Looking back on the year, Navopache wanted to share what they have accomplished, their next steps, and what they are most looking forward to in 2020.

What have you enjoyed the most?

Our greatest success has been the opportunity that we’ve had to support new STEM projects in almost every community of our region. From a chicken coop in pre-kindergarten outdoor classroom in Vernon, a robotics club in Cibecue on the White Mountain Apache Tribe that supported girls to attend and compete in national robotics competitions, an airplane build in the Heber Airpark, an interactive sandbox in a preschool in Heber exposing 3-4 years olds to topography, geology, weather patterns, and water currents, to a junior high school after school STEM club in Snowflake solving real-world challenges faced by residents in a senior care home, we have been privileged to support some of the most innovative projects in our region.

What’s next?

In 2020, we are exploring opportunities to become sustainable over time by creating new partnerships, exploring new meeting venues, and welcoming new and innovative informal STEM education projects where RAIN can support a bright idea to grow and flourish,

What are they most looking forward to?

The membership of the Navapache Rural Innovation Council (RIC) of RAIN would like to welcome new partners, projects and members into our RIC, and we look forward to partnering with new and exciting projects that target adults and seniors, and especially multi-generation projects that reach toddlers and preschoolers.

RAIN is excited to continue working in Navopache and bringing more STEM resources and opportunities to the rural community.