The BranchOut! Blog

This August, at Broad Cove Reserve in Maine, I stood beside a small wave-energy prototype while families and children gathered around to watch. The device was designed to turn wave motion into electricity—powering live demonstrations like wireless charging and "Tony," a small sea turtle toy that shared stories about the ocean. Since toys like Tony are especially popular with younger kids, I hoped he could catch their attention long enough for me to introduce them to the scien

Most teenagers start making financial decisions long before landing their first full-time job. Whether deciding what to spend on, figuring out how to save, or wondering what investing even means, students constantly navigate money without always having the tools to feel confident. BranchOut!’s Financial Literacy for Teens Symposium was created to change that. Bringing together attendees across six states, the event brought financial and career professionals together with hig

When attendees log into a BranchOut! Community Workshop, they see a polished, engaging event: esteemed expert panelists, confident student emcees, and seamless, thoughtful conversations. What they don’t see is the weeks of intense preparation, persistent outreach, and quiet problem-solving happening behind the scenes. Every smooth, 60-minute panel discussion is actually the iceberg peak of hundreds of hours of student teamwork.

When 20+ eager young innovators stepped into the Richard Byrd Library in Springfield, VA, on Saturday, July 25th, they were met with a simple yet formidable task: build the ultimate bridge out of plastic straws and construct a towering skyscraper using only index cards. What followed was two hours of sheer creativity, intense teamwork, and breakthrough moments. As one of BranchOut!’s largest community STEAM Camp sessions of the summer in the DMV area (DC/MD/VA), the event

On June 30th, BranchOut! was deeply honored to receive the Outstanding Community Organization Award at the National United Chinese American (UCA) Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. This milestone recognition reflects the incredible dedication of our mentors, student leaders, advisors, community partners, and supporters who have helped shape BranchOut! over the past 11 years.