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That idea became reality with the creation of a high‑school physics course. The course is A‑G approved, giving students a rigorous science option that also builds the kind of analytical habits that help them succeed in any subject. For many students, it’s their first glimpse of what technical problem-solving feels like—and the first time they see themselves thriving in STEM. As one student shared, “My approach to problem‑solving has changed after taking this course. [Before,] I would probably look for an easy way out, or I would just try to avoid the problem, but now I feel the courage to challenge myself with the problem and try to find solutions that are creative and new.”

Educators are seeing the same transformation unfold in their classrooms, where the shift in students’ sense of capability is as striking as their growing technical skills. A teacher put it this way: “Once students get a taste for problem solving and a few wins under their belt, I think it will help them gain confidence in many areas of their life.”

This year, UC San Diego is extending these opportunities even further by bringing engineering‑ derived problem‑solving strategies into A-G approved high‑school chemistry and biology courses. Teachers trained in the program’s methods are also weaving these approaches into English, Math, Theater Arts, Graphic Design, and Earth Science, proving that expert problem solving is not just a STEM skill—it’s a life skill.

At the college level, UC San Diego’s general‑education problem‑solving course for all majors, first offered in 2025, is expanding to reach more students. A high‑school version of this Gen Ed course is now in development, giving younger learners early access to the same transformative curriculum.

By the end of the 2024–25 school year, more than 5,300 students across 25 schools in 7 districts were engaging with UC San Diego’s problem‑solving curriculum, supported by 30 trained teachers. By the end of the 25-26 school year, that number is projected to grow to 9,200 students, 29 schools, and 47+ teachers.

For students, these programs open doors—to new interests, new skills, and new futures. For the region, they nurture a rising generation of adaptable thinkers who will contribute to San Diego’s long‑term vitality. By creating opportunities for high schools and colleges to teach problem solving at scale, UC San Diego and its education partners are helping build the foundation for the innovation workforce the region will rely on in the years ahead.  

Learn more:  PSLAE: Next generation solutions for next generation change-makers

With guidance from a local nursery, the team transformed a long-empty planter into a thriving bed of herbs, fruit trees, and vegetables, giving the children opportunities to pick mint, smell basil, and observe plant growth across seasons. Complementing this nature-rich focus, the playground also incorporates natural-material musical instruments, including drums and a xylophone, inviting exploration of sound, force, and vibration beneath a new shade sail that helps cool the space.

The themes of gardening and music also guided the redesign at the Magdalena Ecke Family YMCA Preschool. Their updated playground features natural-material musical instruments—in this case, clustered around an existing outdoor stage, creating a natural performance area where children can experiment with rhythm and sound. Gardening received equal emphasis: new wheelbarrows and child-sized tools expand the preschool’s already robust planting program, while clear acrylic panels on the sides of planters let children observe roots as they grow.

The Mottino Family YMCA in Oceanside centered its design on motion, extending the STEM focus in a different direction. Starting with a nearly blank slate, the community created a large, reconfigurable riding track with new tricycles, scooters, and push‑pull toys. Mottino also introduced intricate water tables, inviting hands-on exploration of flow and evaporation to support physics learning and offer a reprieve from the heat.

Across all sites, signs near the STEM activities offer teachers reminders about how to engage students through age-appropriate scientific exploration. Similarly, classroom posters help teachers deepen children’s scientific thinking. Seeing these posters during classroom visits helps inspire parents to build on the concepts at home. “This is just the jumping‑off point,” said childcare director Jennifer Hardy. “When families help design the spaces from the beginning, it fosters excitement and strengthens the home‑to‑school connection—which is vital in preschool.” With renewed support from the Girard Foundation, the Y is now partnering with communities at additional childcare centers to co‑design the next round of STEM‑rich environments.

Learn more about Preschool at the YMCA

SYEP offers every participant mentorship and hands-on experience. As Siddhartha Vivek, President and CEO of Junior Achievement of San Diego County, explains, “We don’t just talk about what’s possible—we show students what various workplaces look like, and connect them directly to industries and professionals they wouldn’t otherwise reach.” Students also begin building their own networks, a benefit that is especially meaningful for those with limited access to professional connections.

As programming expands, JA is also strengthening the infrastructure behind these experiences. A new Director of Workforce and Education Initiatives and a team of Career Specialists now standardize program delivery, support school districts, and coordinate employer engagement. JA has adopted a train‑the‑trainer model with partners—including San Diego Unified School District, Project Next, and other community organizations—to broaden reach and ensure long‑term sustainability. JA is also deepening multi-year collaborations with anchor employer partners, such as Deloitte, Illumina, and the County of San Diego, while offering Program‑as‑a‑Service options for organizations integrating JA’s curriculum into their own programming.

Collaborative initiatives further extend this work. Through Partnership with Youth Empowerment, United 4 Youth, and a developing partnership with the College Success Initiative, JA tailors workforce experiences for justice‑involved youth, foster youth, and others facing systemic barriers.

The long‑term impact is clear: 56 percent of JA alumni enter careers connected to their volunteer mentor. Beyond career pathways, mentorship is associated with higher graduation and college‑enrollment rates, increased confidence, and stronger interpersonal skills. 

Philanthropic investment—like the support from the Girard Foundation—has accelerated JA’s ability to scale its workforce efforts. As Vivek notes, Girard’s support “was truly catalytic,” enabling JA to add capacity, improve program quality, and bring in additional partners such as school districts, the San Diego Foundation, and other philanthropic organizations. This broader coalition is helping JA build a more sustainable funding model while preparing young people for brighter futures and strengthening San Diego’s workforce and community.

Learn more: Junior Achievement San Diego