Time to Explore: Cognizant and Maker Ed Join Forces with Exploring to Increase Making Opportunities for The Boy Scouts of America

The Boy Scouts of America’s Exploring program is teaming up with Cognizant and Maker Ed to bring the popular maker movement to more youth across the country by introducing Maker Exploring posts. The posts will be “maker hubs,” featuring hands-on activities focused on STEM (science, technology, engineering, math), designed to foster creativity and problem-solving skills among youth. Initial launches in four pilot markets — Austin, Detroit, Chicago and San Diego — are planned for 2017.

“As a leader in global business and technology services, we are committed to fostering STEM skills among our nation’s youth, and supporting development of the talent base that will drive innovation in the new digital era,” said James Lennox, Chief People Officer of Cognizant.  “We are proud to partner with Boy Scouts of America and Maker Ed to introduce making into Exploring posts. Making is a catalyst to drive interest and enthusiasm in STEM-oriented activities that encourage creativity, experimentation and collaboration. We believe stimulating intellectual curiosity in this way can be a lifelong motivator for continued learning, and a great way to prepare our youth for the future of work.”

Exploring is a career education program for young men and women that aims to shape the workforce of tomorrow by engaging and mentoring today’s youth in career and life-enhancing opportunities. The program comes to life through Exploring posts that businesses and community organizations initiate by matching their people and program resources to the interests of young people in the community.

The Maker Exploring posts will leverage the format and structure of Maker Ed’s Young Makers program. Cognizant will sponsor each of the posts and engage employee volunteers to act as youth mentors to provide real-world perspectives into technology careers. Youth who develop projects at Maker Exploring posts will have opportunities to showcase their work at Maker Faires throughout the United States.

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