Families are invited to the

Cedar Valley Family STEM Festival on Tuesday, October 29 in Waverly

Students and their families are invited to attend the Cedar Valley Family STEM Festival on Tuesday, October 29 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the "W" Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa. The festival is free and open to the public.

Get ready to dive into the thrilling world of STEM with us at the Cedar Valley Family STEM Festival, where the wonders of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics 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. Together, we’ll explore hands-on activities that spark curiosity, while also shining a light on the incredible career opportunities that await in the STEM fields. So, come join us for an afternoon filled with inspiration, laughter, and the chance to envision a bright future in STEM.

Organized like a street festival or county fair, visitors stroll from activity to activity at their leisure. Exhibits will feature interactive STEM activities for students and their families. Attendees may conduct amazing science experiments, observe and interact with robots, perform surgery with a Laparoscopic Surgical Trainer, experience virtual reality, and much more! All ages are welcome to attend.

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

To learn more, visit

https://neiowastem.com/cedar-valley-family-stem-festival

The Cedar Valley Family STEM Festival is a community-wide partnership led by the Northeast Region of the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council, at the University of Northern Iowa, in partnership with Wartburg College, Waverly-Shell Rock Community School District, St.Paul's Lutheran School, Waterloo Community Schools, Hawkeye Community College, TDS Automation, Waverly Health Center, Waverly Economic Development, and

University of Northern Iowa STEM

Iowa STEM BEST Application

Opens October 7

The STEM BEST (Businesses Engaging Students and Teachers) program focuses on teachers and industry professionals working side-by-side to craft curriculum and projects that prepare students for exciting STEM careers in manufacturing, information technology, bioscience (agriculture and medicine), finance and more.

Who Can Apply

Applications to become a STEM BEST program open on October 7, via the IowaGrants.gov portal. All accredited Iowa public and non-public school districts and buildings serving students in grades K-12, or clusters of schools/districts, are invited.

Type of Funding Opportunities

School districts and buildings may apply as either a New STEM BEST program or Returning STEM BEST program.

• The New STEM BEST Program supports school districts that have never previously received STEM BEST funding.
• The Returning STEM BEST Program supports school districts that have previously been awarded STEM BEST and are proposing significant growth and/or implementation following a planning award.

Requirements

An applicant is required to provide a 2:1 match. If seeking the full $40,000, your required cost-share would be $20,000. The match may be either cash and/or in-kind support and the match may be contributed by the applicant or a community partner. To be eligible as a match, the cash and/or in-kind contribution must be provided during the funding period of the STEM BEST program award.

Examples of Fund Use

Since 2014, 121 STEM BEST programs have been awarded an opportunity to grow a series of community collaborations involving school+business partnerships.

Ideas include:

• Facility upgrades
• Purchase of industry grade equipment
• Acquiring additional space
• Time for program planning with partners
• Travel needs for exploration
• Integrating curriculum into existing courses

Application & Program Timeline

Starting today, consider programs you'd like to build or expand in your community. Take note of what you hope to accomplish, and make a list of potential community partners. Here are some important dates:

• October 7, 2024: Application opens in IowaGrants.gov
• December 11, 2024: Application due by 4:59pm
• December 2024 - January, 2025: Application Review
• February 2025: Awards Announced
• February 2025 - May 2026: STEM BEST program planning and implementation

The Deadline to Exhibit at the

Cedar Valley Family STEM Festival

is October 18

The Cedar Valley Family STEM Festival will be held:

Tuesday, October 29

4:00 PM - 7:00 PM

The W - Wartburg College

Waverly, IA

The goals of the festival are to promote, inspire and engage youth in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) opportunities and to introduce youth and their parents to STEM careers.



Exhibitor registration is free, but your organization/business will need to provide a hands-on STEM activity for kids in PreK to 8th grade.

Below are a few tips to help you succeed at any

STEM festival

• Consider the age of the audience. Many festival goers range between Kindergarten and 7th grade.
• Often people spend 5-10 minutes per booth, so having a quick activity or interaction is important.
• If it interests you, it will likely interest a student. Create a space that is interesting and fun.

If you're seeking inspiration for your upcoming activity, look no further! By clicking on the light bulb icon, you can explore a wealth of innovative ideas and successful strategies shared by past exhibitors. This resource is designed to spark your creativity and help you envision exciting possibilities that can elevate your event. Embrace the opportunity to learn from others' experiences, and let their successes guide you toward crafting an engaging and memorable activity that resonates with your audience.

To learn more,

https://neiowastem.com/cedar-valley-family-stem-festival

Deadline for exhibitor registration is

October 18.

Building Partnerships for the Future: The Impact of Hosting a STEM Teacher Extern

The STEM Teacher Externship Program offers a unique opportunity for Iowa businesses to host STEM educators for six weeks during the summer, benefiting from their expertise and fresh perspectives. These externships provide value to both the organizations and the teachers with most workplace hosts monetizing the projects completed by externs between $2,500 and $10,000.

Key benefits of hosting a STEM Teacher Extern include:

• Hosts build a partnership that will enhance the workplace and future community workforce.
• Educated and skilled STEM teachers as contributors to the workplace’s needs.
• Publicity through the program’s promotion, officially recognizing the workplace host’s commitment to STEM education and local economic development.
• Teachers return to the classroom with real-world experience, preparing future generations for careers in STEM.

Participants emphasize the importance of the externs’ contributions. According to Joy Bolar, Senior Research Manager at Corteva Agriscience, “Mostly it is about advocacy. Teachers can go back with the knowledge they have gained to train our next generation of problem solvers. Making them understand that they have a world-class facility in their neighborhood for future careers opportunities. This is priceless.”

Lori Eberhard, Park Manager at George Wyth State Park, adds, “We are so thankful for having an extern at George Wyth. They have been able to take on some of the small projects that actually become big projects and get them completed. This is such a great program, and it is helping us get information into the schools with a direct connection which has been hard to do.”

TO BECOME A TEACHER EXTERN

HOST TODAY!

For more information or to complete a workplace host interest form for the 2025 STEM Teacher Externships Program, visit educate.iowa.gov/STEM/Externships.