BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – The Aldrin Family Foundation (AFF) today announced its partnership with education consultants Public Consulting Group (PCG). The STEAM education non-profit organization will work with PCG to integrate its Giant Mars/Moon Maps into PCG’s English Language Arts curriculum, as well as connect AFF with thousands of school districts to bring the excitement of space education to the next generation.
“The first crew going to Mars is in grade school today,” said AFF President Dr. Andrew Aldrin. “It is imperative that this generation of explorers receives a well-rounded education. Our hope is that we will inspire this career pathway by incorporating space exploration into language arts, beyond STEM education alone.”
Prior to AFF and PCG’s partnership, PCG had used Giant Mars/Moon Maps as part of its’ “Out of This World!” summer camps. Now, the organizations are working toward the short-term goal of getting a map in every American middle school, beginning in North Carolina.
“PCG’s consultants have developed customized curriculum with Aldrin’s ShareSpace Education that can be used in the classroom, remotely, or in a blended model,” said PCG Principal and Director of Strategic Investments Tony McLean Brown. “Our partnership with the Aldrin Family Foundation drives learning and academic success and allows local school districts to prepare their students to compete globally in the space entrepreneurship arena. But in the end, what makes this partnership most exciting is students love thinking, talking, dreaming, reading, and learning about space.”
To provide curriculum support as well as a sense of community among students and educators in each district, AFF will be forming respective Space Education Hubs, where map users can gather to undergo training with partner universities and share additional tips and resources.
AFF and PCG will continue to develop a broader space education curriculum over the coming months. As a number of educators all over the globe prepare for a distance learning environment, AFF and PCG are in the process of finalizing other partnerships to bring existing content online.
To learn more about AFF’s partnership with PCG and to hear from a few participating districts, watch this video.
About the Aldrin Family Foundation
The Aldrin Family Foundation (AFF) strives to cultivate the next generation of space leaders, entrepreneurs and explorers who will extend human habitation beyond the Earth to the Moon and Mars. AFF’s STEAM-based educational tools, educational activities and programs span from a child’s first classroom experience through graduate school and professional programs. This vertical pathway unites explorers at all levels to learn from each other’s vision for space, ultimately creating the first generation of Martians.
About Public Consulting Group
Public Consulting Group (PCG) has dedicated itself to the public sector for more than 30 years. Founded in 1986, the company is guided by an unwavering commitment to its clients and the communities they serve. PCG’s Education practice offers consulting services and technology solutions to help schools, school districts, and state education agencies/ministries of education promote student success, improve programs and processes, and optimize financial resources.
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