Families are Invited to the Family STEM Festival on April 9 in Waukon

Kids and their Families are invited to attend the Northeast Iowa Family STEM Festival on Thursday, April 9 from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. at Waukon High School. The festival is free and open to the public.

Get ready to dive into the thrilling world of STEM with us at our upcoming festival, where the wonders of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) come alive for students and families across eastern Iowa! This vibrant celebration is not just about fun; it's about igniting a passion for learning and discovery in our youth. Explore hands-on activities that spark curiosity, while raising awareness of the importance of STEM-related educational and career opportunities for families. Come join us for an evening filled with inspiration and fun.

EXPRESS REGISTRATION

Expedite registration at the event by filling out the Express Registration. Bring the completed form with you the day of the event.

Organized like a street festival or county fair, visitors can stroll from activity to activity at their own pace. While the event is primarily geared towards PreK-8th grade students and their families, there’s something for all ages to enjoy.

With over 25 exhibits, the festival features hands-on, interactive STEM activities, including the chance to drive a robot, conduct exciting science experiments, and much more. The event is free and open to the public, with exhibitors ranging from businesses and industries to higher education institutions, K-12 schools, non-profit organizations, and government agencies.

To learn more, visit

neiowastem.com/stem-festivals/northeast-iowa-family-stem-festival

Come check out the Exhibitors!

• Allamakee County Sheriff's Office
• Benzing Surveying, LLC
• Civil Air Patrol
• Driftless Audiology
• Edward Jones
• Effigy Mounds National Monument
• FreedomBank
• Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois
• Grout Museum District
• Iowa Corn Mobile Education Trailer
• Iowa Department of Transportation
• Iowa Motor Truck Association
• IowaWORKS
• ISU Extension & Outreach (4-H)
• Keystone Area Education Agency
• Northeast Iowa Community College-Waukon Center
• Northeast Iowa Electric
• Robey Memorial Library
• St. Pats RoboCats
• Submarine Veterans of Iowa
• Tallgrass Prairie Center
• UIHC STEM Education
• Upper Iowa University
• Veterans Memorial Hospital
• Wartburg College
• Waukon Middle School

The Spintronics Scale-Up Program is Helping Concepts Click for Students at Roosevelt Middle School in Dubuque

“Electricity is always an engaging unit for students,” said seventh-grade teacher Elizabeth Burke. “Even with hands-on activities, students still struggled to understand how the movement of electrons causes a light bulb to light or hair to stand on end.”

Roosevelt Middle School was a recipient of a 2025–26 Iowa STEM Scale-Up Program award, which funded Spintronics materials and curriculum, along with summer professional development to support effective implementation. Burke noted that introducing Spintronics prior to this year’s electricity unit has made a measurable difference in student understanding.

“Our class discussions after Spintronics were much richer than in years past because students understood what was actually happening in the circuit,” Burke said. “Our summative assessment results were also stronger, with Spintronics being the only major change to our instructional approach.”



Spintronics introduces students to mechanical circuits through puzzle-based activities using tangible components, helping build foundational understanding before applying concepts to electrical systems.

Youth Ambassador

Application Open

Middle school through college undergrad-aged students with a passion or interest in science, technology, engineering or mathematics are invited to apply for the Iowa STEM Youth Ambassador group. Youth Ambassadors contribute to the STEM Council's mission of inspiring Iowa youth in STEM through peer-to-peer engagement and community STEM advocacy. Youth Ambassadors are afforded volunteering and networking opportunities throughout the year through Iowa STEM events. 

Applications are open through April 16. 

Free Elementary Computer Science

Professional Learning

Studies show participation in computer science learning provides students with better career opportunities after they leave school and that early exposure to computer science learning is key to getting students interested in computer science and engineering. To help schools improve computer science learning opportunities, the Iowa Department of Education is partnering with Green Hills AEA to provide two elementary-focused computer science professional learning opportunities.  

In the Embedding Computer Science into Everyday Instruction hands-on, virtual workshop series, participants will:

• Explore simple, developmentally appropriate ways to embed computer science into their current instruction.
• See how computer science standards naturally connect to literacy, math and patterning through a physical computing device and picture book.
• Leave with concrete lesson ideas and classroom-ready strategies.
• Gain a clearer understanding of computer science standards and the confidence to integrate computer science without adding one more thing to your plate.

Teachers must attend all sessions for the district to receive reimbursement. Information about specific materials to purchase and instructions for reimbursement will be provided with registration confirmation.

For more information on this computer science professional learning opportunity including dates, times and registration details, visit the Department’s webpage or contact Michelle Meier at michelle.meier@iowa.gov.

Registration is required and closes April 24.

Still time to join the Iowa STEM

Teacher Externships Program

Still considering becoming an extern this summer? Our team is matching externs and hosts right now for summer 2026. Questions? Reach out and we can help with answers.

To learn more