YES! IN THE NEWS
Celebrating curiosity, community, and the stories that share our journey.
Yavapai Exploration and Science is proud to be featured in local media for our innovative programs, community outreach, and commitment to inspiring curiosity through hands-on STEAM learning. Explore articles, interviews, and stories that showcase how YES! is making an impact in Yavapai County and beyond.
Prescott Living Magazine
by Nancy Dewitt, Owner, Patriot Pest & Termite Control
Yavapai Exploration and Science Injects STEAM Energy
With a 15-year career teaching multiple K–6 grades and serving as an administrator and teacher mentor, Amanda Voss saw a gap in hands-on, science-based learning opportunities outside the classroom. Now, she’s working to change that for her daughter and for other children, too.
Voss quit her job and launched a nonprofit, Yavapai Exploration and Science (YES!), in June 2024 as a volunteer and has already reached 16,000 Greater Prescott families with activities tied to STEAM-related lessons — that’s science, technology, engineering, arts and math, an extension of the more widely known STEM acronym. She works with a core of about eight regular volunteers and collaborates with other groups for larger events.
Time is of the essence for reaching younger children, she says: “I’ve seen some research now that kids decide by the age of 7 whether they can or cannot do science. And that’s really heartbreaking to me that a kid has decided what they’re good at. No 7-year-old should already be limiting themselves to what they think they can do. It’s a huge driver for me.”
YES! sponsors monthly classes at the Prescott, Prescott Valley and Chino Valley libraries that draw many homeschooling kids and others with hands-on activities like testing food for starch, learning about crystallization by growing their own snowflakes, finding out how salt melts ice on roads, building their own candy dispensers and ‘melting’ pumpkins to learn about chemical reactions.
It also hosts a table at the free Nature Niños programs held monthly at parks throughout the Prescott area, hosting one art and one science activity plus a sensory bin for the youngest children to dig around in. The program also brings activities onto local campuses, including a summer program at Humboldt Unified School District and runs Friday clubs at Prescott Valley Charter School.
Prescott Woman Magazine
Start Now!
Local Business Owner Urges Others Not to Delay their Dreams; Community Accelerates Success
Prescott Woman Magazine chatted with Amanda Voss, Founder of Yavapai Exploration and Science (YES!), to find out what makes her enjoy being a part of the Prescott Chamber of Commerce and how it benefits her business.
PWM: How long have you been a member of the Prescott Chamber, and what do you enjoy most about being part of this organization?
Amanda: YES! joined the Prescott Chamber in January, but I have attended events since March 2024, Coffee Connects group networking and real conversations my favorite for meaningful, small
PWM: In your experience, how does the Prescott Chamber differ from other local groups?
Amanda: The Chamber stands out with diverse events like Coffee Connects, Chamber Spotlight, and APS Community Pulse each offers unique networking and insight into local businesses and their leaders.
PWM: Tell us about what brought you to Prescott and your employment role.
Amanda: My family moved to Prescott from Columbus, Ohio in 2020 after a summer vacation. I'm now Founder and Executive Director of Yavapai Exploration and Science (YES!).
PWM: Do you hold any other positions within the Chamber, such Ambassador, Board Member, or Staff?
Amanda: I don't hold any additional positions within the Chamber yet! I am always open to new ways to engage in the community!
By Cherish Nunez Phoenix With Kids
YES! Nature Niños: A Free Outdoor Program for Kids in Prescott, AZ
June 16, 2025-
YES! Nature Niños is a free monthly program for children ages 0–8 to connect with nature through hands-on exploration, play, and discovery. Get your kids outside with free nature play in Prescott Arizona with Nature Niños!
YES! Nature Niños is a free monthly program for children ages 0–8 to connect with nature through hands-on exploration, play, and discovery.
Get your kids outside with free nature play in Prescott Arizona with Nature Niños!
Every first Saturday of the month, the city of Prescott and Yavapai Exploration & Science (YES!) partner together to host Nature Niño’s – a free, family-friendly event designed to get kids outside and learning about Arizona nature and conservation. Perfect for children ages 0-8, each event features hands-on nature activities, story time, healthy snacks, and interactive lessons led by Prescott Park Rangers.
Families from across Arizona are welcome—my own family drove up from Phoenix to attend the June event at Granite Creek Park. We were warmly greeted by volunteers, enjoyed a healthy snack to start the day, and explored creative learning stations spread throughout the park.
Southwest Prescott Neighbors
Meet the Voss Family
"Through the Years"
Amanda and Nathan Voss, both 39, have spent over two decades growing together, from high school sweethearts to parents and community leaders. Their story is woven with adventure, passion, and a deep-rooted love for each other and the place they now call home: Prescott, Arizona.
From Bowling Team to Wedding Bells
Amanda and Nathan met as teens on their high school bowling team. After nine years of dating—and plenty of questions from Amanda’s dad about what was taking so long—they tied the knot. Their shared love of sports carried them into college, where they both bowled collegiately for The Ohio State University.
Nathan proposed in a way only an engineer could: with a custom-coded AI-like computer program he named IGOR (Internet Gathering Online Robot), designed to help Amanda find teaching resources online. After many weeks of playful exchanges, it surprised Amanda with a personality quiz. At the end of the quiz, it revealed its final recommendation: that Nathan must propose. The screen displayed the message in big bold letters, like an ultimate directive, and sure enough, Nathan followed through right then and there. Amanda, ever the DIY enthusiast, planned their entire wedding herself down to hand making the centerpieces, invitations, and favor boxes.
Southwest Prescott Neighbors
The Power of YES:
How Partnerships are Building a Brighter Future in Yavapai County
In the high desert heart of Arizona, a movement is gaining momentum—powered by curiosity, collaboration, and community. YES! (Yavapai Exploration and Science) is more than a nonprofit dedicated to hands-on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) education. It’s a growing coalition of local dreamers committed to building a brighter future for Yavapai County.
