The YouthLink STEM Academy is an intuitive approach to modern education that combines critical academic concepts with the development of social, everyday components for a more complete and real-world experience. It relies on a new and revolutionary approach that brings the social, educational, work and global components together for a richer, more meaningful experience with an emphasis on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The YouthLink STEM Academy offers STEM Xtreme, a summer enrichment program, and STEM Xtreme Saturdays that provide youth with afterschool and out-of-school opportunities to foster critical thinking, collaboration, communication skills, and creativity through varied hands-on STEM activities facilitated by STEM professionals.