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Free • Multilingual • Beginner-Friendly

Free Hands-On STEM Workshops and Projects.

Avanza STEM is a youth-led program bringing free hands-on STEM workshops and beginner-friendly projects to students, with a special focus on Hispanic and underrepresented communities.

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Free workshops for grades 2+, hosted with local libraries and community partners.

Always freeGrades 2 and upRight in your community

Always free

No fees, no catches, no waitlists.

Multilingual

Website resources in English, Spanish, and Chinese; workshops currently use English and Spanish.

Hands-on

Build real things, not slideshows.

Community-rooted

Hosted in libraries you already love.

What We Offer

Ready-to-use ways to start your STEM adventure, from hands-on projects to in-person workshops and practical how-tos.

Local Workshops

In-person workshops on engineering, coding, and AI hosted right in your community.

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DIY Projects

Step-by-step guides for building bridges, robots, and running exciting experiments at home.

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Blog & How-Tos

Tips, tutorials, and inspiring stories to keep kids curious and engaged with STEM.

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Real Programs

What we've actually taught

Three weeks. Three big STEM ideas. Built and tested in real classrooms with kids at local libraries.

Workshop description banner – Building
Week 1

Building

From mechanical to civil to chemical — kids learn what each kind of engineer actually does, then prototype something with their own hands.

See the lesson
Workshop description banner – Coding
Week 2

Coding

Every student leaves the room with a working Python game they wrote themselves. No prior experience required.

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Workshop description banner – Artificial Intelligence
Week 3

Artificial Intelligence

How AI actually works, why your Spotify suggests what it does, and how to use it without becoming dependent on it.

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What our workshops are designed to spark

When students build something that works, they begin to see STEM as something they can do.

Our Mission

At Avanza STEM, we believe every child deserves access to quality STEM education. We are open to all young learners in 2nd grade and up, with a special focus on expanding STEM access for Hispanic and underrepresented students. We provide free resources and in-person workshops to spark curiosity and build the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators.

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As of June 2026

Impact So Far

A transparent look at what Avanza STEM has delivered through free, hands-on community programming.

70+

Students reached

Students have joined Avanza STEM activities across hands-on engineering, coding, and AI sessions.

2

Library workshop series

Workshop series have been completed at Clifton Public Library and Allwood Branch Library for beginner learners.

133

Real workshop photos

The gallery shows real Avanza STEM workshop moments so families and partners can see the program in action.

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133 Photos

As of June 2026

See Our Students in Action

Real photos from our workshops and events.

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133+

As of June 2026

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Featured Activities

Check out some of our most popular projects and activities that kids love.

Build a Popsicle Stick Bridge

Learn the basics of structural engineering by building your own bridge with popsicle sticks and glue.

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Intro to Python Coding

Start your coding journey with fun Python exercises designed for beginners. No experience needed!

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Coke & Mentos Experiment

Explore chemical reactions with this classic experiment. Learn the science behind the fizzy eruption!

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Interactive STEM labs

Explore Interactive Activities

Kids can try coding, engineering, physics, and chemistry challenges on the activities page after families and partners see what Avanza STEM does in the community.

print("hello")

for idea in range(3):

try_again()

Open lab

Try it yourself

Real Python, right in your browser

This is real Python running in your browser - no install, no setup. Edit the code below, hit Run, and see what happens. Your code is capped at 10 lines so it stays a snack, not a meal.

Open lab
Open lab

Engineering lab

How much can a truss hold?

Slide more weight onto the deck and watch the bridge sag. Push too far and it gives. Real engineers design every bridge to stop way before that point.

Open lab
Open lab

Engineering lab

Drag blocks. Build it taller.

Real physics, real collisions, real gravity. Grab any block in any direction, pull it out, and stack it on top. The tower will lean, sway, and topple just like a real one — that's the engineering challenge.

Open lab
Open lab

Chemistry bench

Build an atom, name an element

Add or remove protons, neutrons, and electrons. The number of protons decides which element you have. Try making oxygen (8 protons) - it's the air you breathe.

Open lab
Visit Interactive Labs

Stay Updated

Get STEM tips, project ideas, and workshop announcements.

Parents, guardians, and teachers can sign up for updates. Students under 13 should ask a parent or guardian first.

Ready to Start Your STEM Journey?

Try a hands-on project or sign up for a local workshop today.

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