Brainerd’s Harrison Elementary Hosts Its 1st Family Fun STEM Night

This past Thursday evening, Brainerd Lakes Area students and families gathered at Harrison Elementary for the school’s first Family Fun STEM Night.

Kids and parents got to visit over 20 different tables with hands-on activities, which were offered by the WonderTrek Children’s Museum and the Brainerd High School robotics team.

“It’s STEM around the world, so each of the stations has a connection to somewhere around the world,” explained Brainerd Public Schools STEM Curriculum Coordinator Shelly Munoz. “But what we’re trying to do is really show the creativity, just the amazing things about STEM and what it can bring for our students. We’re trying to create an excitement and to bridge together 21st-century skills for our students here in Brainerd.”

While science, technology, engineering, and mathematics may not appear fun on the surface for kids, they may change the tune after seeing and getting to pilot a fully functional robot.

“It’s fun to see my students interacting with the little kids, talking about what’s going on,” said Brian Bordwell, Brainerd High School 2503 Robotics Team Lead Coach. “To be able to take a problem and solve it in regard to building a robot and playing a game, I think it’s just a win-win and the kids really enjoy doing it.”

Attendees also got a chance to learn more about the WonderTrek Children Museum, which is set break ground on phase one of its five-acre outdoor adventure studio in mid-June.

“Kids might not realize that they are using math to build, but they are,” said WonderTrek Children’s Museum Program Operations Manager Aimee Tagtmeier. “Right now, kids are on screens, they are in their house, and we want to bring them back out and into the community, build those relationships, and learn those 21st-century skills that children need to be successful in the future.”

Harrison Elementary played host to Family Fun STEM Night in an effort to immerse Brainerd Lakes Area students and families to immerse in both an entertaining and educational evening.

“It’s really just excitement of STEM, because it is exciting,” Munoz added. “Look at all of this learning taking place tonight. They are our future innovators, inventors, and these are the 21st-century thinkers of tomorrow, and so we’re getting them started.”

Roughly 120 students registered for the event.