Expose your child to STEM outside of school.
Here’s a sampling of well-known, popular programs with a national reach. Many are run by non-profit organizations and some are free for participants. Some run during the school year, others during the summer, and some hold programs year-round. Popular themes include coding, robotics, engineering, cybersecurity, design and engineering, and science too!
National Stem Programs
If you’re just beginning your exploration, this list is a great place to start!
Black Girls CODE
Black Girls CODE is dedicated to teaching young women of color about computer programming and technology.
CyberPatriot
CyberPatriot is the National Youth Cyber Education Program created by the Air Force Association to inspire students toward careers in cybersecurity or other STEM disciplines critical to the nation’s future.
CyberStart America
CyberStart America is a free, immersive online learning platform for high school students, who are challenged to solve the kinds of problems and puzzles that confront professionals in computer science or cybersecurity.
FIRST Robotics
FIRST provides team-based robotics programs to students in kindergarten through high school. Members join robotics teams and learn about science, technology, robotics, engineering and much more.
GenCyber
GenCyber are free week-long summer camps where students learn about cybersecurity.
Girls Who Code
Girls Who Code hosts free coding clubs around the country at schools, libraries, and community centers and teaches computer science to girls in grades 3-5 and 6-12 in a fun and friendly environment.
GlaxoSmithKline
GlaxoSmithKline’s free summer program is designed to engage children (grades 2-6) in science, technology, engineering, and math.
Kode with Klossy
Kode with Klossy offers free summer coding camps for young women ages 13-18.
Virtual Workshops
Microsoft offers a variety of free student workshops in science, coding, creativity, history, and more.
PBS KIDS: Design Squad Global
In Design Squad Global (DSG) after-school clubs, kids ages 10-13 explore engineering and invention through high-energy, hands-on activities.
TechGirlz
TechGirlz’s mission is to inspire middle school girls to explore the possibilities of technology to empower their future careers. TechGirlz is accomplishing its mission through the creation of free, fun, interactive “TechShopz” led by industry professionals, leaders and students.
Technovation Girls
Technovation Girls is a free technology-based program for girls ages 10 - 18. Working in teams, girls find a problem in their community and build a mobile app to help solve it.
VEX Competitions
The REC Foundation presents the VEX IQ Challenge Next Level and VEX Robotics Competition Turning Point to involve students in elementary school through college in hands-on robotics programs and competitions.
Looking for more options?
The above list is just a starting point. There are scores of great programs offered by local organizations in communities all over the country. If you want to expand your search and find more programs, get ideas by reading Tips to Finding STEM Programs.
