Welcome back! I hope you enjoyed a wonderful summer break and are ready to dive into an exciting new school year. Here’s a preview of what this fall has in store. I’ve included internship opportunities, STEM competitions and challenges, plus plenty of hands-on learning experiences. You’ll find nationwide opportunities for students in the opening section, followed by programs and events specifically available here in Massachusetts.
Featured! Here are two of my favorite fall events in MA for families! I’ve included more information below, but here is a quick preview: the Cambridge Science Carnival in Kendall Square (Sunday, September 21) and RoboBoston: 8th Annual Robot Block Party in the Seaport (Saturday, September 27).
National Programs and Events
Science & Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP)
Apply now for 2026 and you could spend next summer working on real STEM projects at a Navy lab! The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) places high school students in Department of Navy (DoN) laboratories, where they participate in real Naval research for eight weeks during the summer. SEAP allows academically talented sophomores, juniors, and seniors interested in STEM to learn about Naval research and technology while receiving first-class mentoring by top scientists and engineers. SEAP is a competitive program offering around 300 placements in over 38 laboratories nationwide, with many participants advancing to careers within the DoN. Learn about the application process. The application deadline is November 1.
NASA International Space Apps Challenge
The NASA International Space Apps Challenge is a two-day event, taking place on October 4-5. Participants have the opportunity to utilize NASA’s free and open data, as well as its Space Agency Partners’ space-based data, to address real-world problems on Earth and in space. Choose from 18 challenges that include topics in meteors, missions to Mars, solar weather, sharks, and more! The Challenge offers opportunities for anyone interested in Earth and space science, regardless of age, skill level, or professional background. This is a team-based, free activity! Register now.
BioBuilder Club
From October to March, the BioBuilderClub engages high school teams around the world who want to use synthetic biology to solve global challenges. BioBuilderClub increases student access to authentic tools and approaches for engineering biology. The season begins with the October 6th Kickoff on Zoom and concludes with the Final Assembly in mid-March in Boston and online. Learn more and register your team.
Space Center Houston’s Conrad Challenge
The Conrad Challenge is a purpose-driven STEM innovation competition for teens ages 13-18. From August through April, teams of 2-5 students will journey through the entrepreneurial process and design an innovation that solves an important problem. This year’s categories include: The Water Challenge, Health and Nutrition, Energy and Environment, Cyber Technology and Security, and Aerospace and Aviation. Learn more and register now.
Diamond Challenge
The Diamond Challenge invites high school students worldwide to build solutions to solve problems they are passionate about. Participants learn from new ideas and create, submit, and present original business and social venture concepts. Teams must consist of 2-4 high school students aged 14-18 at the submission deadline. The competition begins in September. Learn more.
CodeWizardsHQ Logic Challenge
CodeWizardsHQ is hosting its Fall Semester CodeWizardsHQ Logic Challenge! This is a free nationwide competition where students between the ages 8-18 solve engaging logic puzzles, develop problem-solving skills, and win exciting tech prizes. Weekly challenges run from September 29 – December 14 — a total of 10 challenges. Register now!
NASA’s TechRise Student Challenge
The NASA TechRise Student Challenge is open and accepting entries from sixth through 12th-grade teams until November 3. This year’s challenge invites student teams to submit science and technology experiment ideas to fly on a Virgin Galactic suborbital spaceship or World View Enterprises high-altitude balloon. No experience is necessary to participate! Sixty winning teams will receive $1500 to build their experiment, a spot to test it on a NASA-sponsored flight, and technical support from  TechRise advisors. Explore educational resources, including videos and lesson guides. Sign up now.
Autodesk Instructables’ Contests for Students
Bookmark the Instructables’ Contests webpage because they run design contests for students on a regular basis. Right now there are architecture, engineering, and visual effects contests, all due by January 5, 2026.
