1. ND EPSCoR
  2. Programs
  3. Nurturing American Tribal Undergraduate Research and Education (NATURE)

Nurturing American Tribal Undergraduate Research and Education (NATURE)

The Nurturing American Tribal Undergraduate Research and Education (NATURE) program is an education outreach project. NATURE aims to improve science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education among middle school, high school, and tribal college students, and to build a pathway for American Indians living in North Dakota who are interested in pursuing careers in STEM disciplines. NATURE builds on activities of a long-term collaboration between tribal colleges in North Dakota, North Dakota State University, and the University of North Dakota. NATURE programs are currently funded by the State of North Dakota and the National Science Foundation EPSCoR Track-1 Cooperative Agreement OIA #1946202.

If you are a student, teacher, or college/university faculty and want to participate in a NATURE activity, please contact ND EPSCoR at ndepscor@ndus.edu.

NATURE programming includes the Tribal College Summer Camps, Sunday Academy, Bridge Camp, and University Summer Camps. The ND EPSCoR State Office funds STEM workforce development programs across the educational continuum from elementary through graduate school. Since 2014, 2,762 students (of whom 2,723 were American Indian) have participated in our NATURE programs.

  • The Tribal College Summer Camp is a two-week camp held at the five tribal colleges in North Dakota where each tribal college hosts their local middle-high school students.
  • Sunday Academy
    Sunday Academy is typically held throughout the academic year at the five tribal colleges in North Dakota. Each tribal college hosts their local middle-high school students.
  • Bridge Camp
    The Bridge Camp, which had its first pilot in Summer 2019, is designed to be a bridge between high school graduation and entrance into college.
  • NATURE University Summer Camp
    The University Summer Camp is a two-week camp held at both North Dakota State University and University of North Dakota that hosts tribal college students who are 18 years of age or older.

 

  • A NATURE Bridge Camp student works on the smart car module.
  • A student participant works on a 3D-printed catapult.

 

              
         		                


 		   
Cankdeska Cikana
Community College		    Nueta Hidatsa
    Sahnish College		  Sitting Bull
  College		Turtle Mountain
Community College		United Tribes
Technical College		    North Dakota State
    University		 University of
 North Dakota

 

NATURE University/College Contacts

Co-Coordinator of NATURE Sunday Academy
Julia Bowsher, Ph.D.
North Dakota State University
Department of Biological Sciences
Stevens 325
Fargo, ND 58105(701) 231-7072
julia.bowsher@ndsu.edu

Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College (NHSC) Site Coordinator - NATURE
Kerry Hartman, Ph.D., Academic Dean, Chair Sciences
220 8th Ave. N.
New Town, ND 58763
(701) 627-4738, Ext. 8053
khartm@nhscu.edu
Geographic area: Fort Berthhold Reservation

Co-Coordinator of NATURE Sunday Academy
Britt Heidinger, Ph.D.
North Dakota State University
Department of Biological Sciences
Stevens 225
Fargo, ND 58105
(701) 231-5377
britt.heidinger@ndsu.edu

Sitting Bull College (SBC) Site Coordinator - NATURE
Mafany Ndiva Mongoh, Ph.D., Ag & Science
9299 Hwy 24
Fort Yates, ND 58538 
(701) 854-8051
mafany.mongoh@sittingbull.edu
Geographic area: Standing Rock Reservation

Associate Coordinator of NATURE University Summer Camp at UND
Justin Berg, Associate Professor
Department of Sociology
University of North Dakota
Gillette Hall Room 202
Grand Forks, ND 58202 (701) 777-4987
justin.allen.berg@und.edu

Turtle Mountain Community College (TMCC) Site Coordinator - NATURE
Austin Allard, Ph.D., Pre-Engineering Instructor
10145 BIA Road 7
Belcourt, ND 58316(701) 477-7815
aallard@tm.edu
Geographic area: Turtle Mountain Reservation

Associate Coordinator of NATURE University Summer Camp at NDSU
Uwe Burghaus, Associate Professor
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
North Dakota State University
Ladd 202
Fargo, ND 58105
(701) 231-9742
uwe.burghaus@ndsu.edu

Cankdeska Cikana Community College (CCCC)Site Coordinator - NATURE
Brent Voels, Ph.D., Instructor - Science
214 1st Avenue
PO Box 269
Fort Totten, ND 58335
(701) 766-1358
brent.voels@littlehoop.edu
Geographic area: Spirit Lake Reservation

 

NATURE K-12 Contacts

Fort Berthold Area

Mandaree High School

Francine White, Site Mentor
Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College
1 Warrior Circle
Mandaree, ND 58757
(701) 759-3545
fwhite@nhsc.edu

New Town High School

James Helphrey, Science Instructor
New Town High School
300 Eagle Drive
New Town, ND 58763
(701) 627-3658
james.helphrey@k12.nd.us

Parshall

Susie Simpson, Site Mentor
Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College
501 N Main St
Parshall, ND 58770
(701) 627-4738, Ext. 8081
ssimps@nhsc.edu

White Shield

Raymond Grady, Site Mentor
Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College
2 2nd Ave W
Roseglen, ND 58775
(701) 743-4552

Standing Rock Area

Wakpala High School

Rebecca LeFebre, Aimsweb Coordinator
12250 SD Hwy 1806
Wakpala, SD  57658
rebecca.lefebre@k12.sd.us

McLaughlin High School

Mafany Ndiva Mongoh
McLaughlin High School701 Main St
McLaughlin, SD 57642
(605) 823-4886
mafany.mongoh@sittingbull.edu

 

Standing Rock Middle School

Mafany Ndiva Mongoh
9189 Highway 24
Fort Yates, ND 58538
(701) 854-3819, Ext. 2125
mafany.mongoh@sittingbull.edu

Solen High School

Corey Morin, Science Teacher
Solen High School
902 East Broadway
Solen, ND 58570
(701) 445-3331
corey.m.morin@sendit.nodak.edu

Selfridge High School

Juanita Hintz, secretary
210 2nd Ave. South
Selfridge, ND  58568
juanita.hintz@k12.nd.us

Spirit Lake Area

Four Winds High School

John Lohnes, Science Teacher
Four Winds High School
7268 Hwy 57
Fort Totten, ND 58335
(701) 766-1400
john.lohnes@k12.nd.us

Minnewaukan Public School

Brent Voels, Ph.D.
Minnewaukan Public School
4675 N Hwy. 281
Minnewaukan, ND 58351
brent.voels@littlehoop.edu

Warwick High School

Brent Voels, Ph.D.
Warwick High School
210 4th Avenue
Warwick, ND 58381
brent.voels@littlehoop.edu

Turtle Mountain Area

Dunseith High School

Austin Allard, Ph.D.
101 2nd Ave SW
Dunseith, ND  58329
aallard@tm.edu

Turtle Mountain Community High School

Jason Laducer
jason.laducer@k12.nd.us
Gary Thomas
gary.thomas@k12.nd.us
P.O. Box 440
Belcourt, ND 58316
(701) 477-6471
 

 

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