Boston Area STEM Activities for Kids- Spring 2024 (2024)

• February 29, 2024

Spring is just around the corner! I am highlighting a few national programs at the top, followed by specific events in Massachusetts in the next few months.

National Programs and Events

Future Engineers Invention Challenge

This year’s invention theme is Toys for Pets! Students in grades 2-8 are encouraged to put their inventor’s hat on and stretch their imagination to design a new pet toy for a cat or dog. The winner will receive $5000, and the winning design could even be manufactured to benefit STEM Education. Teachers can run the challenge in classes, and students can also do it at home on their own. Learn about the challenge. Entries are due by March 19.

Naval Horizons Essay Contest

Naval Horizons invites students in grades 9-12 (US citizens) to learn through a video series about cutting-edge STEM topics that impact the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, including autonomy, oceanography, cybersecurity, undersea medicine, and more. Students are encouraged to write an essay explaining how the Navy and Marine Corps’ research and people inspire them. The essay contest challenges students to picture themselves in a STEM career by designing the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps of the future. Essay contest submissions are due by June 10.

Fun with Snap Circuits Classes

Create & Learn is offering a free online event series to learn the basics of electronic circuits using Snap Circuits (for grades 2-8). Build several fun projects while learning what a circuit is, how circuits work, and how to add more parts to a circuit to make sounds, light, and more! Enroll now.

National Robotics Week April 6-14

The mission of National Robotics Week is to inspire students and people of all ages to explore robotics and STEM-related fields. Find events nationwide!

Splash Programs

In March and April, universities around the country will hold Splash programs. Students get to take classes taught by college students. Many programs are free! Visit Learning Unlimited to see which universities offer programs. Registration is required.

Register for Summer STEM Programs

Now is the time to sign up for STEM summer camps and pre-college programs. Learn about nationwide summer camps available to students. If you live in Massachusetts, review my extensive list of 100+ STEM summer camps.

Summer Prep for AP Computer Science A Class

Is your child planning to take AP Computer Science A next year? I recently learned about CodeWizardsHQ’s online summer prep class. Over a 3-week period, students will learn object-oriented programming with Java in live, interactive classes. Review the curriculum and learning objectives. This course helps students build a computer science foundation, boost their confidence, and prepare them for their high school class. Beginners with no experience are welcome.

Upcoming Events & Activities in Massachusetts

Summer Entrepreneurship Program at Suffolk University

Developed for rising high school seniors, students will learn how entrepreneurs launch new ventures and create value for existing organizations of all sizes. This immersive, in-person, three-week entrepreneurship program provides hands-on experience in class, through team projects, and across visits with Boston’s top entrepreneurial organizations. The experience culminates in an exciting event where students present their own new concepts. This is a free program! Apply no later than April 12.

New England Aquarium Internships

The application for paid summer 2024 Teen Internships is open, where students gain extensive training in marine science, climate science, public speaking, and customer service. Applications are due by March 23, and interviews will take place upon invitation shortly after the close of applications. Due to funding, the vast majority of these positions are open to teens (ages 14-18) who reside in either Boston or Cambridge. However, the Aquarium has a limited number of positions open for residents of other cities and towns. Apply here.

KaiPod Learning Summer Programs

KaiPod Learning, a network of in-person microschools reimagining education, is currently enrolling students at their location in Newton, MA, and across the country. KaiPod supports homeschoolers and online learners with small group, in-person learning for kids in grades 3-12. From STEM enrichment activities to core academics, KaiPod revolves around every child’s individual experience. KaiPod offers weekly summer programs with a STEM and academic focus. Tailored for ages 8+, their programs provide an immersive experience with a maximum of 12 kids per camp. Participants dive into themes ranging from animal biomes and desert survival skills to the mysteries of space. Intentionally designed camps foster connections as kids explore chemistry concoctions and physics phenomena. Led by expert Learning Coaches, KaiPod emphasizes fun and positivity, turning curiosity into knowledge in an engaging and supportive setting. KaiPod’s summer programs are available in Newton, MA, Phoenix, AZ, Orlando, FL, and southeastern NH.

Nashoba Brooks School STEM Scholarship

Current third-grade girls passionate about pursuing their interest in STEAM subjects are eligible to apply for the five-year, full-tuition STEAM Scholarship at Nashoba Brooks School in Concord, MA. Applicants must display a keen interest in STEAM subjects and a commitment to their School’s core values of integrity, collaboration, inclusivity, empathy, and resilience. This scholarship is available for students beginning in grade 4 and continuing through grade 8. Like all learning at Nashoba Brooks School, STEAM learning is integrated, innovative, and inspiring. Students gain confidence, competence, and conviction in themselves and their ability to thrive as learners and leaders. Learn about the application process.

Calendar of Massachusetts Events

March 30: Northeastern Splash offers the opportunity for students in grades 8-12 to take fun and informative workshops offered by undergraduates. Registration opens March 4 for this free event.

April 6: Einstein’s Workshop (Burlington) will host a Robotics Festival from 10:30am – 12pm. In the Masterpiece challenge, 6-10-year-old students will present about art and its impact on their lives and the world. FIRST LEGO League Explore teams from all over MA will showcase their hard work and robotics. This is a free event and open to the public.

April 7: Clark University Splash offers a full day of classes taught by Clark students to students in grades 5-12. Registration for this free event will open on March 15.

April 15-19 (school vacation week): Here is a sample of organizations offering STEM vacation camps.

• Acera School (Winchester) hosts STEAM camps full of immersive projects and activities for ages 5-12.
• Code Wiz (various locations) offers robotics, coding, Roblox, and Minecraft camps for ages 7+.
• Einstein’s Workshop (Burlington) offers electronics, science, robotics, and Minecraft camps for grades K-8.
• Guild Hall (Cambridge & Woburn) hosts robotics and game development programs for ages 9-17.
• MIT Museum (Cambridge) is offering science and engineering programs for families.
• The Robo Hub (Cambridge) offers LEGO robotics and STEAM camps for grades 3-8.

April 20: The Climate Hope Concert by Multiverse will be held at the Christa McAuliffe Center at Framingham State University. Throughout the show, musicians and scientists connect diverse threads together, exploring topics from sustainable polymers, coral reef restoration, urban regeneration projects, and the regeneration of space as a unifying source of wonder for our precious island earth. Get tickets.

April 21: Boston College Splash is a one-day event that offers a wide variety of courses to students in grades 6-12, all taught and designed by undergraduate and graduate students.

April 27: Science on State Street is an annual Massachusetts science festival at Framingham State University. The event has a particular focus on themes relating to planet Earth. Explore STEM and its role in supporting environmental justice, renewable energy, and environmental sustainability. Science on State Street is a free interactive event for families!

April 27: The Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts is hosting STEM Fest at Camp Cedar Hill in Waltham. Participants explore fun, hands-on STEM challenges while choosing their own adventure and deciding what areas and topics to explore. The event is open to all Girl Scout levels, with activities and experiments created and designated specifically for different ages. A patch and swag are included. Cost: $40. Register now.

• Posted inSTEM Programs