CyberPatriot Defense Competition
CyberPatriot is the nation’s largest youth cyber defense competition. Teams of high school and middle school students are challenged to find and fix cybersecurity vulnerabilities in virtual operating systems. Using a proprietary competition system, teams are scored on how secure they make the system. Competitions take place online on specified weekends throughout the school year. Top teams advance through the online round of competition, and the best advance to the in-person National Finals Competition. Teams must register by October 1 to get access to training rounds. Join the competition.
eCYBERMISSION Challenge
eCYBERMISSION is a free, virtual STEM competition for students in grades 6-9. Students form teams of 2-4, led by an adult Team Advisor, and select a community problem to investigate with science or solve with engineering. Registration for the 2025-2026 competition is open until February 25. Mission folder submissions are due March 4, 2026. Get an overview of the challenge, review the student resources, and note important dates.
Online STEM Community Events by Create-Learn
Create-Learn, an online STEM education company, regularly offers free live online STEM workshops and activities for kids in grades 2-9. Take a look at their calendar—there are Minecraft, Snap Circuits, and AI classes right now, and they are always adding new events. This is a great way to explore your child’s interest in STEM subjects.
Splash Programs For Teens This Fall
Registration will open soon for fall Splash programs held by colleges in the Northeast and other parts of the country. Splash offers a terrific learning experience for curious middle and high school students, providing classes on diverse and fun topics, including STEM, taught by college students on weekends. See if there is a program in your area.
NCWIT Computing Award
Each year, the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) honors 9th-12th-grade students for their computing-related achievements and interests with the Aspirations in Computing Award. Students with any level of experience are encouraged to apply: NCWIT recognizes aspirations as well as accomplishments! Apply by October 28.
Featured Programs in Massachusetts
Girlstart’s Girls in STEM Conference
Registration is open for Girlstart’s second annual Boston Girls in STEM Conference on November 8 from 10 am to 3:30 pm at the Kennedy Middle School in Waltham. Girls in 4th-8th grades will enjoy hands-on workshops led by inspiring women in STEM and learn about rewarding and meaningful STEM careers. Whether your child is already excited about STEM or eager to learn something new, this opportunity is for them! Learn more and register. Cost: $50. Registration closes Monday, October 27th.
Health Professions Recruitment & Exposure Program (HPREP) at Harvard Medical School
HPREP is a high school science enrichment program aimed at recruiting high school students from underserved and underrepresented backgrounds in the greater Boston area into the science and health professions. HPREP participants are introduced to various topics in medicine, science, and public health under the mentorship of medical school faculty and students. Saturday sessions take place at the Harvard Medical School campus in the Longwood Medical Area in Boston over a 10-week period. This is a free program. The application deadline is September 26. Attend the virtual information session on Sept. 17th @ 7pm to learn more about the program and application.
New Space Exhibit at the EcoTarium
The EcoTarium in Worcester is excited to announce the grand opening of its newest permanent exhibit, Lift Off! Space Explorers on September 13. This hands-on experience invites visitors of all ages to explore the science and wonder of space travel. Discover what it takes to launch a rocket into orbit, explore the hidden mysteries of our universe, and imagine your place in the future of space exploration! This exhibit opening is included with admission.
Mass STEM Week
Massachusetts STEM Week 2025 will take place from October 20–24 and is a statewide collaborative effort featuring planned events, activities, and design challenges that engage local school communities, community leaders, and business partners. Visit the STEM Week website to find activities near you!
Teen Saturdays at the Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology
Join Teen Saturdays Workshops this fall on September 20, October 25, November 22, and December 13. The workshops are offered bilingually in Spanish and English and are designed to build community and enrich the museum experience for multicultural and Spanish-speaking teens. The $10 fee includes free admission to all Harvard Museums of Science & Culture museums immediately following the workshop.
National Chemistry Week
The Northeastern section of the American Chemical Society is partnering with the Museum of Science, Boston Children’s Museum, and Discovery Museum for National Chemistry Week from October 19-26. Visit the events page to get information on programs that feature hands-on activities.
