ERDC hosts Spooky STEM for local fourth-graders
Students from St. Francis Xavier Elementary School, Porters Chapel Academy and Bovina Elementary School visited ERDC to experience how science, technology, engineering and mathematics solve real-world challenges. The program blended Halloween themes with foundational engineering concepts, giving students an up-close look at research and development in an exciting, hands-on environment.
The event began with an interactive, science-themed skit in the ERDC auditorium, featuring an eccentric mad scientist and his trusty assistant. The lively skit energized the young audience and set the stage for an active morning of discovery.
"This is so important because it gets the students hands-on with science and technology,” said Amber Jones, a fourth-grade teacher at Bovina Elementary. “It helps them realize that STEM isn't just a classroom subject — it's a huge, exciting part of their world."
Following the performance, students — each sporting their own white scientist lab coat provided by the Army Educational Outreach Program — visited interactive stations showcasing plants and insects, robotics, computer coding, wave flumes, and more. The activities were designed to pique students’ interest in scientific exploration.
“There are robots, bugs and cool science all over the place, and we even got our own scientist lab coats to wear,” said May Strickland, a fourth-grader from St. Francis Xavier Elementary. “I don't even know what I want to be when I grow up because there is so much awesome stuff to choose from here. I can't wait to grow up so I can do STEM like this."
The successful debut of Spooky STEM underscores ERDC's enduring commitment to community partnership and future workforce development, inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers through memorable, mission-driven experiences.
"Growing up, I had no idea there was such a massive wealth of opportunities in STEM,” said Cassie Everett, a research civil engineer with ERDC’s Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory. “Getting kids face-to-face with people who do this work every day — and letting them see what our research actually looks like — is so important for helping them understand what is truly possible for their own futures."
“ERDC’s Spooky STEM event was all about making science, technology, math and engineering exciting and engaging for fourth-graders. By introducing students to STEM through hands-on activities and a little Halloween fun, we hope to spark their curiosity, inspire creativity, and show them that STEM is more than just what they learn in the classroom,” explained Sara Robinson, who helped organize the event. “It’s about solving real-world problems, thinking outside the box, and discovering what’s possible. If we can inspire even one student to pursue science and engineering, then it is worth it.”
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