Washington, D.C. - On Wednesday, Sept. 2, Pepco, Discovery Education and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington will hold a Pepco STEM Club Training Summit at Discovery Communications' headquarters, located at One Discovery Place in Silver Spring, Md from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.  The Pepco STEM Club uses engaging project-based learning to prepare fifth through eighth-grade Boys & Girls Club students for career opportunities in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). The training summit, for the afterschool facilitators from participating Boys & Girls Clubs will enhance their ability to excite and inspire students with the program's deeply engaging STEM curriculum and hands-on activities.

"This is the second year of the Pepco partnership with Discovery Education and the Boys & Girls Clubs that brings a life changing program to middle school students of the Greater Washington area," said Debbi Jarvis vice president, corporate citizenship and social responsibility, Pepco Holdings, Inc. "We're helping to prepare young people who could be future employees at Pepco."

The training will increase the ability of the afterschool facilitators to use the provided curriculum and engage young students who may not otherwise be exposed to the dynamic and exciting world of STEM.  Well-trained facilitators are better equipped to encourage and guide students who pursue technology-based careers. Through the STEM curriculum, urban youth experience how science, technology, engineering and math play significant roles in their lives.  A prime example is the Pepco WaterShed Sustainability Center, a living classroom and laboratory for sustainable energy and water practices that features a solar home and hands-on, interactive displays that educate visitors with energy-saving ideas they can apply in their own homes.

"Discovery Education is extremely proud to continue our partnership with Pepco and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington to provide students with an engaging afterschool experience that builds critical STEM skills to help prepare them for college, careers and global citizenship" said Lori McFarling, Chief Marketing Officer, Discovery Education.

To extend the benefits of the training, Discovery Education will host the STEM Club curriculum in a special web portal that facilitators can access throughout the year.                                                  

The curriculum includes a library of 120 hours of downloadable facilitator guides and hands-on activities that span three categories - energy, urban infrastructure and water - divided into 1-2 hour segments that cater to after-school programs. It also includes a social media toolkit that facilitators can use to promote their innovative work in their communities, and completion certificates that can be granted to students as they reach curriculum milestones.                   

"Through the Pepco STEM Club, Discovery Education, Pepco and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington aim to help students launch and sustain successful careers in a workforce increasingly driven by technology, consequently contributing to the well-being of their communities," McFarling said.

For more information, please visit http://www.pepcostemclub.com and www.discoveryeducation.com.