NEOSTEM Brings Hands-On STEM Learning to Cleveland Recreation Centers

This spring, NEOSTEM had the incredible opportunity to lead two Family STEM Exploration Days at the City of Cleveland Recreation Centers — one at Gunning Park and another at Collinwood. The enthusiasm at both centers was incredible: families were genuinely excited to connect, ask questions, and explore STEM concepts together

We brought a mix of engineering challenges and environmental science demonstrations to each site, giving families a chance to explore real-world STEM side-by-side. The result was an amazing atmosphere packed with creativity, thoughtful questions, and collaborative learning.

Pulling off events like this takes a village. We are deeply grateful to our amazing community partners. Their dedication, expertise, and enthusiasm are what made these hands-on STEM experiences possible for participants of all ages. Partners included:

Blood Sweat and Gears
City of Cleveland Department of Public Utilities
Cleveland Metroparks
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Cleveland Water Pollution Control
FIRST Robotics Team 2399
Forest City Academy
FTC Team 30334
Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District
STEM Playbook

There is nothing quite like seeing families learn together. Watching parents, caregivers, and kids work side-by-side to solve challenges and ask big questions was a powerful reminder of why accessible, neighborhood-based STEM programs matter so much.

Our sincere appreciation goes out to our funders, nVent and Huntington Bank, whose support keeps NEOSTEM connected to local families with impactful educational experiences.

We also owe a huge debt of gratitude to the City of Cleveland leadership for prioritizing STEM opportunities. A special thank-you to Mayor Justin Bibb, Park & Recreation Director Alexandria Nichols, Chief of Recreation Samuel Gissentaner, and the phenomenal rec center staff members who championed these events every step of the way.

We’re more dedicated than ever to making sure every child in Northeast Ohio has access to great STEM experiences. The future is bright for these young innovators, and we are so excited to be a part of their journey.