Reach

STEM is all around us. It’s in the natural world, the built environment, and the communities where we work, learn, and play.

Reach is a long-term initiative that seeks to connect youth to more STEM outside of schools, particularly in rural parts of Maine. We leverage community resources to support youth ages 10-18 and their families to link them to STEM opportunities through three major efforts:

Past Initiatives

Computer Science

In 2017, we brought Family Code Night to Maine, exposing over 1,500 elementary-aged youth and their parents to coding through fun, collaborative puzzles. In 2018, we piloted a drone version of Family Code Night for middle schools, which combined coding with awareness of real-world drone applications. The Family Code Night movement has grown and is now called CS is Elementary.  

Reach has convened stakeholders in computer science education over the last several years. A coalition launched in 2017, called Computer Science for Maine, deals specifically with expanding and improving CS education in Maine. Visit our publications page to read more about those efforts.

Reach has also promoted Scratch Day and Hour of Code in schools and afterschool settings.

Equity in Out-of-School STEM

Reach convenes people and organizations with common interests around STEM education. Past convenings include energy education, STEM internships, STEM competitions & challenges, STEM schools New England science fairs, and rural science fairs. If you have an idea for a convening, please reach out to us.

STEM Resource Bank

One of Reach’s first projects was to create a directory of STEM organizations and events for families around the state. Our database became part of The Connectory, a site run by the National Girls Collaborative Project, in 2015.

Project Funders

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Project Partners

The Jackson Laboratory
Destination Imagination

Project Staff

Copyright © 1992 — 2022 Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance • All rights reserved
207.626.3230
Physical Address: 343 Water Street, Augusta, Maine 04330
Mailing Address: PO Box 2246, Augusta, Maine 04338