STEM for Students

Taking Up Space is a small, Indigenous-led nonprofit that gives Native and other underrepresented youth a real pathway into STEM. We do this through hands-on space science camps, garden-based astrobiology projects, and mentorship rooted in community and culture.

This fundraiser will support scholarships for students, materials for workshops, and transportation so that cost is never the reason a child gets left behind. Your gift helps a young person launch model rockets, grow “space gardens,” meet real astronauts, and see themselves as future scientists and engineers.

Every dollar goes directly into programming for kids who might not otherwise have access to these opportunities. Together, we can open doors, build confidence, and help our students take up space in classrooms, labs, and careers where they are still rarely seen.

Our story:

When you ask a child what they want to be when they grow up, their answers are rarely small.

“Astronaut.”

“Engineer.”

“Scientist.”

But for many Native and underrepresented kids, those dreams quietly shrink as they grow older. They do not see people who look like them in STEM jobs. Their schools often lack advanced science programs. Their families may be working hard just to cover basics, with little left for camps, field trips, or enrichment.

That is where Taking Up Space comes in.

We are an Indigenous-led nonprofit that creates hands-on, culturally grounded STEM experiences for youth. Our programs send students to Space Camp, build “space gardens” with beans, corn, and squash, and connect them with role models who show that their heritage and science can walk together.

In our classrooms and camps, students launch rockets, meet astronauts, learn about tardigrades and astrobiology, and see how traditional knowledge can help shape the future of space exploration. Most importantly, they begin to see themselves as capable, smart, and needed.

One student recently shared that before Taking Up Space, she never imagined college or a science career. After attending camp, she spoke at tribal council, served as a junior counselor, and now talks about studying engineering. What changed? Someone invested in her. Someone made room for her to lead.

This fundraiser is about creating more stories like hers.

Your support will help us:

• Provide scholarships so cost is never a barrier
• Purchase materials for hands-on STEM activities and space garden projects
• Cover transportation and meals for students who need it
• Bring in guest speakers such as astronauts, scientists, and Indigenous knowledge keepers

We are community-driven. And every dollar goes directly into programs that turn “I don’t think I can” into “I know I can.”

If you are able to give, you are not just making a donation. You are opening a door that has been closed for far too long. You are telling a young person, “You belong here. Your mind, your culture, and your dreams matter.”

Thank you for helping our youth take up space—in the classroom, in STEM careers, and in the future we are all building together.