TiE Boston’s TYE Entrepreneurship Academy
TiE Boston’s Young Entrepreneurs (TYE) Academy is now accepting applications. This immersive, project-based entrepreneurship program runs from mid-October through spring and meets 12 Saturdays (typically every other Saturday, 10 AM–3 PM in Kendall Square). High school students work as a team to build a business from idea to pitch—with expert mentors, real-world workshops, and a chance to win cash prizes. Learn more.
RSM Back to School Bash Events
Many local RSM branches are holding back-to-school events this fall. These events offer parents and students a great opportunity to learn about their program, meet the principals and teachers, discover more about their schools, and enjoy engaging in fun math games and puzzles. The events are open to the community and free for all! Find an event near you!
Student Spotlight! STEM for Society
STEM for Society is a student-led nonprofit organization based in Needham, dedicated to bridging the gap in STEM education and opportunities within its community. The team is made up of passionate and driven students who work together to design, implement, and lead STEM programs. They collaborate with local community centers and organizations to bring interactive learning experiences to students of all ages, including library STEM lessons for kids (coding basics, robotics, and hands-on experiments), technology assistance for seniors (navigate devices, apps, and digital communication tools), and speaker events with STEM experts. STEM for Society is calling other high school students to start their own branch of STEM for Society at their schools. Visit their website or Instagram to learn more about starting a branch!
Calendar of Massachusetts Events
September 16-21: The Discovery Museum (Acton) will host “Pay and Play Like It’s 1982,” charging $2.50 per person from September 16-21 to celebrate its founding in 1982 and to thank its community for more than four decades of support. The Museum is open during the school year from 9:00am to 4:30pm Tuesday through Sunday; it is open with free admission the first Friday night of the month from 4:30 to 8:00pm.
September 20: The Harvard Museums of Science and Culture presents Stickball, the Little Brother of War: Teen Saturdays Workshop. Stickball is often referred to as “the little brother of war,” and has been played by Native American tribes for centuries. Join stick maker James Walkingstick for an in-depth workshop on the game. Teens will analyze sticks made in 1908 and 2025 and learn how they are made, how they came to the museum, and how they are used today. At the end of the workshop, students will have the opportunity to play the game and cheer on their fellow players! Cost: $10. Register now.
September 21: The family-friendly Cambridge Science Carnival features more than 150 activity booths, demonstrations, live music, and events, including the ever-popular Robot Petting Zoo. Join the celebration of exhibitors, educators, and innovators as they transform the Kendall/MIT Open Space from 12-4pm into a giant playground of all things scientific. Free event! The MIT Museum is also free on this day, from 10am-6pm (last entry 5:30pm).
September 27: MassRobotics hosts RoboBoston: the 8th annual Robot Block Party from 10:45am-4pm in Boston’s Seaport Innovation District. RoboBoston is the largest celebration of robotics that showcases cutting-edge robotics technology from more than 50 companies, universities, and student teams, all united in Boston’s vibrant innovation hub. Come see the latest in robotics, including robot demonstrations, hands-on interactions with robots, and games. Register for this free event.
September 27: Attend ¡Celebremos Puerto Rico! at the Harvard Museum of Natural History and Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology in Cambridge. Join for hands-on art-making and storytelling led by Puerto Rican artist and director Pedro Adorno Irizarry and his celebrated arts collective, Agua, Sol y Sereno—known for their vibrant masks, street theater, and community-inspired performances. Learn about coquĂ frogs, colorful birds, and glowing bioluminescent bays. Try out cool augmented reality tools to explore ancient TaĂno artifacts and enjoy tasty Puerto Rican food (available for purchase). Bring the whole family—there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Free event!
October 4: Join educators for the Massachusetts Teacher STEM Fair from 9am-1pm at Gillette Stadium Cross Insurance Club in Foxborough. This hands-on, high-energy day is designed for K–12 educators across Massachusetts. Explore interactive STEM resources, connect with inspiring organizations, and walk away with ideas you can use right away in your classroom. Free and open to all MA educators. Register for the event.
