Workshop Calendar and Descriptions

October 2026 - How BIG Is The Solar System​

How Big is the Solar System??? Come join us at Rocket Town STEM this month as Professor Darin discusses how much space the Solar System really takes up. The students will get to work on how and why different objects are classified as planets and others are not. There will even be a crazy, hands-on size comparisons of planets, the sun and the distance between them - using Toilet Paper?!?     This class will be BIG FUN!

November 2026 - Power of AIR

In the month of November, Professor Darin will be discussing the power of Air.  There will be a Rice Crispy Fountain, levitating objects, vacuum chambers, pressure chambers, and lots more. Students will get to learn about how both high pressure and Vacuum, and how it effects  objects and the body, including what happens to a body in space. This class will be a blow out!​ 

December 2026 - Lights and LASERS​

What a bright idea! in the month of December, the students will be doing many experiments with light and LASERS. Come join Professor Darin as we learn about mixing colors of light, what IS light, how humans actually “SEE”, and how to change light. There will be lenses, prisms, sun glasses and lots more. At the end, students will get to set up a LASER maze to learn about directing light and using it to communicate. Come Join us as we focus on this amazing topic!

January 2027 - Rheology - Density and Viscosity

​Motor Oil. Shampoo. Ketchup. So many things that flow around us. Did you know there is an actual science for how thick or thin they are, or how sticky?  Come join us at Rocket Town STEM as Professor Darin teaches the students how to measure the properties of fluids, both normal and non-Newtonian.  The kids will leant about polymer chains making SLIME and why Oobleck is a solid and a liquid.  There will be fun and learning for everyone, now matter your age! Don't miss it.. 

February 2027 - Roaring Rockets

For the month of February, we will learn all about different types of rockets, thrust, and fuels. The kids will get to do a hands-on experiment with rocket nozzles and what effect they have on the rocket thrust. Kids will get to build and launch their own paper rocket, and launch it over 150 feet in the air!!! This will be a fun and exciting time as Professor Darin teaches some of the (shhhh, don't tell the kids) math and physics behind launching a rocket. This class will be a BLAST!

March 2027 - Cryogenics

​What do you consider cold? In the month of March students will learn about Cryogenics. We will be making dry ice, and seeing and interacting with its amazing properties as it evaporates at  -109 degrees.  There will be activities to show how we use cold in manufacturing, and even use it on the space station.  Then we will go really cold (-304 degrees) with liquid nitrogen, and see what effect it has on different items. The students will get to make Dragon's Breath by eating frozen crackers, and we will end the class with instant ICE CREAM!  (No screaming necessary...) This class will be Cool!!!

April 2027 - Visual Sound

​How do you see Sound???  Glad you asked, We will use LASERS, Plates with Sand, Slinky, and much, much more.  We will do experiments with glass, water, and even lightning!!!  We will discuss hearing ranges, do a bone conduction demonstration, and SO MUCH more!!!  So join us for a ROARING good time. And yes, we have hearing protection for those who need it!!!

May 2027 - Basics of Electronics

For the month of May, Professor Darin will be teaching the students about electronic components and how they work. Each student will get their own electronics kit to experiment with different elements of old style circuits and timers, the type we used to first put people in space before computers. They will get to build their own advanced circuit with resisters, capacitors, diodes, transistors, and more. Due to the cost per kit per student, we will be asking for extra donations to cover the $15 per student.

​June 2027 - Aerodynamics - Kites and Airplanes

How do things fly??? In June, we discuss aerodynamics. Lift, thrust, drag, aileron, and more. We will use a wind tunnel, gliders, and propeller aircraft. The students will make homemade kites and some really amazing Paper Airplane Plans will also be included!!!! This uplifting class has HIGH expectations!!!

July 2027 - Shocking Magnetism

​​Come Join us at Rocket Town STEM for “Shocking Magnetism”, a study of magnetic fields. We will look at what causes them, the creation and flow of electricity, and why electricity does what it does. Come participate as we work with electro-magnets and experiment with how and why they work, and how we use them in real life. Watch Professor Darin as he runs electrons through kids, to light up a fluorescent light tube in their hand, show how much and why there is iron in different things we eat, and then see how magnets can shape lightning! It will be lots of hair-raising fun, as well as educational.

August 2027 - Mechanical Advantage & Simple Machines

In August, the students will be learning about Mechanical Advantage - A Study on Pulleys, Gears, Levers, and Hydraulics. The students will learn how and why these things increase our strength many times over, and will get to interact with them as the class goes on, including gears, chains, a giant Teeter Totter where one of the students will be lifting Professor Darin (380lbs) off the ground, and even having the kids lift 45lb buckets high into the air. Be sure to bring a camera to see their faces!!!

September 2027 - Spinning Spaceships - Gyroscopes Ions, and Hypergolics

​​How do you turn a spacecraft in space??? How do you keep it aimed where you want it?? In September's STEM workshop, we will discuss what three ways are used to turn a craft in motion. We will get some hands on time with Gyroscopes, learn about Hypergolic reactions, and more. This class is guaranteed to make their heads spin!!!

October 2027 - What Is Your Potential - Intro to Physics ​​

This class has the POTENTIAL to be awesome, as Professor Darin leads the kids to discover Physics with hands-on experiments. The students will get to use ramps, ball drops, flying bowling balls, racing wheels, metronomes, and more, as they learn about energy and the rules for making it move. Don't miss it...

November 2027 - Amazing Water

For the month of November, the students will learn why the WATER molecule is the most amazing thing in the universe. We will discuss water's structure, how it changes, and the crazy things water does that makes it so unique, including getting to make water boil at room temperature. The students will learn how water can be recycled, and even how we use water to make rocket fuel (and go BOOM).Then there will be some crazy fun as all the kids will be making square bubbles, water worms and more.