LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. —  This year, a new and exciting program came to The Youth Center: Anatomy Adventure. As more than just a typical after-school program, Anatomy Adventure provides an opportunity for young students to explore the incredible world inside their bodies and learn essential life skills.

Designed for students in grades two through six, this science program is 10-weeks long and focuses on introducing students to the fundamentals of medicine and biology in a digestible manner. Meeting on Thursdays from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at The Youth Center, the class aims to provide high-quality science enrichment to students in the community. 

Starting early

For most students, serious exposure to biology and medicine doesn’t happen until high school; even then, some students feel unsure about what excites them academically. Anatomy Adventure challenges that timeline. 

Adrian Lopez, a junior at LAHS and the program’s founder, experienced that firsthand. His passion for medicine did not emerge until high school, but once it did, he knew he had found his field. 

Reflecting, Lopez realized something important: young students don’t always have access to resources that allow them to explore their interests and develop passion, and that needs to change. From here, Lopez partnered with The Youth Center to create Anatomy Adventure.

“It means a lot to me to have been given the opportunity to develop this program alongside the Youth Center,” Lopez said.

Starting early matters. Research consistently shows that early exposure to STEM fields increases long-term interest and confidence. When students are excitedly introduced to science, they are more likely to feel capable in those subjects later on. Anatomy Adventure provides that early spark.

Science you can touch

One of the most impactful aspects of the program is its hands-on and interactive structure.

Each week, the class focuses on a different system of the human body, including but not limited to the heart, brain and digestive system. Instead of simply reading or hearing information about these systems, students conduct experiments, build models and engage in activities that make learning tangible.

Active participation in learning is a powerful way to build skills. When students can see and build what they are learning about, their understanding of science moves from abstract to concrete, and the concepts stick. This transports students beyond surface-level memorization of information and into a deeper understanding of it.  

“I have learned how bright so many youth are in our community,” Lopez said. “They all demonstrate how capable they are in learning and leading.”

By giving students real challenges and scientific tools, Anatomy Adventure treats them as thinkers and problem-solvers, fostering an environment where growth can flourish.

Collaboration and confidence

Although the program focuses heavily on STEM learning, its impact goes beyond providing scientific knowledge. 

During classes, students collaborate with peers, work through challenges with problem-solving and learn how to present their discoveries to the group. These are crucial skills that help cultivate teamwork, communication and leadership; these qualities extend far beyond the classroom.

“Parents should sign their students up for Anatomy Adventure not just for learning, but for a (collaborative) experience and exposure to the different activities we do,” Lopez explained. 

In a world that values innovation and collaboration, Anatomy Adventure prepares students to understand science, but on a wider scale, to apply it to the real world confidently and creatively. 

A program students love

Perhaps the most compelling evidence of the program’s impact comes directly from families.

 “In one of our last sessions, one of the parents had notified me that her daughter said to her that she really wanted to go to the program — even during (Open House),” Lopez recalled. “It really made me happy to see that our students were enjoying the program, and it has motivated me to continue working hard.”

Enjoyment matters. When students truly want to learn, it says something powerful about their learning environment. 

If children associate STEM learning with positive experiences, they are far more likely to continue pursuing such subjects in the future; Anatomy Adventure creates an ideal environment for this.

A program with purpose

This year has been Anatomy Adventure’s first, but there are high hopes for its impact to continue.

“I hope that Anatomy Adventure becomes a staple not only in the Youth Center, but in our community,” Lopez said. “I hope that many more students get to experience the fun in learning and experiments that we do.”

Lopez’s vision goes beyond teaching anatomy to students; he hopes to help students discover directions, give them access to something he once wished he had and to plant seeds early.

By combining hands-on experiences, health education, collaboration and leadership development, Anatomy Adventure is a program that cultivates exploration and growth in its students.

And for the youth who walk through the doors of The Youth Center on Thursday afternoons, that exploration might just be the beginning of something much bigger.

Alizabeth Martin is a marketing intern for The Youth Center.