STEM Programs with CT STEM Academy
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STEM Activities brought to Cheshire through a collaboration with CT STEM Academy.
After School STEM/STEAM Programs
The After School STEM/STEAM programs are open to students at the specified school. The students stay at school at dismissal time in order to participate. Be sure you register for the program held at your child's elementary school.
Highland STEAM Challenges: Robotics Students will explore the exciting world of robotics and engineering through hands-on building and coding challenges. Participants will design, build, and program robots while engaging in teamwork, problem-solving, and basic engineering concepts. This fun and engaging program encourages creativity, critical thinking, and confidence as students work together to complete missions and challenges with Lego Robotics and Makerzoid Robotics.
Chapman STEAM: Engineering Is Elementary for Grades 4-6 Students will be challenged to become scientists and engineers through the Boston Museum of Science Engineering Is Elementary based investigations. Activities will be differentiated based upon age groups with thematic literature, science and mathematics activities.
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Amusement Park Physics
From roller coasters to ferris wheels, campers will design amusement park rides using common materials and K’NEX. Participants will assemble different rides such as rollercoasters, ferris wheel, ziplines and more.
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Family Robotics Night
Join us for a fun, hands-on evening of coding with robotics. This event is family oriented - all children must be chaperoned by a parent.
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Flight & Rocketry
Are you ready to explore the science of flight and rocketry? Students will build and launch their own rockets, learn the principles of aerodynamics, and discover how forces like thrust and gravity affect flight.
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Girl Powered STEAM
This summer program will allow girls to join other like-minded girls to explore engineering in a fun and informal environment. We engage girls in a balance of hands-on Engineering activities, along with social skills and collaboration skills. Both self-guided and teacher-led projects will take place. Girls will work to build, test, and improve their very own creations, which encourage fun learning experiences for all. Undoubtedly, this summer program will equip girls with STEAM skills they will use for a lifetime.
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NASA Astro Camp
Developed with NASA based activities, this camp explores what it really means to be an astronaut and an aerospace engineer, combining science, engineering and math all in one. Students will be building, launching and exploring the various structures launched into space while thinking about the scientific factors that go into real NASA space explorations. This camp introduces children to the principles of engineering through hands-on NASA themed activities in which they will apply the engineering design process to solve problems and generate solutions. The emphasis is on students understanding that engineers must imagine and plan before they begin to create and test. Come join us for a great time!
Please note that this program meets from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. in various rooms of the Youth Center.
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Planetarium Night at the Mahan Planetarium
Join us for a planetarium show and full dome movie! This program is presented by the Wallingford Public Schools Mahan Planetarium and Center for Innovation & Design. Families must provide their own transportation to Sheehan High School and will be checked in at the Senior Courtyard entrance. All children must be accompanied by and chaperoned by an adult.
The April 21, 2026 planetarium show will highlight Spring Constellations and the full dome movie will be Expedition Reef in recognition of Earth Day.
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Race Cars - Make & Take Program
Participants will plan and design a vehicle using household materials. Participants will test and revise their ideas to create the most challenging and fastest car possible.
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Robotics Camp
Have you been curious about robotics but haven’t had the chance to dive in? Now’s your chance! Join us for our Robotics Camp —no prior experience needed. Whether you're brand new to robotics or just eager to learn more, this camp is the perfect place to get started! You will explore coding, build robots and engage in fun challenges. Come join us for an adventure in robotics, and let’s build, code, and explore together!
Please note that this program meets from 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. in various rooms of the Youth Center.
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Robotics Revolution: Create & Code
Students will build and code their own robots using fun, easy to use tools like Ozobots and UB Tech Robotics. They'll explore basic programming concepts, problem solving and creativity while bringing their robots to life.
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Rocketry Camp
Do you have a knack for learning about the in’s and out of the science of rockets and flying? If yes, then come on out to this camp, it’s not rocket science. In this camp we will be doing a plethora of lessons and experiments to further explore the mechanics behind rockets, the science behind the flying of them and an experience with drone flying. Experiments will include creating four different rockets and activities on how to furthermore increase the functionality. Try this camp and you’ll have a blast!
