This summer, hundreds of Dallas ISD students spent their break exploring, experimenting, and discovering that science has no language barrier.
Through the Science Discovery Camp (SDC) and Spanish Immersion Camp (SIC), emergent bilingual students participated in engaging, hands-on learning experiences designed to strengthen both scientific understanding and language development—all at no cost to participating families.
The camps create an environment where students can build confidence as scientists while strengthening their skills in both Spanish and English. Lessons are intentionally designed using student achievement data to target key science concepts, helping students transform areas of academic challenge into opportunities for growth.
Throughout the summer, students conducted hands-on experiments, collaborated with peers, explored scientific concepts through interactive activities and extended their learning beyond the classroom with educational field trips. Every experience encouraged curiosity, critical thinking and meaningful conversations about science in a supportive, multilingual environment.
By reducing barriers to participation and creating joyful, engaging learning experiences, the camps help students develop what educators call a “scientist identity”—the belief that they belong in STEM and can succeed in future science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers.
“Our goal is to ensure every student sees themselves as capable of asking questions, solving problems and making discoveries,” said camp organizers. “When students feel confident using language to explore scientific ideas, they open doors to future academic and career opportunities.”
The impact of the camps extends well beyond the summer months. Student growth will be measured through pre- and post-camp science assessments, language development observations, student reflections and engagement surveys. Educators will also monitor participants’ performance on future state science assessments to evaluate the lasting academic benefits of the program.
Creating a strong sense of community was another important component of the experience. Thanks to funding support, every student and staff member received a custom camp T-shirt, helping foster a shared identity while providing an important safety measure during field experiences. The matching shirts made it easy for educators to supervise students in public spaces while reinforcing the sense that every participant was part of the same scientific community.
By combining rigorous academics, language development, hands-on exploration and memorable experiences, the Science Discovery Camp and Spanish Immersion Camp are helping Dallas ISD students return to school more confident, more engaged and better prepared for success.
This summer, curiosity flourished, confidence grew and the next generation of multilingual scientists took another step toward their future.
About the Dallas Education Foundation
The Dallas Education Foundation (DEF) is a registered 501(c)(3) organization and serves as the direct and designated philanthropic partner of Dallas ISD. With a mission to inspire community investment to accelerate student success, DEF focuses on economic mobility by supporting early learning, advancing literacy, driving postsecondary success, and championing educators. Learn more at dallasedfound.org and follow @dallasedfound on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, Threads, and YouTube.
About Dallas Independent School District
The Dallas Independent School District is continually preparing its students for college or a career. The district offers a competitive mix of innovative programs, choice programs, and instructional initiatives that support the increased academic achievement and the social and emotional development of its students. To learn more, visit www.dallasisd.org.
