STEM
“Look deep into nature and then you will better understand everything.” – Albert Einstein
In addition to our STEM Summer Camps and special STEM days at the Meriden YMCA Mountain Mist Day Camp and Outdoor Center, we now offer STEM programs in collaboration with the CT STEM Academy at our Meriden YMCA Arts and Education Center.
Our Meriden YMCA STEM Academy programs have been recognized and awarded these very special grants. We are grateful for the support of these organizations:
- 2019 Cox Charities Community Grant
- 2018 Cox Charities STEM Education Grant
- 2016 Cox STEM Education Grant
- 2015 3M STEM Education Grant
- 2012 Napier Foundation STEM Education Grant
- 2011 NASA Summer of Innovation STEM Education Grant.
STEM programs are under the direction of Christopher Stone, Director of STEM Academy.
ROCKETRY 101
Get ready to blast off with this exciting program! Students will have the opportunity to build small rockets from household materials that they can launch at home, eventually building up to a well-designed rocket that will be launched from our own high pressure air compressor. Students with a knack for engineering and design should consider this course in basic rocketry.
- Dates: 9/9, 9/16, 9/23, 9/30, 10/7, 10/21 (No class on 10/14)
- Day/time: Mondays 6:00 - 7:15 PM
- Location: Mountain Mist Outdoor Center
- Fee: $42
- Ages 9 to 13
- Register at the Meriden YMCA, 110 West Main Street, Meriden.
EXPLORE ROBOTICS
Are you interested in robotics? If so, then you’ll want to be a part of designing and testing micro robots that use a toothbrush and cell phone motors. Participants will also have an opportunity to work with ozobots and experience an introduction to Lego Robotics. Each participant will keep their robot.
- Ages 9 to 13
- Dates: 9/11, 9/18, 9/25, 10/2, 10/9, 10/16
- Day/Time: Wednesday 6:00 - 7:15 PM
- Cost: $42
- Location: Meriden YMCA Art Center, 14-15 West Main Street
ADVANCED LEGO ROBOTICS
The great minds at LEGO have provided the tools and means for us to use their fun kits to do more advanced STEM and computer
science. LEGO Mindstorms are a great facet for students to explore a different side of robotics that includes interesting building challenges, programming, and innovative thinking with high interest materials. This program is designed for participants who have previous experience with Lego Robotics.
- Ages 9 to 13
- Dates: 10/23, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13, 11/20, 12/4, 12/11 (no class 11/27)
- Day/Time: Wednesday 6:00 - 7:15 PM
- Cost: $42
- Location: Meriden YMCA Art Center, 14-15 West Main Street
ENGINEERING CHALLENGES
This hands–on enrichment program is designed for students interested in deepening their knowledge of STEM concepts through daily engineering challenges led by experienced instructors.
- Ages 9 to 13
- Dates: 10/28, 11/4, 11/18, 11/25, 12/2, 12/9 (No class 11/11)
- Day/Time: Mondays 6:00 - 7:15 PM
- Cost: $42
- Location: Meriden YMCA Art Center, 14-15 West Main Street
FAMILY STEM NIGHTS
Join us for a fun night of exploring Science, Technology, Engineering and Math! You’ll have a chance to build a rocket, participate in hands on engineering activities such as marble mazes and hoop gliders, use robotics and coding such as Ozobots and Makey Makey and many more hands-on investigations. Contact Chris Stone at cstone@meridenymca. org for more details and pricing.
VEX IQ ROBOTICS COMPETITION TEAM
Join us for another successful season of our VEX IQ robotics competition team. Let’s go to the World Championships again! Students can rejoin from the previous year, but we also welcome new faces. No experience necessary. In this program, students work with teams to design and build a robot that can complete the challenge given to all schools by VEX. We will compete in competitions together and work hard to support one another. This club is high commitment and high reward. Consider joining us! Contact Chris Stone at cstone@meridenymca.org.
INTRO TO STEM (AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM)
Do you like to explore science, solve problems and use technology? If you do, then join the CT STEM Academy for an engaging session of exploring many different STEM Challenges both engineering and technology through handson investigations. Build, engineer, and explore many different science activities such as rockets, Ozobots, bridge building, and K’NEX!
- Location: Roger Sherman Elementary School
- Dates: 9/24 - 10/29 ( No class 10/22)
- Day/time: Tuesdays 3:30 – 4:45 PM
- Fee: $40
- Location: Thomas Hooker Elementary School
- Dates: 11/12 – 12/10/19
- Day/time: Tuesdays 3:30 – 4:45 PM
- Fee: $40
- Location: Israel Putnam Elementary School
- Dates: 1/14 - 2/25/20 *no class 1/28 or 2/18
- Day/time: Tuesdays 3:30 – 4:45 PM
- Fee: $40
- Location: Ben Franklin Elementary School
- Dates: 3/3 - 3/31/20
- Day/time: Tuesdays 3:30 – 4:45 PM
- Fee: $40
- Location: John Barry Elementary School
- Dates: 4/14- 5/19/20
- Day/time: Tuesdays 3:30 – 4:45 PM
- Fee: $40
STEM programs at the Meriden YMCA Mountain Mist Outdoor Center and Day Camp
No need to miss out on STEM fun when the school year ends. Join us at Mountain Mist Day Camp where you can enjoy STEM camps in the morning and traditional camp activities in the afternoon.
Our 2019 STEM camps include Nature Science Camp, Space Camp, STEM Robotics Camp, Chemistry Camp, and Sports Science Camp. Visit our STEM Camps page to learn more.
To read an article about one of the Meriden YMCA STEM Academy summer science programs click here.
Our Facilities:
1. Meriden YMCA Art Center, 14-15 West Main Street
2. STEM Classroom at the Mountain Mist Outdoor Center - The Meriden YMCA STEM Academy at the Mountain Mist Outdoor Center is conveniently located in central Connecticut along the border of Wallingford and Middlefield, off Route 66 (East Main Street in Meriden, CT). The facility includes:
- 66 acres of nature
- The CAT (50 foot climbing tower)
- Two Rock Walls
- Ten Low Rope Challenge Course Elements
- One Large Swimming Pool
- Large Pavilion
- Small Pavilion
Science Education Classroom
Our Staff
Our staff includes a group of highly trained professionals that have the following requirements:
- College Education and/or Related Experience
- Camp Experience (not necessarily at Mountain Mist)
- Specialty that can be taught in a class setting
- (Science interest in rocks, social studies interest in American Revolution, artistic, musical)
- People skills and kid friendly
- In addition, our staff includes certified ropes course facilitators for Mountain Mist’s low and high ropes course elements.
To learn more about the curriculum and what a typical day is like at the STEM Academy, contact Chris Stone or Carolyn Daniels.
Carolyn Daniels, Arts and Education Director, Meriden YMCA t 203-235-6386 or cdaniels@meridenymca.org
Christopher Stone, Science Education Director, Meriden YMCA at 203-314-7865 or cstone@meridenymca.org
Thank you to Cox Charities and 3M for supporting our STEM Programs.
