STEM2U Youth Programs

STEM2U Youth Programs has developed a multi-year multi-level strategy that incrementally leverages the well-established FIRST family of robotics programs to create a very tangible, hands-on experiential learning environment for K-12th grade students of all interests and backgrounds. By hosting a complete series of experiential programs from K-12th grade, STEM2U Youth Programs is providing a pipeline for students to consider STEM related college programs. "FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology)" is a world-wide organization that promotes STEM related skill development by allowing students and mentors to design, build, test, and compete with robots ranging in size from small table top units built with Legos, to large 120 lb industrial grade robots. See http://www.usfirst.org/for more information.

The FIRST Family of programs is comprised of FIRST Lego League Junior (K-4th), FIRST Lego League (5th-8th), FIRST Tech Challenge (7th-9th), and FIRST Robotics Challenge (9th-12th). These programs provide a foundation to inspire students in areas such as: Programming, Mechanical Design, Fabrication, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving, Working together as a Team, Business Planning, Community Outreach, Applied Mathematics and Physics, Engineering, Marketing, and most importantly "Gracious Professionalism".

At the 9-12th grade level, STEM2U has established the goal to sponsor one or more teams that are part of the FIRST Robotics Challenge (FRC) program. Currently, STEM2U Youth Programs is the primary sponsor for FRC Team 4329, The Lutheran Roboteers. STEM2U Youth Programs is responsible for coordinating all fundraising, corporate and private sponsors, volunteer mentors, and all related efforts needed to ensure the continuation of FRC Team 4329. Team 4329 operates under a $25,000 annual budget which is used for robot components, shop equipment, and event fees. STEM2U Youth Programs provides STEM professionals who volunteer their time with the student leaders and school educators to provide hands-on immersive experiences with industrial grade robots. Each volunteer mentor provides from 200 to 900 hours of volunteer time each year to operate Team 4239 and related STEM2U Youth Programs events.

At the 7th - 10th grade level, STEM2U has the goal to sponsor one or more First Tech Challenge (FTC) teams as a means of bridging the skills developed in the Lego Robotics programs and those required for the large scale robots in FRC. STEM2U has successfully pursued corporate and private grants and donations to launch this new effort. The initial FTC team was launched fall 2016 as Team 10868, and was comprised of 7-8th grade students from all St. Charles county Lutheran grade schools. The initial year was so successful that STEM2U pursued addition grants to launch a second FTC team in 2017, Team 13041, which allowed more students to participate. Both FTC teams are now competing in the 2017 FIRST season.

At the 5th - 8th grade level, STEM2U Youth Programs continues to be the primary sponsor and overall coordinator for the Mobile STEM Camp (MSC) service that was conceived, developed, and deployed by adult and student volunteers on FRC Team 4329. The MSC service was made possible by grants from The Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis, and various individual contributors that allowed Team 4329 to acquire hardware, computers, curriculum, and professional education modules related to the Lego Robotics EV3 program. The MSC is now transported by STEM2U volunteers to schools and community centers to conduct workshops, clinics, and camps for students that do not have access to such assets in their normal classrooms. Additionally, the MSC equipment is loaned to schools to use in their classrooms for dedicated STEM weeks.

For K-4th grade levels, STEM2U Youth Programs is working with individual grade schools to provide robotics demonstrations and general volunteer support for their STEM events. Additionally, STEM2 Youth Programs has successfully deployed Matching Grant programs wherein STEM2U matched dollar for dollar funding raised by grade schools to help them start their own Lego Robotics and related STEM programs. The funds from these matching grants have come from larger corporate grants and donations acquired by STEM2U Youth Programs. In 2017, STEM2U sponsored and launched the initial FIRST Lego League - Jr. program with parent volunteers at Child of God Lutheran School in St. Peters. This pathfinder program will be used to understand and scale similar programs at the other area schools.

In addition to the FIRST family of programs, STEM2U Youth Programs is exploring other suitable curriculum and activity-based STEM programs that will combine the after school FIRST programs with in-class for-credit activities.