GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – Thousands of middle school students are getting a hands-on introduction to science, technology and healthcare careers this week at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College.
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NWTC kicked off a two-day STEM Fair on its Green Bay campus, turning the commons area into an interactive learning space filled with experiments, demonstrations and career exploration stations.
Students rotate through a variety of hands-on activities designed to bring classroom lessons to life. From physics-based demonstrations to digital media projects, the event focuses on showing students how science connects to real-world jobs.
“The kids get to participate in all these different hands-on activities related to those fields,” Admissions Manager Sarah Scharenbrock said. “For physics, they are riding on a homemade hovercraft. We even have some of the digital arts, so they are learning the science behind photography.”
Organizers say early exposure is key to helping students see themselves in STEM fields before they begin choosing classes in middle and high school.
“A lot of times, younger kids will write off science because they don’t have the exposure so by getting to them in sixth grad,e we are hoping that ignites that fire a little earlier,” Scharenbrock said.
Students say the hands-on approach makes a difference.
“I’m pretty interested, especially in just the little things, the little experiments you get to do, it’s kind of cool,” Pulaski middle schooler Bayne Cruse said. “I thought that sticking the balloon through the toothpick was pretty cool.”
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NWTC leaders hope the experience leaves a lasting impression, encouraging students to explore more science and technology courses as they move through school — and eventually consider careers in those high-demand fields.
The STEM Fair continues for a second day at NWTC on Thursday.
