The Campfire Coder: Blazing a Path Towards Holistic STEM Education Mastery

How Practical Skills and Kinesthetic Learning Move Us Towards Proficiency

Written by: Andrew B. Raupp / @stemceo

In the brave new era of scientific and technological advancements, the sons and daughters of this generation find themselves enraptured by codes, machines, and marvels that promise a future of limitless potential. As the machinery of our dreams whirs to life, it seems as though we stand on the precipice of a future scarcely imaginable just decades ago.

Yet, within this whirlwind of progress, one can’t help but ponder — are we forgetting the essence of true proficiency? In this pursuit of knowledge, have we overlooked the fundamentals that allow us to be not just thinkers and creators but capable and resilient beings?

The sciences and technologies underpinning our world — those which we lovingly label as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) — are undoubtedly crucial. But can a mind truly appreciate the engineering marvel of a bridge if it cannot comprehend the bridge’s physicality by wielding the hammer and nails?

And let us not deceive ourselves into thinking that our digital conquests make us omnipotent. For if a calamity were to strike, would our codes shelter us, feed us, or offer us the warmth of a fire under a cold night sky?

While it’s crucial to know how to code, program a robot, or design a spacecraft, one must ask: what value are these skills if one cannot wield basic tools, cultivate crops, or light a fire in the wilderness?

Our education, at its core, is an amalgamation of our soft skills and our survival instincts, just as much as it is about mastering the complexities of STEM. For what is a botanist, if he cannot till the earth and understand the whispers of nature? And what is an architect if she cannot communicate her vision with clarity, passion, and persuasion?

Moreover, soft skills are not just about survival; they weave the fabric of collaboration. A STEM expert’s brilliance might illuminate a path forward, but without the soft skills of communication, empathy, and understanding, the path remains dark to all others. Our advancements rely not on individual genius, but on collective endeavor. Soft skills are the bridges between minds, allowing us to forge connections, understand perspectives, and truly innovate.

But let’s journey deeper, into the very essence of human survival. Before the first wheel turned or the first script was scribed, humankind knew the importance of survival skills. The art of bushcraft, the understanding of agriculture and horticulture, the capacity to read the land and its signs — these are primal, rooted deeply within our very DNA.

To the naysayers who might argue that these skills are outdated or irrelevant, consider this: A scientist or engineer, when faced with the unpredictability of nature, will thrive not just by relying on theoretical knowledge but by marrying it with hands-on, practical skills. By understanding and respecting nature, and by harnessing its abundance, they become truly proficient, truly enlightened.

While we rightly laud the advances in STEM and recognize its undeniable importance in forging our future, we must remember the intertwined tapestry of soft and survival skills that complete the picture. For in doing so, we create not just proficient engineers, scientists, or technologists, but well-rounded, resilient, and truly enlightened individuals capable of shaping, and more importantly, safeguarding our tomorrow.

An iteration of this article was originally featured in DataDrivenInvestor on September 15th, 2023 and updated for LinkedIn on January 20th, 2025.