The Miners in the Making After School Program hosted its first family STEM night 5:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5. The event had an excellent turnout, with 58 attendees that included currently enrolled students and their families and 26 staff members.

Hands-on activities and displays showcased student projects including the marshmallow/spaghetti engineering challenge, the marker challenge and impressive catapult designs. A Missouri S&T student also showcased his award-winning agricultural robot to demonstrate cutting-edge robotics technology.

Families could participate in a fun and educational science experiment by making elephant toothpaste and observing the chemical reaction between yeast and hydrogen peroxide. Students demonstrated how to program and control Sphero and Spike robots, to show their families how technology and creativity can come together in the world of STEM. A photo booth was set up for families to capture memories from the night, and there was a special visit from Dot the robot dog.

Due to its success, the program is planning another family event for spring 2025 with more opportunities to learn and engage.