Sunshine Lady and Teen Center programs. Students visited the Duke Marine Lab for hands-on science activities and opportunities to explore coastal and marine environments.
Our Community Partner
Boys & Girls Club of the Coastal Plain
CSI’s partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of the Coastal Plain helps connect Duke Marine Lab students with local youth through sustained afterschool and summer programming.
Together, the organizations create opportunities for students to explore STEM, receive academic support, meet near-peer mentors, and build lasting connections with the broader coastal community.