Nature Meets STEM
One of YES!’s earliest and strongest partnerships is with Ellen Bashor, Education Director for Prescott Recreation Services and founder of Nature Niños. Together, we’ve transformed public spaces into outdoor learning labs.
“We love the amazing partners we’ve brought together,” Bashor says. “YES! has made it easy to collaborate in ways that are meaningful and impactful. Our partnership is a natural extension of our shared belief that learning should be joyful, rooted in experience, and available for all.”
KQNA Talk of the Town
Prescott Chamber of Commerce
Talk of the Town Radio Show
Apr 9, 2025 -
Sheri Heiney
So you're here to introduce our next guest.
Robert Coombs
Thank you, Sheri. Good afternoon. Good afternoon, everyone. Our first guest today is Amanda Voss from Yavapai Exploration and Science. Welcome to the show.
Amanda Voss
Hi.
Robert
Tell us a little bit about yourself, Amanda, a little bit about the family, where you're from,
maybe you're a native, that kind of stuff. Before we dive into the business part.
Amanda
Yeah. So I'm actually not a native, I'm from Ohio. But my family and I decided to move to
Prescott after a road trip. We actually rented an RV in Vegas, hit up Grand Canyon and all
the Bryce Canyon, and decided that there was this really cool bike race that was going
on called the Whiskey off road in this tiny little town. And we were like, oh, let's go do
that and spend a couple days. So my husband rented a bike and rode the Whiskey. He
did not feel very good afterwards.
Canvas Rebel
Meet Amanda Voss
The idea for Yavapai Exploration and Science (YES!) came to me at a pivotal moment in my life. After 15 years of teaching, I had made the emotional decision to step away from the career that had been such a huge part of my identity. It didn’t end the way I had imagined, it was painful and bittersweet, but it also opened the door for me to move forward.
One afternoon, I had plans to meet a good friend for lunch. I was still very much mourning the end of my teaching journey, and as we talked, I found myself reflecting on the highs, the lows, and all the unknowns that lay ahead. Honestly, at that moment, I didn’t know what was next.
It wasn’t until I was driving home from that lunch that everything clicked. I realized I couldn’t completely walk away from teaching, it was too much a part of who I was. But I needed to find a new way to do it, one that felt true to what I believed was best for kids in our community, and for my own daughter, Riley. That’s when the idea hit me: I wanted to teach children the valuable skills they weren’t being taught, or weren’t being taught well, and do it in a way that celebrated curiosity, critical thinking, and innovation.
Prescott Mountain Neighbors
Charity Spotlight:
Yavapai Exploration & Science (YES!)
Bringing Hands-On Science to Yavapai County
Yavapai Exploration and Science, known as YES!, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing engaging, hands-on science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) education to the Prescott community and beyond. Through outreach events, interactive STEAM labs, and community partnerships, YES! fosters curiosity and discovery for learners of all ages. Our vision at Yavapai Exploration and Science is to cultivate a society where curiosity is celebrated, critical thinking is encouraged, and innovation thrives.
Our Story: A Passion for Learning and Community
YES! became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in June 2024. After spending 15 years in the classroom, I realized that I could do more for the community by creating opportunities for children to engage in hands-on learning outside of traditional school settings. My inspiration comes from my daughter, Riley, who thrives when she can explore science and art through interactive experiences. Seeing her excitement and curiosity led me to establish YES!, ensuring that all children in our community have access to engaging learning opportunities.
By Nanci Hutson, The Daily Courier
Local educator/mother dreaming big about launching a science center in downtown Prescott
Apr 5, 2025 -
A wombat is the only mammal that excretes cube-shaped poop.
A rollercoaster thrill ride is a physics lesson – centripetal force, inertia, gravity, and centrifugal force, combine to offer the often stomach-churning experience.
Albert Einstein isn’t the only scientist to make profound discoveries about how the universe works.
A virtual unknown 20th century female astronomer, Annie Jump Cannon, revolutionized how fellow scientists classify the mystery of twinkling stars in the night sky. Her discoveries earned her the moniker “Census Taker of the Sky.”
Not to worry. This is not a quiz.
Bold Journey
Meet Amanda Voss
Finding my purpose for founding Yavapai Exploration and Science (YES!) was a journey deeply rooted in both my professional experiences and personal aspirations. After spending 15 years in the classroom, holding roles from teacher to principal, I had the privilege of working with children of various ages and seeing firsthand the incredible potential they bring to learning. However, over the years, I witnessed a shift in the educational landscape that left me concerned.
The focus in schools, both public and charter, began to drift away from nurturing a genuine love for learning—one that fuels curiosity and inspires lifelong exploration—and moved toward a rigid adherence to standardized curricula. The joy and creativity that once defined education seemed increasingly overshadowed by metrics and mandates. It was disheartening to see how this impacted not only the students but also the educators and families involved.
Empowering Women Got a Minute Podcast
Pivoting and Saying 'YES!' with Amanda Voss
Amanda has over 15 years of education experience and a Master’s of Education from Ohio State University. She is currently launching Yavapai Exploration and Science (YES!) in Prescott. YES! aims to inspire curiosity and appreciation for science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) through programs, workshops, and events. Amanda’s goal is to create opportunities for all ages to explore the natural world, unlock creativity, and embrace lifelong learning. Her background includes teaching at the primary level and various administrative roles. Her passion for education extends to her hobbies, such as mountain biking, traveling, and camping with her family. Through YES!, Amanda envisions making STEAM education accessible and inclusive for everyone, whether through hands-on experiments, interactive exhibits, or community outreach initiatives.
Amanda is also the 2024 Prescott Woman STEAM Award Recipient.