Good Morning: Free family STEM Festival planned

A recent Yahoo News story details an exciting new, no‑cost program that is set to bring science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) into households across the city. Titled “Good Morning – Free Family STEM,” the initiative is the brainchild of the Department of Education in partnership with local community organizations and a major university, and it promises to deliver hands‑on STEM experiences to families in a way that is both accessible and engaging.

What the program offers

The program is designed for families with children from preschool through middle school, though parents, grandparents and siblings of all ages are encouraged to join. Participants receive a “Family STEM Kit” each month that contains:

A small, age‑appropriate robotics project or coding activity (for example, building a simple line‑following robot or creating a short game using a visual programming language);
Science experiment supplies (such as crystal‑growth kits, simple chemistry sets, or plant‑growth experiments);
Engineering challenges that can be tackled together, like building a bridge with popsicle sticks or a paper‑airplane that flies the farthest distance;
An accompanying guide with easy‑to‑follow instructions and background facts, plus suggestions for extending the activity at home;
Access to a free, monthly “Family STEM Live” webinar where experts from the partner university demonstrate projects and answer questions.

Because the kits are mailed directly to households, families can experiment with STEM projects at their own pace, without needing to book appointments or travel to a community center. The initiative also offers a supplemental “Digital Lab”—an interactive online platform that lets families record their experiments, share photos, and track progress toward a certificate of completion.

Who is behind the launch

According to the article, the program was launched by the City’s Office of Innovation and Collaboration (OIC), which works with the Department of Education to promote equitable access to STEM resources. “We want to break down the financial and logistical barriers that have historically kept many families from engaging in STEM activities,” says Dr. Maria Lopez, the OIC’s Director of Community Engagement. “The Free Family STEM program is a bold step toward building a culture of curiosity and learning right in the living room.”

The project is funded through a combination of city bonds, philanthropic contributions, and a $1.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation’s “Family STEM Initiative.” It also partners with the local university’s College of Engineering and Science, which supplies the kits and provides subject‑matter experts for the live webinars.

Why it matters

The Yahoo News piece explains that the new initiative comes at a time when the demand for STEM‑focused educational resources has exploded. Since the pandemic began, schools have increasingly relied on at‑home learning tools, but many families still lack the supplies and guidance needed to make the most of that time. By offering free, hands‑on STEM kits and expert support, the program hopes to:

Increase STEM literacy among children who might otherwise have limited exposure;
Provide parents with confidence to support their children’s learning;
Foster intergenerational collaboration, encouraging grandparents and siblings to participate;
Create a data set on home‑based STEM engagement that can inform future educational policy.

The article cites a recent study from the National Center for Education Statistics, which found that students who participate in regular, structured STEM activities at home score significantly higher on standardized science and math tests. The Free Family STEM program’s organizers plan to track similar metrics through surveys and usage data from the Digital Lab.

How to get involved

Enrollment is open to all city residents and is free of charge. Families can sign up online at the program’s website (link provided in the article) by providing a mailing address and a brief description of their child’s age and interests. The first batch of kits will be shipped in early September, with subsequent deliveries scheduled on a monthly cycle. The article notes that families who cannot receive the kit through mail can also collect a “starter kit” from a designated community hub in the downtown area.

Dr. Lopez emphasizes that the program is not just about giving away kits: “We want to create a network of families who can learn from one another. The Digital Lab and the live webinars are designed to facilitate that community.” She also highlights that the program will run for three years, after which it will be evaluated and potentially expanded to include high school‑level projects and community‑wide STEM fairs.

Additional resources

The Yahoo News article includes a few clickable links that provide more detail. The first link directs readers to the program’s official website, where they can view a sample kit layout, read detailed instructions, and register. A second link takes readers to a partner university’s press release, which offers more background on the grant and the academic expertise involved. Finally, a third link leads to a local podcast interview with Dr. Lopez, where she discusses the city’s broader strategy for STEM equity.

In conclusion

The “Good Morning – Free Family STEM” initiative represents a significant investment in community‑based education, with the potential to transform how families engage with science and technology. By offering a no‑cost, hands‑on experience and pairing it with expert guidance, the program seeks to demystify STEM for young learners and inspire the next generation of innovators. The Yahoo News piece provides a clear overview of what the program entails, who is involved, and how families can participate, making it a valuable resource for anyone interested in the future of STEM education at home.

Read the Full The Herald Bulletin, Anderson, Ind. Article at:
[ https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/good-morning-free-family-stem-221600049.html ]