STEMMING Pathways: STEM and Career Exploration

We provide weekly STEM programming for roughly 1 hour for 4-12 weeks for youth grades 5-12. Our STEMMING Pathways programs were designed by a Computer Science Ph.D. and Associate Professor of Computer Science at Grand Valley State University. Our STEM programs help underserved students develop the computational thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, and critical thinking skills needed to succeed in an increasingly technology-driven world. Through hands-on, standards-aligned activities and collaborative challenges, students learn to analyze problems, evaluate solutions, and think systematically. These skills are valuable across all career pathways. Activities include hands-on computer science projects, engineering design challenges, cybersecurity activities, probability and statistics investigations, and career-focused STEM experiences led by educators and STEM professionals.

Students also explore educational pathways and high-demand career opportunities through volunteer guest speakers that give STEM career talks. Students hear from diverse volunteers about their STEM career, and the educational path they took to get there. The goal is to introduce youth to careers in STEM that they may not have considered in the past and learn how they can become qualified to do that in their future.

• Option 1- In-School Program: We can come to your school to offer STEM programming during the school day. 

• Option 2- After School Program: We can offer STEM programming after school, either at a centralized location in the district, or at a particular school/ program location.

There is currently no cost to have our programs in your district if you serve over 50% minority students, or over 50% economically disadvantaged students. However, we do ask for classroom space and a teacher, staff or parent volunteer to be present to help supervise programming. Our lessons teach computer science concepts (e.g., logic, binary, If you are interested in having computer science programs at your school for the 2026-2027 school year, please contact info@stemmingideas.org.

STEM Community Programs

We partner with existing organizations to provide special one-day STEM programs in chemistry, biology, engingeering and computer science. Our STEM activities range from elementary school programs learning about non-Newtonian fluid by making slime, to middle school programs teaching binary coding using pixel art, and high school programs building mechanical computers to solve logic puzzles. Our programs typically last 1-2 hours and serve up to 30 youth in grades K-12. If you are interested in having our STEM Community Programs at your organization or event please contact info@stemmingideas.org.

Visit our Event Page to see all of our upcoming STEM Community Programs.