Best STEM Classes for New York City Kids
Whether your child's a natural techie, or just has an interest in science, these classes around New York City offer fun, engaging STEM (that's Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math ) programs that your kids are sure to love.
Beam Center
Juan L.: Beam is a hands on science workshop for kids of varying ages that focuses on how art and science interact and build off each other. Their workshops spur ingenuity and design while maintaining real life application such as stop-motion animation and metal working. All workshops are project based. Some of the past projects have been making electronic mini-mini golf and a "radioactive" pretzel stand. They offer a week long summer camp for kids ages 7-10 and ages 11-13, break camps throughout the year, and an annual Ingenuity Festival.
Brooklyn Robot Foundry
Kelly R: Brooklyn Robot Foundry offers kids classes that teach a hands-on approach to robotics and engineering concepts with a focus on fun and creativity. Classes are designed around unique robots (like pom pom launchers, fortune tellers, and UFOs) that kids can bring home to enjoy. Parent and tot Tiny Builders classes introduce kids as young as 18 months to robotics. Older kids can participate in one-time classes, full- and half-day sessions, summer sessions, an after school program, and parent/child Family Club. Parties are available, too.
Carmelo the Science Fellow
From $350 per session/camp + $25 annual membership fee
Ages: 2-11
Cherisse Harris: A great place for children to learn about science -- Carmelo the Science Fellow offers a "laboratory of fun" where kids enjoy hands-on experiments covering ecology, oceanography, engineering, biology, physics, geology, and botany. Carmelo is great with the kids, and explains his experiments are always age-appropriate for the children in his groups. He runs various science programs including playgroups, after-school classes (pre-K thru 5th grade), school holiday camps, and even birthday parties.
The Makery
Cherisse Harris: At the The Makery, you and the kids can show off your STEM skills with creative engineering workshops like "Toy Hacking" and "Intro to 3D Modeling." See who can design the best video game, or build a new toy prototype with old toy parts and loose circuits. Use your imagination to create something spectacular. The Makery also designs impressive public exhibits and runs signature youth programs: the After School Maker Club and the Girls Make STEAM.
NORY
Cherisse Harris: Young innovation meets fun at NORY after school classes and school holiday camp. They partner with great schools to bring the best STEM and entrepreneurship programs to budding scientists. Kids participate in robot building, engineering projects, and experimentation in the chemistry lab. NORY also provides summer camps at various locations and student can take swimming and soccer lessons in addition to the science camp.
Launch Math + Science Centers
Cherisse Harris: Launch Math + Science Centers' STEM classes cover coding, physics, robotics, and mathematics. Kids will love racing their rubber band powered cars, discovering elephant toothpaste, and building solar powered robots. They also get to keep whatever projects they create to inspire them at home and well into the future.
RoboFun
Cherisse Harris: RoboFun offers after school programs in technology and multimedia, including animation creation, engineering, coding, and LEGO robotics. They also provide weekend programs and school holiday classes, and partner with schools in all NYC boroughs to conduct after school STEM clubs.
Dazzling Discoveries
Cherisse Harris: Not only does Dazzling Discoveries teach your child the latest skills in engineering, electronics, and programming, they also teach sewing and laser cutting. Your kids can enjoy an engineering/science after-school class on Mondays and coding and game design or robotics on Thursdays. For weekend fun, check out Skills Mill Saturdays for sewing, 3D printing and crafts. Dazzling also partners with Skill Mills NYC to offer school holidays classes and workshops for teens and adults.
Primary photo: Phi Hùng Nguyễn on Unsplash
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