Get Involved – Get STEM

Check out the Engineering Machine Design Contest! Each year a competition theme is chosen to guide the machine build and allow for whimsical creativity to flourish. Students are able to explore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) principles while having fun in a collaborative environment. This years State Championship will be help at  Minnesota State University, Mankato on Friday, April 17, 2026!

Learn more about tournaments and upcoming events with High Tech Kids! Don’t miss the Recreational Tournament at Saint Thomas Catholic School on April 18!  This is a high energy celebration of robotics, creativity, and problem solving and one of the most spirited STEM events in the state.

Join us at Coolest Projects USA Minnesota! This is a free in-person event on April 11, 2026 at the Science Museum of Minnesota. Participants can share their projects with family, friends, and their coding community, get fun swag and certificates to celebrate their achievements, and try hands-on coding activities at the event.

Don’t miss Earthfest at the Science Museum of Minnesota! On April 4, 2026, celebrate your favorite planet at your favorite place! With a variety of Earth-themed programming and partners, there will be something for every action-taker.

June 22-26, 2026 join the Engineering Center of Excellence for Siemens Engineering Design Teacher Training in Shakopee, Minnesota.  This immersive, in-person professional development experience is designed for 9th–12th grade educators interested in implementing the Siemens Engineering Design curriculum in their classrooms. Participants will engage in 5-days of hands-on engineering design activities, explore project- and program-based instructional strategies, and gain practical experience with industry-aligned tools and resources.

Join us for STEM Day at the Capitol on April 15, 2026! SciMathMN and the Minnesota STEM Ecosystem invite you to to an afternoon of STEM! You can expect to see and hear members of the STEM Learning Community who represent in-school and after-school STEM learning, and workforce development. This is an opportunity to come together and discuss the future of STEM learning in our state. This event is sponsored by our partners at Xcel Energy.

Join us at the RPS/ZED Middle School Career Academy this June! This engaging, hands-on experience is designed to introduce middle school students to a variety of career pathways through immersive activities. The camp highlights eight career pathways—Agriculture, Construction, Culinary & Hospitality, Health Sciences, Information Technology, Manufacturing, Public & Emergency Services, and Transportation—each providing unique opportunities for students to explore and gain practical insights into these fields.

Don’t miss Science Studio Saturdays at the Bakken! Explore the innovation process and learn about science, technology, engineering, art, and math! Each activity includes a step-by-step guide and expert staff is always on hand to help – no prior knowledge required! Science Studio is included in the cost of admission and activities change regularly.

August 3-7, 2026 join the Engineering Center of Excellence for the  Microelectronics Mini-Externship & Curriculum Training. This is a professional learning experience for secondary educators who want to bring real-world microelectronics, semiconductor, and advanced manufacturing concepts into their classrooms—confidently and intentionally. This pilot program combines hands-on curriculum training, short industry immersion, and guided planning support so educators can connect what they teach to how technology is designed, built, and used in Minnesota industries today.

Don’t miss the Minnesota SkillsUSA State Leadership and Skills Conference on March 27-28, 2026 at Wayzata High School. Events span technical, skilled, and leadership areas, including robotics, automotive technology, welding, and public speaking. Competitions are developed, overseen, and judged by industry professionals to ensure they match current employer needs.  Whether you want to judge an event or learn more about the organization- you’ll want to check it out! 

Don’t miss the Small Gas Engine (SGE) BriefCASE on June 16-18, 2026 at Owatonna High School.  SGE is a specialization-level module in the Mechanical Systems in Agriculture series for high school teachers. The module provides technical applications to mechanical systems, using small gas engines as the instructional tool. Students practice technical skills, including measurements, troubleshooting, documenting an engine teardown and assembly, completing work/repair orders, and reading a service manual.

Join us at the Minnesota State Science and Engineering Fair on Friday, March 27, 2026 at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium, St. Paul River Centre in St. Paul, located 175 Kellogg Blvd West, St Paul, MN 55102. The in-person competition will run from 8:00 AM to 6:30 PM, with a virtual awards ceremony following on Sunday, March 29, at 2:00 PM. 

Make sure to check out Trades in Every Classroom summer of 2026, hosted by the Minnesota State Centers of Excellence. The Trades in Every Classroom Externship Program gives educators a behind-the-scenes look at today’s workplaces—so you can connect classroom learning to real careers, tools, and industry practices. This cohort-based professional learning experience is designed to make instruction more relevant, engaging, and career-connected for students in grades 6–12.

Join us April 20-21, 2026 along with more than 6,000 FFA members and guests from across the state for the FFA annual convention. Students will participate in general sessions, competitive events, educational tours, leadership workshops, visit with colleges, and more. The 2026 State Convention will be held on the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities campuses, the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, and the St. Paul Pipefitters Training and Certification Center (Ag. Technology and Mechanics state participants only).

Spring is here- which means one thing- Farm Babies at the Minnesota Zoo! Save the dates: April 25 – May 17. Meet the mothers and babies every day and visit on weekends for special activities, music, farm demonstrations, and more. And make sure to follow @mnzoo on social media for birth announcements of lambs, kids, piglets, and llama crias.

On June 22-26, 2026 AgCentic is hosting the Agriculture, Robotics, Automation, & Technology (ARAT) Project at St. Cloud Technical & Community College.  The ARAT Project is an NSF-funded initiative that brings together community colleges, secondary educators, and industry partners to develop curriculum and professional development in agricultural robotics and automation. Led by AgCentric and CASE with Minnesota college partners, the curriculum introduces core automation and robotics concepts across animal, plant, and food systems, culminating in an open-ended design project that can be implemented flexibly to meet local needs.

Save the Date August 4-6, 2026 for the Empower{MN:CS} 2026 Conference!  Join us for an exciting 3-day computer science professional development! Along with the workshops, there will be whole group events for participants to connect with other educators and organizations working to expanding computer science education across the state. Workshops will be announced in spring 2026, but will include options for all grade levels and experience levels.

Join us August 3-6, 2026 for the Midwest Teachers of Transportation and Industrial Areas (MTTIA) Conference. MTTIA is more than a conference—it’s a community. Join secondary and post-secondary educators from across the Midwest for hands-on training, networking, and professional development. Learn the latest in vehicle technology and teaching strategies from expert trainers and OE manufacturers. Earn 20 CEUs! 

Join the Southeast Service Cooperative at the Olmsted County Fair on July 23 for STEM Day at the Fair. Engage in hands-on learning experiences, STEM demonstrations and explore all things STEM! 

Mark your calendar exciting new event at The Works Museum: Build It Expo, happening Saturday, April 11, 2026. This hands-on, family-friendly event introduces kids ages 5–12 to careers in construction, architecture, engineering, and the skilled trades through interactive activities and demos.

Make sure to check out the Insider Science Tour series at the Science Museum. It features topics including Exhibit Fabrication, Biology, Paleontology, Anthropology, and there is even one featuring all of the unique collections housed at the Science Museum. 

Looking for MORE STEM?
Check out these calendars with our learning partners.