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 located at 91 Main Street in South Meriden.
Our Meriden YMCA STEM Academy programs have been recognized and awarded these very special grants. We are grateful for the support of these organizations:
- 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.
Fall II Session STEM programs
BRISTLEBOTS
Are you interested in robotics? If so, then you’ll want to be a part of designing and testing these micro robots that use a toothbrush and cell phone motors. Each participant will keep their robot.
- Ages: 9 - 12 years old
- Dates: 11/7, 11/14, 11/21
- Day/time: Wednesdays 6:00 - 7:15 p.m.
- Location: CT STEM Academy, 91 Main Street, South Meriden
- Fee: $25
CODING WITH OZOBOTS
Did you know that computing related jobs is one of the fastest growing STEM related careers? Join us for an engaging introduction to computer science with coding and our Ozobot robots. Participants will code a robot both on paper with markers, as well as online through a web-based program called Ozoblockly.
- Ages: 9 - 12 years old
- Dates: 11/28, 12/5, 12/12, 12/19
- Day/time: Wednesdays 6:00 - 7:15 p.m.
- Location: CT STEM Academy, 91 Main Street, South Meriden
- Fee: $30
Fall I Session STEM programs
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: 9/14, 9/21, 9/28, 10/5, 10/12, 10/19, 10/26
- Day/Time: Friday 6:00 - 7:15 p.m.
- Fee: $40 for 7 week session
- Location: Mountain Mist Outdoor Center, 576 High Hill Road, Meriden, CT 06450
ENGINEERING CHALLENGES
This hands–on enrichment program is designed for students interested in deepening their knowledge of STEM concepts through engineering challenges led by experienced instructors.
- Ages: 9 - 12 years old
- Dates: 9/14, 9/21, 9/28, 10/5, 10/12, 10/19, 10/26
- Day/Time: Fridays 6:00 - 7:15 p.m.
- Fee: $40
- Location: CT STEM Academy, 91 Main Street, Meriden
SPHEROS - RAMP AND ROLL
Get ready to delve into physics while playing with live action robots on ramps, obstacle courses, and more.
- Ages: 9 - 12 years old
- Dates: 10/3, 10/10, 10/17, 10/24
- Day/Time: Tuesday 6:00 - 7:15 p.m.
- Location: CT STEM Academy, 91 Main Street, South Meriden
- Fee: $40
NATURE SCIENCE WALKS
Get the most in-depth exploration of science by directly engaging with it. Students in this program will go on daily hikes through the nature at the beautiful Mountain Mist site to discover every facet of their surroundings. This will include identification of trees, flowers, fungi, and animals. Wildlife takes on a new meaning when you truly understand it.
- Ages: 9 - 12 years old
- Dates: 9/8, 9/15, 9/22, 9/29, 10/6, 10/13, 10/20
- Day/Time: Saturday 9:30 - 11:00 a.m.
- Location: Mountain Mist Outdoor Center, 576 High Hill Road, Meriden, CT 06450
- 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 2018 STEM camps include Nature Science Camp, Rocketry and Flight Camp, STEM Maker Camp, Engineering Camp, and STEM is All Around Us 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. The CT STEM Academy at 91 Main Street in South Meriden
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 for supporting our STEM Programs.
