STEM Quest Unveiled

by Kathy Savolt -

On a lovely summer-like day at Harbor Island Park, The STEM Alliance cut the ribbon on their new Mobile Learning Lab aptly named “STEM Quest”, a specially designed bus tailor-made for education.

Grant Money from NYS Dormitory Authority

Funded by a grant from the New York State Dormitory Authority, STEM Quest will allow The STEM Alliance to take their STEM – science, technology, engineering and mathematics – programming on the road meeting eager young children in their environment be it at school, church, neighborhood center, or wherever.

The STEM Alliance is a nonprofit organization founded in 2011 to enhance school programming in the STEM subjects.  They serve all of Westchester County and their supporters came to help them celebrate.  White Plains Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Joseph Ricci, was excited about the mobile lab saying, “It’s a great opportunity to excite school age children about the wonders of the STEM world without a school bus ride.  The children can just get in and explore.”  The White Plains school district has benefited from The STEM Alliance programming for several years.

The vehicle is 33 feet long and contains several workstations that were laid out for inspection.  One was set up as a crime scene for forensic analyses.  Another explored electricity while others held small microscopes and educational graphics.  Child size lab coats hung nearby.  “Even the colors are fun,” gushed STEM Alliance supporter Kate Schmeidler as she exited the bus.

Driving the Bus

Two STEM Alliance employees volunteered for training to learn how to drive the bus.  Educator Ann Giordano is one of them who said she volunteered because “she loves to drive.”  Giordano also has pilot’s and motorcycle licenses.  She described the learning experience which began with one day of classroom learning that included topics such as the theory and legality of driving such a large vehicle and understanding the turning radius.

The next day meant 4 hours of practice in the Playland parking lot and learning how to maneuver and turn between cones and even how to parallel park.

Meg Kaüfer, President of The STEM Alliance, thanked all their supporters and partners in this endeavor, including the Village of Mamaroneck who found a parking space behind the pickleball courts for STEM Quest.  As Käufer said, finding a space was no easy task not only because of the size of the bus but it also requires access to electricity while parked.  The STEM Alliance will reimburse the Village for that cost.