October 11: The Girl Scouts of Central and Western MA is hosting the Geek is Glam STEM Expo at WPI, an annual day-long interactive STEM conference for middle school girls in grades 4-8. The cost is $65/ticket. Register by September 19.
October 18: WTS-Boston is partnering with the Peabody Public Schools to host the 2025 Transportation YOU STEM Summit! The summit introduces students (ages 8-18) to transportation planning and engineering and offers hands-on workshops. The summit is free, but registration is required. Registration is now open and will close on October 11 or when the cap of 100 attendees is reached, whichever comes first.
October 22: The Brockton Public Library is celebrating Massachusetts STEM Week with STEM Starts Now, a STEM event for families from 5pm-8pm. There will be many hands-on activities and science fun for all ages. This is a free event! Register now.
October 23: Join for ArtsThursdays: Halloween at the Museum, a free night at the Harvard Museums of Science & Culture. Trick-or-Treat through the museum and check out some of their spookiest specimens. Wear your best Halloween costume and take photos at the photo booth. Visit the brand-new exhibit, Velvet Worms: A Fierce Hunter with a Secret Weapon in the Arthropods Gallery. Visit the exhibition Sea Monsters: Wonders of Nature and Imagination and explore the allure of serpents, krakens, and other mysterious creatures of the deep sea. This is a free event! RSVPs are encouraged.
October 24 & 28: The Christa McAuliffe Center in Framingham presents a live planetarium show: Spooky Skies. Join for a live tour of the chilling and eerie objects in our night sky and beyond. This program features planetarium film Undiscovered Worlds. Come in costume! Purchase tickets.
October 25: The Brockton Public Library is hosting three family-friendly planetarium shows, including Spooky Space, Cosmic Colors, and From Earth to the Universe. The shows are free, but you must register in advance.
October 25: The Harvard Museums of Science and Culture presents Ulama Ball Game for teens. Step into ancient history with a 3,000-year-old ball game played by the Olmec, Maya, and Aztec. This intense team sport, which used a heavy rubber ball, was played in stone ballcourts, and players could only hit the ball with their hips—no hands or feet! The game had deep meaning, symbolizing the movement of the sun across the sky. In this workshop, you’ll learn the history and try your hand (actually hip) at the game! Cost: $10. Register now.
October 26: Join Harvard Museums of Science and Culture volunteers for a live story reading and hands-on, family-friendly activities at the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East. Recommended for ages 5–12. This is a free event!
November 1 & 2: Keep the Halloween fun going by Trick-or-Treating at Einstein’s Workshop in Burlington from 10am to 6pm. Kids in costumes can play for free in the drop-in STEAM play space and grab a sweet treat with robot arms!
November 2: The American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) is hosting a K-12 STEM Showcase from 9am-2:45pm at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston. This is an interactive opportunity for students, parents, and educators to learn about STEM, chemical engineering, and different STEM career paths from real-life STEM professionals. This year’s keynote speaker is Jay Flores, a STEM advocate, author of the bilingual children’s book “Engineer Someday,” and a two-time American Ninja Warrior semifinalist, who will present STEM demonstrations from his live touring show. Following the keynote, attendees and their caregivers can participate in multiple interactive activities, enjoy a lunch and learn session with STEM professionals, and attend a book signing by Jay, among other activities. The event is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is required.
Splash Programs in November!
- Northeastern University will hold Splash for grades 8-12 on November 8. It is a free event, and registration opens on October 20.
- Clark University will hold Splash on November 16 for grades 5-12. It is a free event, and registration will be open from October 4 to November 14.
- MIT will hold Splash for grades 9-12 on November 22 and 23. Create an ESP account to receive email updates when registration opens in mid to late October. Cost: $60.
Image Credit: Girstart Girls in STEM Conference
