Bridging the Gap Program Evaluation: Final Report

The 3-year Bridging the Gap program, developed and implemented by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), was designed to educate minority youth from New York City (NYC) about education and career opportunities available in wildlife and conservation sciences. This National Science Foundation (NSF) Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST)-funded program provided almost 150 minority high school students with conservation knowledge, practical information about the college application process and college life, and long-term support through continued contact with WCS staff members and zoo employee mentors. Three cohorts of students participated in the program. Research and evaluation of the Bridging the Gap project occurred throughout the duration of the project and were guided by research questions covering program implementation, program quality, and outcomes of both students and their parents. Data were collected through a variety of questionnaires and program records. Overall, the Bridging the Gap project was a great success.