Kim Fogarty — Newton resident, local teacher, and makerspace educator — will run two workshops March 23-27 at the Staples Spotlight Space (163 Highland Ave., Needham):
All tools and materials will be provided. For more information, email Kim at learnatlaunchpad@gmail.com.
Project Learning Tree will present a professional-development workshop for teachers, non-formal educators, and anyone wanting to bring the environment into their work with children. The workshop will use PLT’s K-8 curriculum and will focus particularly on Grates 3-5, but all educators are welcome. It will be held at Quinsigamond State Park in Worcester on March 7, 9:30AM-1PM. Cost is $20 per person. For questions or to register (by February 29), contact Gini Traub at Gini.Traub@state.ma.us or 617-699-2387. Project Learning Tree’s award-winning environmental-education program is sponsored by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.
iCode (73 Central Street in Wellesley) will offer a wide range of summer camps for ages 5-10 as well as for age 11+. Registration is now open with a $50 discount for each summer camp. Similar school-vacation camps will run for February 17-21 and April 20-24.
MIT CodeIt is a free programming class at MIT for middle-school girls and non-binary students, running on Saturdays, 11AM-3PM, from February 29 to April 25. No experience is necessary. Apply by February 7. For more information, see the FAQs then email codeit-exec@mit.edu.
The Harvard Museum of Natural History will encourage children and adults to celebrate science with its I (Heart) Science program on February 8, 10AM-4PM. Scientists, graduate students, and explorers will present short talks on current research at Harvard. Bring your own shell and mineral collections to show to local clubs. Regular museum admission rates apply.
The New England Model Engineering Society will hold its annual Exposition on February 15, 10AM-4PM, at the Charles River Museum of Industry and Innovation (154 Moody Street, Waltham). See society members building models of machinery, both long ago and recent. Free with museum admission.
The MIT Museum celebrates February school vacation (February 17-22) with FebFest — a range of activities:
Gallery activities, included with museum admission:
Workshops for ages 11+ (those under 14 must be accompanied by an adult). $15 students, $20 adults includes museum admission. Some tickets available by pre-registration at these links, and others available starting at 10AM on day of workshop:
Idea Hub: 11AM-3PM daily. Drop into the Museum’s maker space (included with museum admission; 30-minute sessions available for on-site signup on day of event) to explore Scratch (February 17), 3D Printing and Design (February 18), Kinetic Sculptures (February 19), Our Microscopic World (February 20-21), Paper Circuits (February 22).
The Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts will hold its 8th annual STEM Conference and Expo for Grades 6-12 on March 14, 9AM-5PM at Framingham State University. The organizers invite volunteers to apply (at these links) to be presenters for 75-minute, interactive workshops or exhibitors for the Expo (3PM-5PM). For more information, contact Betsy Calkins at bcalkins@gsema.org.
Framingham State University’s Christa McAuliffe Center seeks presenters and volunteers for the third annual Science on State Street festival (“Planet Earth Edition”) on April 18, 11AM-3PM, on its campus (directions). It’s free and open to all ages, with hands-on activities (in biology, chemistry, physics, food science, robotics and engineering), featured presentations by FSU faculty and invited scientists, conversations and performances that explore the interaction between science and the arts, and planetarium programs. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, this year’s festival will focus on planet Earth, environmental issues, and sustainability. Sign up now if you’d like to be an exhibitor.
Boston Tech Mom (“a parent’s guide to raising a future techie”) is a great resource for all things STEM around Boston — including her monthly posts about free or low-cost STEM Events for Kids in Boston. Here’s her Boston Tech Mom: Tech Events for Kids in February list of STEM events.