Engage your child’s creativity with our STEM programs!
STEM programs are under the direction of Christopher Stone. Chris is the Director of STEM Academy. For more information contact him at cstone@meridenymca.org.
A Y membership is not required to sign up for the STEM programs listed below.
PYTHON CODING (VIRTUAL)
Python coding will provide participants with an experience of creating a project, testing the project, making revisions and retesting the project. Come join us for this engaging form of coding.
- Ages: 10 - 15
- Day/Date: Thursdays • January 12, 19, 26, 2023
- Time: 6:00 -7:00 p.m.
- Cost: $23
- Location: Online only
ENGINEERING AND MOTION DESIGN
Students will get to explore how to get things moving! Using Gravitrax, wall mazes, race car tracks, and tin foil boats student engineers will envision and design creations in motion. This
will include making a paper roller coaster on a rubber track roller coaster, creating race cars using everything from straws, peppermints and K’NEX, and using creating a boat out of tin foil!
- Days and Dates: Mondays • January 9, 23, 30, February 6 (No Class on Martin Luther King Jr. Day)
- Time: 6:00 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.
- Cost: $35
- Maximum Participants: 12
- Ages 8-12
- Location: Downtown Meriden YMCA, 110 West Main Street
VIDEO GAME DESIGN (VIRTUAL)
In this class, students will explore the wonderful world of video game design. Students will learn key concepts of coding on Google CS First and use Scratch block coding platform to create their own video games. They can share their video games with friends and family and continue adding to them after the program is over.
- Days and Dates: Mondays • February 6, 13, 27
- Time: 6:00 to 7:15 p.m.
- Cost: $23
- Ages 9 to 14
- Location: Online only
CHEMISTRY
Calling all Junior Chemists! Participants who join will experience how different substances react with one another. Some experiments may include: making different foods like ice cream; high flying reactions like film canister rockets; or colorful creations like slime and lava lamps.
- Day and Date: Monday • February 20, 2023
- Time: 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
- Cost: $18
- Maximum Participants: 14
- Ages: 9 to 14
- Location: Downtown Meriden YMCA, 110 West Main Street
ASTRO CAMP SPACE
SCIENCE INVESTIGATIONS
Explore what it really means to be an astronaut and an aerospace engineer-combining science, engineering, and math all-in-one through engaging investigations. Through our partnership with NASA, students will investigate real world issues and explore the many challenges NASA faces.
- Day and Date: Monday • February 20, 2023
- Time: 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
- Cost: $18
- Maximum Participants: 14
- Ages: 8-14
- Location: Downtown Meriden YMCA, 110 West Main Street
CHEMISTRY EXPLORATION
Calling all Junior Chemists! Participants who join will experience how different substances react with one another. Some experiments may include: making different foods like ice cream; high flying reactions like film canister rockets; or colorful creations like slime and lava lamps.
- Days and Dates: Mondays • February 27, March 6, 13, 20, 2023
- Time: 6:00 to 7:15 p.m.
- Cost: $32
- Maximum Participants: 10
- Ages: 8 to 12
- Location: Downtown Meriden YMCA, 110 West Main Street
How To Register for Programs:
1. If you already have an up-to-date membership, you can register online, by phone at 860.229.3787, or in-person at the New Britain YMCA.
2. If you do not have a membership yet or need to update your membership, please register in-person at the New Britain YMCA.
Our STEM Academy programs have been recognized and awarded these very special grants. We are grateful for the support of these organizations:
- 2022 Tech Boost Grant
- 2021 Cox Charities Community Grant
- 2020 Cox Charities Community Grant
- 2019 Cox Charities Community Grant
- 2018 Cox Charities STEM Education Grant
- 2016 Cox STEM Education Grant
- 2015 3M STEM Education Grant
- 2012 Napier Foundation STEM Education Grant
- 2011 NASA Summer of Innovation STEM Education Grant