​As part of GEM Environmental’s GEM for STEM: Field Experience Program, we were able to take students from Yavapai College on a field trip to Freeport McMoRan’s Bagdad Mine in Bagdad, AZ. 

​On Friday, October 18th, 2019 the students from Cindy Smith’s Environmental Geology class, along with the students from Dr. Beth Boyd’s Intro to Geology class, were given the opportunity to be introduced to the processes involved in copper mining. They also were able to meet the industry professionals who make it all happen! 

​Bagdad is an open-pit copper and molybdenum mining complex that hides in the beautiful hills of Bagdad, AZ. The Bagdad operation consists of a 75,000 metric ton-per-day concentrator that produces copper and molybdenum concentrate, an SX/EW plant that can produce up to 32 million pounds per year of copper cathode from solution generated by low-grade stockpile leaching, and a pressure-leach plant to process molybdenum concentrate. This massive production helps Freeport McMoRan remain a leading international mining company, providing many STEM related jobs.

GEM is working to inspire a new generation of scientists by showing students firsthand, how the concepts they are learning in the classroom are applied to real life situations by companies like Freeport McMoRan at the Bagdad Mine. Students on the trip were given the opportunity to meet with industry professionals from a varying array of STEM careers to discuss what schooling they had to complete get to where they are and what processes they had to go through. It was our intent to show students the wide variety of well-paying jobs available to both degree and non-degree seeking students here in Yavapai County. 

This trip was provided with grant funding awarded to GEM by The Arizona Community Foundation of Yavapai County, through their Environmental and Sustainability Fund. For more information on how you can help fund future GEM Programs check out our Donate section at the top of the page.

On Wednesday, October 23rd, 2019, GEM Environmental hosted an on-sight STEM DAY at Primavera School in Prescott, AZ! Our Program Coordinator and AmeriCorps VISTA, Madison Link, teamed up with the amazing staff at Primavera School to create a fun-filled day of learning with the school’s 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade students.

Madison, along with our AmeriCorps State Members, Alex Monksfield, Kali Plummer, and Jason Parker spent numerous hours putting together this event; working hard to make sure the day went smooth. The events included: germinating seeds, identifying rocks, creating cacti, identifying animals, making a rainbow, creating a learning tree and flying bats.

 The day was a huge success thanks to our wonderful group of volunteers. In addition to the GEM team and AmeriCorps members, we had volunteers from Prescott College and Tri-City Prep. Another great day made possible by all the wonderful people in our community. GEM FOR STEM!

G.E.M. Environmental members Alex, Madison and Kali at the B.I.G. event.

G.E.M. Environmental had a wonderful time at the Yavapai Big Brother Big Sister 2019 Picnic on Sunday! Kids of all ages enjoyed creating their own slime and building fun geometric shapes with marshmallows and toothpicks. Many of the mentors and older kids enjoyed learning about out scholarship and internship opportunities.

There was something for everyone at the G.E.M. Environmental booth. All visitors were very excited to learn about our STEM opportunities, while getting to participate in a fun, hands on STEM activity. With amazing volunteers, this community outreach event was a complete success. Thank you to everyone who came out to support us!

Join us on September 28th from 3:00PM-6:00PM at the Northern Arizona University Fieldhouse for a fun-filled afternoon exploring Girl Scout activities, which will focus on four program pillars: STEM, the Outdoors, Life Skills, and Entrepreneurship!

Girls will participate in different badge activities, meet amazing community partners and learn all about the opportunities they offer Girl Scouts, Girl Scout Travel, learn all about High Awards, and exchange S.W.A.P.’s with other girls from our council! There will also be activities for adults to learn more about how they can engage and support their G.I.R.L.s in Girl Scouts!

This is a family event! G.E.M. Environmental will be there to hand out scholarship information to the older girls and to do fun activities with the younger girls. One thing we will be doing for sure is letting the girls create their own slime!

We hope to see you there!

Join us on August 25th at the Yavapai Big Brother Big Sister Picnic from 11AM-3PM

Location: Granite Creek Park, 554 6th Street, Prescott

G.E.M. Environmental will be holding a booth at the picnic to help get the kids excited about STEM. We will have little experiments set up for the kids to participate in. We will also have some STEM scholarship information to hand out to older kids.

Click here to volunteer at this event.
Have questions? Contact madison@gemenvironmental.org

Little Free Libraries are a global phenomenon. The small, front yard and sidewalk book exchange boxes number nearly 50,000 and can be found in all 50 states and in 70 countries around the world — from Iceland to Tasmania to Pakistan. G.E.M. Environmental plans to add multiple libraries around Prescott, AZ.

Through the Little Free Libraries initiative, millions of books are exchanged across the nation each year, profoundly increasing access to books for readers of all ages and backgrounds. These Little Free Library boxes are available year-round. Community members and passersby are invited to give a book they’ve enjoyed or take a book that sparks their interest.

Our goal is to raise $750 for building supplies. You can make your donation any time between now and August 31st. Just click HERE.

GEM will also be holding a volunteer building event on September 7th at 10am. If you’re interested in coming out to volunteer, please email madison@gemenvironmental.org for more information or apply online here.