K-12 OUTREACH

The K‑12 Outreach Committee visits local schools to introduce students to civil engineering and STEM concepts through interactive presentations, hands‑on activities, and classroom demonstrations. Committee members also support teachers by sharing guidance and simple strategies for incorporating civil engineering topics into their lesson plans. By making engineering fun, accessible, and relatable, the committee helps spark curiosity in students of all ages.

The goal of the K‑12 Outreach Committee is to develop, implement, and support high‑quality programs and resources based on proven outreach practices that increase awareness, understanding, and interest in civil engineering among students from pre‑K through 12th grade. Through these efforts, the committee inspires future problem solvers, strengthens early STEM engagement, and helps build a pipeline of young learners who can envision themselves as the next generation of engineers serving their communities.

2026 EARTH DAY:

K-12 ART & ESSAY CONTEST

We’re back for Year 2! Be ready to celebrate Earth Day with even more imagination, inspiration, and student creativity.

2026 ART & ESSAY CONTEST RULES

CHECK OUT THE 2025 WINNERS

ANNUAL EVENTS

ART CONTEST

2020 had many unforeseen challenges for everyone, especially for children. With children participating in distant learning for the first time and most of the normal avenues for learning having changed ASCE was still seeking ways to give back, one creative way discovered to engage and give back to the community was by holding ASCE OC YMF’s first Engineering Art Contest. The art contest was open to all children from 4 to 18 years of age.

CLASSROOM VISITATIONS

Every year, the K-12 Outreach Committee visit a minimum of six schools throughout Orange County to educate students about Civil Engineering. Members are commonly asked to speak to a class or a Career Day event about "A Day in the Life" of an engineer.

DREAM BIG

In collaboration with the ASCE CSULB Student Chapter, OC YMF K-12 Volunteers participate in their Annual ASCE CSULB Dream Big: A Civil Engineering Outreach Event. Members assist in the workshops and participate in the professional panel to inspire local K-12 students to pursue a career in STEM! Check out their website here.

POPSICLE STICK BRIDGE COMPETITION

Biannually, the Popsicle Stick Bridge Competition is hosted between ASCE Orange County YMF and ASCE Los Angeles YMF.

The event brings local high school students to participate in a full-day competition. Participating teams prepare technical reports, display boards, presentations, and their Popsicle stick bridge builds! The rules and specifications for bridge design change each year so it is critical that the teams read the rules carefully to meet the judging criteria. Volunteers serve as judges testing the bridges; scoring technical papers, display boards, and presentations; hosting an impromptu competition; and giving tours. See more information on this year's PSBC here.