The 2026 Community STEM Day is on Thursday, July 16, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.! Registration information for workshops and lab tours coming soon. 

Interested in Being an Exhibitor?

Our 75 exhibitors helped make Community STEM Day amazing for our more than 3,000 attendees. We'd love for you to join us in 2026!

Interested in Being a Food Vendor?

If you'd like to be considered for a spot on food-truck row at Community STEM Day, let us know! You can share your interest at the application link.

Logo for Southeast Iowa STEM Region and Collins Aerospace

Hosted in partnership with Collins Aerospace, Community STEM Day features a STEM fair with dozens of engaging activities guests can wander freely among, food trucks selling delicious bites, and live music. 

Care for a deeper dive into STEM? In addition to the open-tent fair, guests are also welcome to register for in-depth workshops and exclusive tours of Collins Aerospace labs. There's truly something for everyone!

Registration will open soon! In the meantime, check out descriptions of the workshops below. Details on lab tours to follow.

Big-Tent Fair

The main attraction, with everything from robots and bike repair to astronomy, gaming, trebuchets, and more. The Community STEM Day fair features dozens of exhibitors under one giant tent with hands-on, engaging STEM fun for all ages.

In-Depth Workshops

A deeper dive into various exciting STEM topics. Previous workshops have featured light-up cards, program rovers, soldering, line-following robots, and building bikes. Registration is required. 

Lab Tours

A closer look inside Collins Aerospace, including simulation labs, high-powered microscopes, flight decks, demonstration areas, and vision systems used in real Air Force helmets. Registration is required. 

Big-Tent Fair

The big draw of Community STEM Day is our large, open-air, browsable fair featuring dozens of exhibitors showcasing engaging, hands-on STEM fun. No registration necessary! Wander, linger, pop in and out, and check out as much of the fun as you can. Look for the big tent—we promise you won't miss it!

In-Depth Workshops

Registration is required, and spots do fill up! Stay tuned for registration information. In the meantime, get acquainted with the options on this year's menu.

Petal Power: Bike Build
Get ready to turn curiosity into motion with Petal Power: Bike Build! In this hands-on STEM workshop, kids won’t just learn how bicycles work—they’ll actually build one from the ground up. Along the way, they’ll explore key engineering concepts like mechanics, force, and motion, all while working as a team and using real tools.

I’m But the impact doesn’t stop there. Once completed, each bike will be donated to the Start School Right Program, helping a child in need ride into the school year with confidence. It’s the perfect blend of creativity, problem-solving, and purpose—where every turn of the wrench helps power both young minds and brighter futures.

Recommended age: All ages

Solder Studio: Melt & Light
Step into the world of tools, tech, and creativity with Solder Studio: Melt & Light! In this hands-on workshop, kids will be introduced to the art and science of soldering—learning how heat, metals, and precision come together to create real working connections. With guidance, they’ll safely use soldering tools to build their own unique creation, turning simple components into something functional and fun.

Beyond the sparks and builds, this workshop highlights a powerful idea: STEM pathways come in many forms. Soldering is a valuable, real-world skill used in careers like electronics repair, advanced manufacturing, and skilled trades—many of which don’t require a traditional four-year engineering degree. It’s all about curiosity, practice, and hands-on learning.

Recommended age: 11 years and older

Rover Lab: Code & Control
Kick things into high gear with Rover Lab: Code & Control! In this exciting workshop, kids will learn the basics of programming by controlling a Parrot Jumping Sumo MiniRover. Through beginner-friendly coding, they’ll bring their mini-rover to life—making it spin, jump, and navigate through fun challenges.

As they experiment and problem-solve, participants will see how coding connects to robotics and real-world technology. Whether they’re mastering a tricky move or creating their own command sequence, this workshop is all about turning ideas into action—one line of code at a time.

Recommended age: 11 years and older

Glow & Groove: Light Up Card
Light up your creativity with Glow & Groove: Light Up Card! In this electrifying workshop, kids will explore the basics of electrical engineering by designing and building their own interactive greeting card from scratch. Using simple circuits, they’ll power lights and sound to transform a basic card into something truly dynamic.

As they build, participants will learn how components like batteries, switches, and connections work together to bring their designs to life. It’s the perfect blend of art and engineering—where creativity meets circuitry and every card shines with personality and innovation.

Recommended age: All ages

Wobble & Walk: Simple Robots
Bring robots to life with Wobble & Walk: Simple Robots! In this playful, hands-on workshop, kids will build their own quirky robots that wobble and move using simple motors and clever design. They’ll explore how balance, vibration, and motion can turn basic materials into something full of energy and character.

Through building and experimenting, participants will learn core robotics concepts in an approachable way. This workshop shows that robotics doesn’t have to be complicated to be exciting—just a little creativity and curiosity can lead to big discoveries.

Recommended age: All ages

Whirl & Wheels: Propeller Car
Rev up creativity with Whirl & Wheels: Propeller Car! In this high-energy workshop, kids will build their own propeller-powered cars and explore how air propulsion, energy transfer, and motion work together to make them move. As they design and test, they’ll learn how factors like weight, balance, and friction impact performance.

The excitement builds when it’s time to race! Kids will test, tweak, and improve their cars as they compete to see whose design travels the farthest. It’s a fun, fast-paced way to experience engineering through creativity and friendly competition.

Recommended age: All ages

Roll & Run: Marble Maze Challenge
Get ready to design, build, and think on the move with Roll & Run: Marble Maze Challenge! In this engaging workshop, students will create vertical marble runs while exploring concepts like gravity, speed, angles, and structure. Each group will test and refine their design to keep their marble rolling smoothly.

Once each team has a working build, they’ll combine their creations into one large, collaborative marble run. This workshop emphasizes teamwork and systems thinking, showing how individual ideas can connect to create something bigger and more exciting.

Recommended age: All ages

Snap & Stream: Raspberry Pi Photo Booth
Capture creativity with Snap & Stream: Raspberry Pi Photo Booth! In this hands-on workshop, kids will program a Raspberry Pi to power their own photo booth. They’ll integrate cameras, LEDs, and other components to create a fully functional, interactive system.

As they build and code, participants will explore real-world concepts like automation, user input, and digital imaging. The end result is a working photo booth they designed themselves—combining creativity, engineering, and technology into one unforgettable STEM experience.

Recommended age: 13 years and older

Exclusive Lab Tours

Information coming soon! Registration is required, and spots do fill up. 

"We decided to visit last year's festival to kill some time in the morning. We ended up staying for hours as my daughter and her friend roamed the exhibits, took in some live music, and visited the food trucks. Turned into a great day!"

Amber, parent and festival attendee

"As a parent, seeing my child's excitement as she explores and engages in hands-on STEM activities is truly inspiring."

Jeff, parent and festival attendee

"I always have such a fantastic time at our Community STEM Day event, feeling inspired and energized by all the engaging activities and innovative projects. It is wonderful to connect with fellow enthusiasts and see the passion for STEM shine through in everyone's efforts. It is truly a memorable experience that my own children love and reaffirms my love for learning and collaboration."

Michael, parent and security lead at Collins Aerospace