Worcester Polytechnic Institute will again host BattleCry, “the best off-season FIRST Robotics competition,” this year on July 31 and August 1, with up to 24 teams competing each day. Newton’s high-school robotics team, the Ligerbots, will complete on August 1. The event is not open to the public but will be live-streamed at https://twitch.tv/wpirobotics. If you’re fully vaccinated, you can apply to volunteer.
New England Sci-Tech: In-Person Programs
The New England Sci-Tech STEM education center (16 Tech Circle, off Route 9 in Natick) offers a range of STEM courses, events, and clubs this summer and throughout the year.
- 3-Day Summer Workshops (Tues-Wed-Thurs), 9AM-Noon, for Grades 5-9.
- Public Astronomy Nights (Fri-Sat), weather permitting. Call 508-720-4179 for status.
Amateur Radio Courses:
- ONLINE Amateur Radio License Course – TECHNICIAN (Grades 5+): The basics of wireless technology and get your FCC radio license.
- Amateur Radio License Course – GENERAL (Grades 7+)
- Amateur Radio License Course – EXTRA (Grades 9+)
FSU Planetarium Online — AstroNights Live, July 14, 21 & 28
The Christa McAuliffe Center at Framingham State University continues its free, virtual planetarium AstroNights events for families (ages 7+) with these online presentation in July.
- Destination Moon: Virtual Mission Simulation: July 14, 7:30PM-8:30PM. View the presentation on Zoom (registration required). Ages 10+ can participate, as well as those under 10 when accompanied by an adult. Cost is $10 per individual or $15 per team of two.
- James Webb Space Telescope- Part 1: July 21. In a 30-minute presentation followed by a Q&A session, learn about the James Webb Space Telescope — the largest, most powerful and complex space telescope ever built and launched into space. View the presentation on Zoom (registration required) or the Christa McAuliffe YouTube channel. Free.
- Mars Sample Return: Virtual Mission Simulation: July 28, 7:30PM-8:30PM. View the presentation on Zoom (registration required). Ages 13+ can participate, as well as those under 13 when accompanied by an adult. Cost is $10 per individual or $15 per team of two.
MassBay Virtual, Hands-on Summer STEM Programs
MassBay Community College will host these virtual, hands-on summer STEM programs for high-school students and recent graduates:
- Breaking the Silos: A STEM Interdisciplinary Virtual Program: July 15, 10AM-12:30PM. Explore science, engineering, biotech, and computer science aspects of COVID-19 research. Learn about MassBay’s STEM Division. Register here.
- Adventures in 3D Modeling and Design with TINKERCAD: August 3, 10AM-11:30AM. Explore how CAD software is used for 3D design. Register here.
For more information, contact Valerie Kapilow, Director of MassBay’s STEM Starter Academy, at vkapilow@massbay.edu.
Science and Us: Online Community of HS Students Interested in Science Communication
Science and Us — a youth-led organization for high-school students to explore science communication, media, and policy — seeks high-school students from the Greater Boston area to join their community. In the past, the organization has held in-person Makeathons at Boston University, Harvard, and MIT. Science and Us is now building an online community via the online platform Discord and welcomes new members to make friends, create projects, and receive expert feedback. Students can apply here by July 19 to join. Adults can email team@scienceandus.org to apply to be mentors.
TechGirlz Free, Online Workshops for Girls in Grades 5-8
TechGirlz, a nonprofit program of CompTIA, is hosting free, online workshops running in two-hour sessions throughout July for girls in Grades 5-8.
Museum of Science Virtual Forum: Climate Hazard Resilience — Drought, June 30
Boston’s Museum of Science will host an online forum, Climate Hazard Resilience: Drought, for ages 18+, on June 30, 8:30PM-10:30PM. It will be a facilitated, interactive discussion in Zoom breakout rooms. No prior knowledge is needed. Register here.
Outbreak! Summer High-School Program in Public Health, Register by June 30
Outbreak! is a free, online summer program offered by the Public Health Museum of Massachusetts to teach high-school students (Grades 10-12) about public health and related fields such as epidemiology, ethics, disease surveillance, nursing, and emergency preparedness. This year it will be held on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 9AM-1PM, August 2-13. Register by June 30. For more information, email outbreak@publichealthmuseum.org.
Mass Audubon Summer Programs and Events
Mass Audubon is offering several summer programs and events:
- World of Insects: An online series of 6 sessions for adults, on Wednesdays, July 21-August 11, 7PM-8:30PM. $85 ($70 for members).
- Nature Walks: Over 170 in-person events at wildlife sanctuaries across the state, some for adults and some for adults with children.
- Sensory Friendly Days: Events at wildlife sanctuaries at times when they are closed, quieter, or less busy – – expressly for people on the autism spectrum or with other sensory-sensitive needs.
- Firefly Watch Community Science Project: Spend at least 10 minutes a week during firefly season to observe and report your findings.
PluggedIn: Inclusive Online Summer Program in Music Production & Technology
PluggedIn, based in Needham, is a unique, inclusive, nonprofit youth music program. This summer it’s offering a program in Digital Music Production & Technology for ages 6-19. PluggedIn is open to all students, regardless of ability to pay, ability to play, special needs, etc. Each week the program runs 10AM-Noon on Monday-Thursday and 10AM-2PM on Friday. Sign up for any or all of four weeks:
- Intro to Digital Audio Production: June 28-July 2
- Intermediate Digital Audio Production: July 6-9
- Creating Virtual Instruments in Pure Data: July 12-16
- Programming Audio Plugins: July 19-23
Also, June 28-August 20, PluggedIn will offer Peace Tracks, a cross-cultural, digital music and video project for students in ages 14-18 in Massachusetts and Morocco to collaborate online in making a music video. It’s open to all skill levels. Register here for this and other programs, in-person and online.