Additional STEM Programs

Future City starts with a simple question.  How can we make the world a better place? Open to kids in grades 6-8, this project-based learning experience challenges students to imagine, research, design and ultimately build a city of the future addressing a sustainability issue.  Teams use the engineering design process to build a physical model of their city using recycled materials and one moving part.  An essay is written describing the unique attributes of their city and their solution to the annual challenge.  At the end of the season, teams will attend a competition where they will present their futuristic innovations and answer questions from a panel of STEM professionals.  Teams are made up of at least 3 students, one educator and one mentor.  Season runs from September to February with a time commitment typically of 35-45 hours.

The Rube Goldberg Machine Contest is a challenge of creativity, ingenuity, and teamwork all rolled into one! A STEAM competition for the 21st century that pits student teams against each other to create a fantastical Rube Goldberg Machine built from everyday objects that solves a common, simple task.  Registration opens in June, with contests beginning in February.

Using a LEGO Mindstorm EV3 system, students in 3rd to 8th grade design and build a Sumo bot considering structure, balance, and purpose.  They code their robot and learn to use sensors with one goal-to defeat all challengers in an epic Sumo Wrestling Battle!  SumoBot Challenge is a fun and engaging activity that combines engineering, computer programming and tactics. Students learn the engineering design process as they constantly battle and redesign their robots.  Three tournaments a year occur at the end of each trimester.  Time commitment typically is 8hrs over a 8-10 week period.

Kid Wind introduces students to renewable energy and engineering concepts.  It is a hands on challenge where students are inspired to solve problems in creative ways by designing, constructing, measuring and testing small scale wind turbines and solar structures.  Students perform research to better understand the science of renewable energy, be analytical about testing protocols, think creatively about solutions to problems and work collaboratively to complete their project on time.  Students can participate in an online challenge or at in person competitions each Spring.  At the competition, teams will test their energy output in a wind tunnel, present to a panel of expert judges and complete instant challenges that test teamwork and hands-on thinking.  A team consists of 1-10 students between 4th and 12th grade.

A web based STEM competition where students choose a mission challenge to investigate-either a scientific inquiry using scientific practices or engineering design.  Students will identify and research a problem and then build and test a prototype or design and conduct an experiment.  Each team can have 2-4 students and one adult advisor.  The competition season is from August to March and is for students in grades 6-9.

The Engineering Encounters Bridge Design Contest provides middle and high school students with a realistic, engaging introduction to engineering.  Students learn about the engineering process and how engineers use the computer as a problem solving tool as they build a virtual bridge.

Students learn about Mars with NASA scientists and engineers in this creative STEM program for K-12 students.  The challenge takes students through seven stages as they research Mars, design a mission to explore the planet, build and test model spacecraft and engage in scientific exploration.   At the conclusion of the program, students can virtually upload pictures of their designs to the Mission to Mars Student Showcase.