Register for Project Exploration Programs

If your child can dream it, they can be it! Project Exploration is home to the next generation of astronauts, engineers, game developers, pilots, doctors, chief financial officers, and more. And we are now enrolling for our Fall and Winter Break programs!

We have one STEM Learning Center (SLC) location – the SLC @ Bethel New Life (4950 W. Thomas Street) – and a growing list of school-based programs. If the SLC@BNL is not a good fit, let us know where your child attends school and complete the form below to help us inquire about a school-based program.

If you need help registering or wish to check the status of your student on the wait list, please call/text 312-772-6634.

STEM Learning Center @ Bethel New Life (4950 W. Thomas Street)
K – 5th Grade

October 2 – December 15, 2023

Drop Off Between 3 and 4 pm
Pick Up at 5:30 pm

Bethel New Life Registration

Youth-Science Pathway Programs

Project Exploration programs provide students with fun, hands-on experiences that allow them to explore some of the hottest STEM topics and possible future career choices – at no cost to you! If your child is interested in becoming a fire fighter, learning to build website, becoming an astronaut, building remote controlled cars, and more, PE programs are for them! They’ll learn alongside real life mentors and build lasting relationships with PE’s caring team and their friends in programs. With homework help, scholarship opportunities, and other supports in place, they’ll thrive and when they graduate join our outstanding alumni network where they can continue to stay in touch as they continue in their education and careers past high school.

What are you waiting for? Sign up your child today!

Building Blocks Club

Building Blocks Club is a program for early learners (K-2) focusing on entry level programming where students are introduced to the basic principles of the nature of science and scientific inquiry. Students build confidence and these Project Exploration programs lay the foundation for long-term relationship amongst students and STEM Mentors.

Programs being offered to early learners in kindergarten through 2nd grade the Spring 2022 semester include:

  • Life Science in partnership with the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum – Learn more about the world around you and all of its amazing organisms, including hands-on experiences with plants and butterflies! Meet scientists from museums around Chicago and get hands-on with citizen science projects. You will learn more about urban ecology, ecosystems, Lake Michigan, and the history of organisms on planet Earth through engaging activities with your facilitator and PE partners, and volunteers.
  • Intro to Astronomy – Learn about space, the planets, and start to explore the universe with hands-on activities with your STEAMbassadors and PE’s partners.

Little Brothers4Science and Brothers4Science

Little Brothers4Science and Brothers4Science are programs targeted to 3rd-5th and 6th-8th grade boys to help them gain exposure to various STEM concentrations, through project based learning, designed to get boys interested in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM); keep boys interested in STEM, and equip boys with skills and experiences that enable them to pursue STEM. Brothers4Science is intended to help boys develop self-esteem about their thoughts, feelings, experiences, and decisions, expose them to a wide variety of roles played by men in science.

Focuses within our Little Brothers4Science during the Spring 2022 semester include:

  • Computer Science in partnership with the Code Create Lights – Light, movement, animation, digital profiling, and puppets – modern science, programming and engineering make them all possible! Students will build their own circuits, learn about animation, use Scratch programming to construct their own Rube Goldberg machines, and build puppets for their computer animations!
  • Engineering with Illinois Math and Science Academy – Students will embark on fun discoveries, from casting a “magic” pH rainbow to unveiling the secrets of “pi.” They will also challenge their engineering skills and harness the power of kinetic energy as they create a mini-arcade game, build a mini water wheel, and make self-propelled cars! This STEM Buffet is sure to satisfy their STEM-appetite.

Focuses within our Brothers4Science during the Fall 2021 semester include:

  • Astronomy and Engineering with curriculum build in collaboration with NASA – During this program, students will learn more about the relationship between earth and space, explore the universe, and understand the innovation and creativity behind space travel. You will also apply your knowledge and build a rocket of their own.
  • Computer Science in partnership with HAKing Innovation – Calling all future Tesla owners! Students will build their own autonomous vehicle, work in teams to design a mobile app, and use their computers to animate drawings and tell stories through coding!

Little Sisters4Science and Sisters4Science

Little Sisters4Science and Sisters4Science is a program for girls led by female facilitators who emphasize leadership development through scientific exploration. Designed to get girls interested in science, keep girls interested in science, and equip girls with skills and experiences that enable them to pursue science, Sisters4Science creates a science-rich learning environment that puts girls at the center.

Focuses within our Little Sisters4Science Programs during the Spring 2022 semester include:

  • Computer Science in partnership with the Tech Girlz and One In Tech – Students will learn about cybersecurity, coding, robotics and more through these hands-on, minds-on curriculums which help girls build interest and confidence in science, technology, engineering, and math!
  • Medical Sciences – Students will learn about the human body, and what makes them run and keeps us healthy through hands-on experiments and modeling. This is a perfect opportunity for girls who are interested in becoming doctors, nurses, EMTs, dentists, and more!

Focuses within our Sisters4Science during the Fall 2021 semester include:

  • Computer Science in partnership with the Tech Girlz – Students will learn about cybersecurity, coding, robotics and more through these hands-on, minds-on curriculums which help girls build interest and confidence in science, technology, engineering, and math!
  • Engineering in partnership with Chicago Invention Convention – Girls will choose real world problems and get to work on their own and in teams to engineer an invention that can solve that problem. This is the perfect opportunity for young women who are excited about changing the world, and want to work hands-on to help the world.

 

Explore Engineering

Explore Engineering uses the Ten80 Student Racing Challenge curriculum, a rigorous automotive engineering curriculum to teach teens engineering concepts employed in car racing, and build their own model race car that will be entered into a nationwide engineering competition.

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