STEM Pathways

Connecting Carteret County youth with science, nature, and each other.

STEM Pathways is a multi-level mentoring program at the Duke University Marine Lab that connects local middle and high school students with university students and scientists through hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) experiences.

At the heart of STEM Pathways is positive youth development. Through research, outdoor exploration, storytelling, art, and near-peer mentorship, students build scientific knowledge while developing confidence, creativity, leadership, and connections with their local coastal environment and each other.

How STEM Pathways Works

College Students (Environmental Educator Interns): Serve as Environmental Educators and near-peer mentors while designing and facilitating summer programming.

High School Interns: Work with PhD mentors on research projects and become mentors themselves during middle school camps.

Middle School Campers: Explore local ecosystems through science, storytelling, art, field experiences, and inquiry.

PhD Student Scientists: Mentor high school interns through authentic, hands-on scientific research.

Everyone has the opportunity to be both a learner and a leader. This tiered mentorship model connects young people with role models at different stages of their educational journeys while creating a community centered around science, nature, and learning.

Two Major Components of STEM Pathways

STEM Pathways

High School Student Internship

Mentored research and outreach experiences for high school students.

STEM Pathways

Middle School Summer Camps

STEAM-based camps connecting youth with coastal ecosystems

Our Funder

Walters Family Fund

The STEM Pathways Summer Camps are made possible through the generous support of the Walters Family Fund. Their funding allows CSI to offer the program at no cost to participating students and families, including hands-on STEM programming, transportation, meals, field experiences, and mentorship opportunities. We are grateful for their continued investment in creating accessible and meaningful STEM learning experiences for youth across Carteret County.

Our Community Partner

Carteret County Public Schools (CCPS)

CSI continued its partnership with CCPS to deliver four weeks of camp programming on the DUML campus.

Working closely with CCPS central service team, the team identified and recruited middle school participants from each CCPS middle school and two after-school programs.

Highlights from 2026 STEM Pathways

STEM Pathways High School interns (green tie dye shirts), Environmental Educator interns (blue tie dye shirts) and middle school campers from Broad Creek Middle School celebrating the last day of camp with popsicles!

Two high school interns, Chloe Barnes (left) and Blake Bouler (middle), and a DUML counselor, Max Freudenheim (right), teaching middle school campers about the difference between Lightning and Knobbed Whelks.

One high school intern and the environmental educator intern (in tie-dye shirts) working with their camp group on their shadow puppet show about predator-prey relationships.

High school interns, Kyle and Jacob (in green tie dye shirts), with Their PhD mentor, Maddie (left), presenting their research on The Effect of Vehicle Disturbance on Harbor Seal Vigilance Levels at the poster showcase in front of the DUML community.

High school intern, Jazz (left), with her PhD mentor, Emma (right), at the poster showcase.

Middle school campers exploring living shoreline with NC Coastal Fed education team.

STEM Pathways in the News

“Carteret middle schoolers explore local ecology through Duke marine lab summer camps.” Carolina Coast Online, 30 July 2026, www.carolinacoastonline.com/news_times/article_00f8b27b-7d94-4c9e-b331-9a5cf7edc1dd.html.

“Duke marine lab’s summer internship program provides opportunities for high school students.” Carolina Coast Online, 5 Aug. 2026, www.carolinacoastonline.com/news_times/article_099d9655-5d3c-453b-8a28-f8321190cbee.html.