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The Challenger Learning Center of Alaska recently received a $10,000 grant that it will use to improve its educational programs.

The funds are a portion of a $564,000 climate education grant from NASA.

"This will bring some new teacher development options to the area," said Marnie Olcott, the center's chief operating officer.

In partnership with 15 other Challenger centers across North America, the Kenai center will use its portion of the grant to enhance learning opportunities, all of which will be program specific -- allocated for preparation and delivery of courses, and production of materials for them.

The center already uses simulated space and earth science missions, distance education and hands-on workshops to inspire youth to develop an interest in science, technology, engineering and math, and to encourage them to consider careers in these fields, Olcott said.

"This grant will help to expand the center's offerings in earth science by training staff, helping to develop new workshops, and inquiry-based activities for students using near real-time data and imagery from NASA satellites," she said.

The program will also support partnerships with two NASA Web sites that provide data from earth orbiting spacecraft to help students conduct science investigations.

Also through the grant, the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies and the North American Museum of Natural History will provide online earth science courses for the center's educators.

The grant will also go toward building new online interactive courses, Olcott said.

For more information visit www.akchallenger.org.

Joseph Robertia can be reached at joseph.robertia@peninsulaclarion.com.