STEM Outreach: STEM Expos and STEMinars
We coordinate on-campus NOVA STEM Days, engage with local STEM events at libraries and schools, participate in Maker Faires, and bring STEM to large community events and educational conferences such as Celebrate Fairfax, Youth For Tomorrow's Country Fair & Auctions, and the USA Science & Engineering Festival.
NOVA STEM Day
NOVA STEM Day is a free showcase of Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math on designated NOVA campuses throughout the year. Featuring excellent exhibits, awesome hands-on activities and wonderful workshops, NOVA STEM Days are lively learning opportunities for students of all ages. Activities are taught by NOVA faculty and community educators (with college and high school students on hand to help out). Pre-pandemic, NOVA STEM Days attracted between 2500 and 3000 people to a NOVA campus each year.
As we return to in-person activities, more NOVA Stem Days are planned for the near future.



NOVA STEM Day has been held on the Alexandria Campus three times since 2017.



NOVA STEM Day has been held on the Loudoun Campus five times since 2015.



NOVA STEM Day has been held on the Manassas Campus two times since 2018.



There are currently no NOVA STEM Day Exhibitor, Sponsorship, or Volunteer opportunities at this time. Stay up to date with more opportunities by signing up for our Newsletter.
Regional STEM Expos
Since 2015, over a million people have had the opportunity to see one of our STEM exhibits at Expos across the region. In addition to NOVA STEM Days, our signature Expo events have included Celebrate Fairfax, the STEMZone at Youth For Tomorrow, the USA Science & Engineering Festival in DC, and local Maker Faires.



We run the Robotics Pavilion (along with other hands-on activities) at Celebrate Fairfax every year in June, which averages 70,000 people in attendance.
Our pavilion in the past has featured:
- VEX VRC & IQ Robotics
- Osmo Learning Game System
- Sphero
- Micro: Bit
- 3D Printing
- Laser Engraving
- Vacuum Forming
Info:
celebratefairfax.com



The STEMZone is a hub of hands-on activity that engages and inspires young minds at the Youth For Tomorrow Country Fair & Auctions in Bristow, VA.; with a STEM passport in hand, students complete STEM tasks to learn, have fun, and win prizes. Each year over 20,000 people attend the Country Fair & Auctions.
Partnered with: Northern Virginia Community College & George Mason Clubs



Every other year the USA Science & Engineering Festival is held in Washington DC, a famous two-day STEM event that draws over 340,000 people. We operate an exciting STEM booth that draws students and parents because it’s not just an exhibit, it’s hands-on fun!



The MakerFaire NoVa is an annual gathering of curious and inventive people who enjoy learning and who love sharing what they can do. MakerFaire is a venue for these "makers" to show hobbies, experiments and projects. It is a family-friendly showcase of invention, creativity and resourcefulness.
We Support Local STEM Expos
We support local schools and organizations that are like-minded in integrating STEM into the community. Big or small, as we return to more in-person activities, we may be able to support your event with exciting hands-on activities for students in elementary school through college and beyond.


We offer STEMinars (STEM Workshops) throughout the year to bring new STEM technologies to light and new students into STEM. STEMinars provide opportunities for participants to learn about a variety of STEM topics through discussions, information sessions, sample projects, or hands-on activities.
- Intro to Programming w/Python
- Coding & Micro:bit
- Introduction to SketchUp
- Robotics Competitions: A Strategic Approach
- LED Emojis & Electric Circuits
- Inkscape
- Build A Solar Car
- Bubbles & Math: Design a 3D Printed Bubble
Online STEM Resources
Check out these STEM activities and websites for virtual learning that include challenges, tasks, and games for students from PreK to College.
Code.org Courses (Computer Science) - K-college
Coding for Kids (Computer Science) - PreK-10
Tinkercad Codeblocks (Coding) - 3-12
Teach Engineering (Computer Science) – K-12
PBS Design Squad (Engineering) – 6-8
Khan Academy (STEM) – PreK-12
PBS Education (STEM) – K-12
PBS Learning Media Math for Kids (Math) – K-12
Smithsonian Science Education Center (Math) – K-8
PHET Math & Science Interactive Simulations (Math & Science) – K-College
NASA Education Activities (STEM) – K-12
Rasmussen College – 11 Simple STEM Activities (STEM) – PreK-5
Study Island (Math & Science) – K-12
Science Buddies (STEM) – PreK-5
K12 (Math & Science) – K-12