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Roller Coaster Explorations - Make & Take Program
Participants will plan and design a roller coaster using household materials. Participants will test and revise their ideas to create the most challenging and fastest roller coaster possible!
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Rube Goldberg Machine Inventions
Who knew that physics could be so fun? Hone your designing, building, and teamwork skills with these exciting motion and physics related Rube Goldberg related challenges with Legos, K’NEX, car building, Sphero Robotics and more.
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Space Days
Spend a day at Wallingford’s Planetarium and the Center for Innovation & Design. Participants will spend a morning session at the Planetarium immersed in space science with high definition visuals, a full dome movie and hands-on activities. Participants will transition to the Center for Innovation & Design to design and build a Mars Rover Prototype and drive their creation on a simulated Martian surface. This program will be led by NASA trained educators. Topics will not be repeated from day to day or build on one another so interested explorers can register for just one day or all days!
Drop Off and Pick Up will be at the Harmon Leonard, Jr. Youth Center in Cheshire. Participants will be transported by bus during the day.
Sample Day
8:30 a.m. Drop Off Begins
9:00 a.m. Depart Harmon Leonard, Jr. Youth Center
9:20 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Planetarium at Sheehan High School - Space Science, Full Dome Movie, Hands-On Space Themed Activity
11:00 a.m. - 11:20 a.m. Travel to Center for Innovation for Innovation & Design
11:20 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Lunch (each camper should bring their own bag lunch)
12:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Space Themed Robotics Activity
2:30 p.m. Return to Harmon Leonard, Jr. Youth Center in Cheshire
3:00 p.m. Parent Pick Up
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Starbase Camp
STARBASE CT is a five-day STEM-based academy funded by the Department of Defense in collaboration with the CT National Guard. Participants will be supervised by CT STEM Academy staff and travel by bus, with CT STEM Academy staff, from the Cheshire Parks and Recreation Department to STARBASE CT located at Light Lane in Windsor Locks, CT. (off site full day) Participants explore various STEM fields through various collaborative investigations. The students use the scientific method to conduct experiments in chemistry and physics, make observations, and analyze data through graphing and comparison to draw conclusions about the world in which they live. They also make use of technology in the form of a high-profile CAD program and 3-D printing. Students are challenged to utilize the knowledge they gain to engineer unique solutions to real world issues. Parent drop off and pick up, as noted above, will be at the Cheshire Parks and Recreation Department, 559 S Main St. Participants will need to pack a lunch, snack, and water bottle. All participants must have a signed STARBASE CT permission slip prior to the first day of the program. CT STEM Academy will contact each family by early June with this permission slip. This program is available due to a partnership with CT STEM Academy and STARBASE CT.
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STEAM Explorations
Join us for an exciting summer adventure filled with hands-on learning and creativity! In our STEAM Explorations program, students will dive into the world of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) through fun and engaging daily activities such as; Rollercoasters, Chemistry, Rocketry, Robotics, Engineering Challenges, Art, Space, Computer Science and more. Each day will include maker style activities and literature connected STEAM activities. Each session will include new activities. Activities will not be repeated in STEAM Exploration sessions.
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STEAM for Ages 5-7
In this hands-on program, children will embark on a series of fun, interactive activities designed to spark curiosity and inspire a love of learning. Through engaging projects and experiments, young explorers will dive into the fascinating worlds of robotics, chemistry, and engineering. From building simple robots to mixing safe and colorful chemical reactions, kids will develop problem-solving skills, creativity, and teamwork—all while having tons of fun!
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Technology & Engineering Explorations
Do you like to explore science, solve problems and use technology? This program will feature explorations with our Sphero Coding Robots and Ozobot Coding Robots. All participants will code their robots to travel through cardboard creations such as mazes, race tracks and more.
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Video Game Design
In this class, students will explore the wonderful world of video game design. Students will learn key concepts of coding by using Scratch block coding platform to create their own video games.
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