The Southeast Iowa STEM Region and Collins Aerospace are excited to announce the third annual Community STEM Day at Collins Aerospace, in Cedar Rapids, on July 17, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.!
Registration is now open!
You can preview this year's farmer's market-style fair, in-depth workshops, and exclusive tours of Collins Aerospace labs below. Spots for workshops and lab tours are limited.
Fair
Wander among the dozens of hands-on STEM activities being offered by our creative exhibitors, including an up-close look at St. Luke's LifeGuard Air Ambulance Helicopter! The farmer's market-style space offers everything from gaming to robotics to engaging activities hosted by:
- The University of Iowa Flood Center
- The Iowa Children's Museum
- Cedar Rapids Police Department
- Iowa State Patrol
- BAE Systems (GPS truck)
- The University of Iowa Simulation in Motion (medical simulation)
- The Iowa Space Grant Consortium
- Kirkwood Community College and Coe College Aviation Maintenance programs
- ... see the full list here.
"As a parent, seeing my child's excitement as she explores and engages in hands-on STEM activities is truly inspiring."
"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!"
"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."
In-Depth Workshops
Workshops below are for those interested in a deeper dive into STEM.
| Light-Up Card (all ages): Greeting cards have changed greatly over the years. What once used to be a simple piece of printed paper has now evolved into lights. Join us as we explore electrical engineering by building greeting cards from scratch that light up! Workshop duration is 40 minutes and is offered at the following times: 9:30 a.m.; 10:15 a.m.; 11:00 a.m.; 12:30 p.m.; 1:15 p.m. |
| Program Rovers (recommended age: 11+): Explore software engineering by building an iPad controller, which will be used to send commands to a rover. Participants will learn how to program a rover to execute a variety of exciting commands. Workshop duration is 70 minutes and is offered at the following times: 9:30 a.m.; 10:45 a.m.; 1:00 p.m. |
| Build a Hand (recommended age: 14+): We use our hands for so many things. Can you imagine what life would be like without a hand? Help us give back to those in need by exploring systems and mechanical engineering by building a real prosthetic hand, which will be donated to a child who was born without one. Workshop duration is 90 minutes and is offered at the following time: 9:30 a.m. |
| Build a Bike (all ages): No child forgets their first bicycle. Working together, participants will explore mechanical engineering by constructing a BMX-style bicycle that will be donated to members of the community in need. Workshop duration is 90 minutes and is offered at the following times: 9:30 a.m.; 12:00 p.m. |
| Learn to Solder (recommended age: 14+): Technicians are the people who actually build the things that engineers design. Did you know that nearly all the electrical components you find in phones, TVs, cars, etc. have pieces that need to be "glued" together? Explore soldering by creating a spinning wheel that will make you feel just like you are on your very own game show! Workshop duration is 70 minutes and is offered at the following times: 9:30 a.m.; 10:45 a.m.; 1:00 p.m. |
| Build Robots (recommended age: 11+): Ever wonder how a Roomba works? How does it know where to go? How does it know not to fall down stairs? This activity will demonstrate electrical engineering as you construct a line-following robot with only the use of basic circuitry. Workshop duration is 70 minutes and is offered at the following times: 9:30 a.m.; 10:45 a.m.; 1:00 p.m. |
Lab Tours
For those interested in a tour of a Collins Aerospace Lab. Note: three of the tour options comprise two separate tours, described individually as "(I)" and "(II)" below.
| (I) SIM Lab and (II) MA700 Systems Lab: (I) Collins Aerospace uses virtual reality and video-gaming technology to evaluate new products for manufacturing and to perform early training. Using a VR headset, a virtual manufacturing environment can be utilized to experience a design to scale and walk-through of its build process in a fully immersive manner. (II) With the Pro Line Fusion® integrated avionics system, advanced situational awareness and flexible and intuitive decision-making tools combine with total connectivity to enhance the safety, efficiency, and predictability of every mission—for business and commercial aircraft, as well as military platforms. Available features—such as the industry’s first touch-control primary flight displays, integrated head-up vision systems, and powerful weather-threat detection—help pilots fly with precision anywhere, anytime. The tour duration is 90 minutes and is offered at the following start times: 9:00 a.m.; 9:30 a.m.; 10:00 a.m.; 10:30 a.m.; 11:00 a.m.; 11:30 a.m.; 12:30 p.m. |
| (I) Concept Flight Deck and (II) Displays Demo Lab: (I)The Concept Flight Deck was developed to integrate and evaluate new and near-term Collins technology. These capabilities include vision systems (synthetic, enhanced, and combined vision), traffic applications, and surface operations, incorporating a head-up display, and a haptic seat that can be used to alert the pilot in new and novel ways. (II) The Display Products Demo Room showcases both current and future state avionics display technology. Stop in to see our head-down flight displays that can be seen on commercial airliners, military helicopters, and business jets! Other highlights include LED backlights, optical bonding, 3D, touch screens, and emissive displays. The tour duration is 90 minutes and is offered at the following start times: 9:15 a.m.; 9:45 a.m.; 10:15 a.m.; 10:45 a.m.; 11:15 a.m.; 12:15 p.m. |
| (I) Cabin Systems Lab and (II) M170 Systems Lab: (I)Come check out Collins Aerospace's technology for business jets' passengers' comfort and entertainment. Our interactive demo will go over our industry-leading Venue Cabin Management, Stage In-flight Entertainment, and Airshow Moving Maps products, implemented in various touchscreen sizes and personal tablets. (II)With the Pro Line Fusion® integrated avionics system, advanced situational awareness and flexible and intuitive decision-making tools combine with total connectivity to enhance the safety, efficiency and predictability of every mission—for business and commercial aircraft, as well as military platforms. Available features, such as integrated head-up vision systems and powerful weather-threat detection, help pilots fly with precision anywhere, anytime. The tour duration is 90 minutes and is offered at the following start times: 9:00 a.m.; 9:30 a.m.; 10:00 a.m.; 10:30 a.m.; 11:30 a.m.; 12:00 p.m.; 12:30 p.m. |
| F-35 Helmet Mounted Display System (restricted to U.S. citizens only): Check out your Top Gun skills by viewing the F-35 Helmet Mounted Display System and 3D head scanning fitting demos. Learn how fighter pilots today are able to see 360 degrees around the airplane, almost like it wasn't there. The tour duration is 60 minutes and is offered at the following start times: 9:15 a.m.; 9:45 a.m.; 10:15 a.m.; 10:45 a.m.; 11:15 a.m.; 12:15 p.m.; 12:45 p.m. |
| CAMEL (Component and Material Evaluation Lab) Lab (restricted to U.S. citizens only): This concept flight deck was developed to integrate and evaluate new and near-term Collins' technology. These capabilities include vision systems (synthetic, enhanced, and combined vision), pilot support systems that monitor the pilot's fatigue level through eye tracking, and haptic seats that can be used to alert the pilot in new and novel ways. The tour duration is 60 minutes and is offered at the following start times: 9:00 a.m.; 9:30 a.m.; 10:00 a.m.; 10:30 a.m.; 12:30 p.m.; 1:00 p.m. |
Interested in being an exhibitor?
Are you an exhibitor interested in participating in the 2025 Community STEM Day? Click through to the application below.
