Bringing hands on STEM into the Community
Not every child has access to camps, makerspaces, or after-school STEM clubs. Some lack transportation. Others need adult support or feel unsure they belong in those spaces.
Our Community Outreach program brings hands-on engineering challenges directly into the places where kids already gather. When learning happens in familiar environments, children are more willing to explore, design, and build with confidence.
Why Access Matters
STEM enrichment often reaches the kids who already see themselves as “STEM kids.” Some children need a different doorway. One that feels welcoming, nearby, and safe.
Recognizing these barriers, our youth leaders asked a simple question that changed everything:
“What if we just went directly to the kids?”
A Real-World Example: Manchester
Over two summers in Manchester, curiosity grew into confidence and leadership.
Year 1: Curiosity Takes Root
When we launched our first workshop series, children wandered into the community room to see what was happening. They discovered open-ended challenges, familiar materials, and space to tinker. Week after week, they returned with growing confidence and pride in what they built.
Year 2: Growth, Confidence & Leadership
The following summer, many of the same kids came back ready to dive deeper. They welcomed new participants and naturally stepped into leadership roles, helping younger children get started, modeling creative risk taking, and creating a warm, collaborative environment.
Community Presence Changes Everything
Manchester illustrates what can happen when children are given:
- a consistent space to explore
- materials that invite creativity
- encouragement from near-peer mentors
- the chance to return and grow over time
What Community Outreach Includes
Our Community Outreach work currently focuses on two types of experiences.
In-Person Workshops
A series of summer workshops where kids build skills and confidence over time in a familiar community setting.
- open-ended challenges that use everyday materials
- guided by trained youth leaders and mentors
Community STEM Nights
One-day, drop-in STEM stations at large community events where kids and families can explore and build together.
- offered throughout the year
- designed to spark interest and curiosity that can lead to deeper engagement
Together, these programs make STEM enrichment accessible to children who might not otherwise discover a love for building, creating, and experimenting.
Our Commitment to Expanding Access
We are expanding community outreach by:
- partnering with more schools, libraries, and community organizations
- training additional youth leaders
- developing curriculum that partners can run independently
- supporting communities in securing funding for local programs
Our goal is simple: Every child should have the chance to create something they’re proud of.
2025 Impact at a Glance
498
Children reached through workshops
9
Community partners served
10
Workshop leaders trained
16
Workshop and STEM day locations
Ways to Engage With Invent the Summer
Families, volunteers, organizations, and funders engage with our programs in different ways as part of our year-round mission.
Organizations
Bring hands-on workshops, youth mentors, and creative STEM programming to your community.
Families
Explore upcoming workshops and find hands-on STEM opportunities near you.
Volunteers
Support our Youth Leadership Team and help strengthen STEM access in local communities.
Funders
Help expand access to hands-on STEM learning in communities across the region.