History

Science Firsthand began in the summer of 2005 at two Buffalo centers (the Valley Community Association and the Bridge-to Building Community). By fall it was operating in five centers. Originally a one-to-one science mentoring program, it has changed over the years to include small group mentoring, but SF has always retained a low ratio of youth to adults (3:1).

Today the Science Firsthand program is in fourteen Buffalo centers and is managed at each of the sites by an AmeriCorps ABLE member. The ABLE members are trained by First Hand Learning and by each other. They are considered members of the center's youth program staff and collaborate with that staff on all aspects of the after school program.