STEM Program Attracts Hundreds of Kids
Kids immersed in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) today will be the ones to solve tomorrow’s greatest challenges! STEM education teaches essential skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and collaboration. These abilities are invaluable in a wide range of fields, including healthcare, business, environmental science, education, and agriculture. In Ravena, Innovation Station provides students with hands-on, engaging programs that help them build strong STEM skills.
While STEM education centers are opening in larger cities across upstate New York, small towns like Ravena rarely have the resources to offer such a broad range of opportunities for kids. As a not-for-profit organization, Innovation Station inspires students from all over the region to explore careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through interactive, competitive programs. These activities not only demonstrate the role of science and technology in shaping our world but also equip students with the skills to excel.
Students in the First Lego League (FLL) Explore program.
Filling an Education Gap
The seeds of Innovation Station were sown nearly a decade ago by Rick and Kate Robertson, who began coaching their children in various robotics teams. Their journey revealed a lack of local opportunities for youth to get involved in hands-on STEM education. In response, the Robertsons helped establish a robotics team at the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk (RCS) school district, witnessing firsthand the transformative impact these programs can have on students.
“An inspiring conversation with another coach, who described their community’s growing robotics space, sparked the idea for Innovation Station. We saw a gap in our local education and thought we could help fill it,” said Rick Robertson, founder and president of Innovation Station.
Programs for All Ages
At the heart of Innovation Station are its diverse program offerings, all designed to spark curiosity and nurture a love of STEM. Among the most notable is its involvement with FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), a global nonprofit organization that offers team-based robotics programs for students from PreK through 12th grade. Innovation Station has four FIRST programs:
- FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Discover: For young innovators in Pre-K through Grade 1, this program introduces basic STEM concepts through playful learning with LEGO DUPLO bricks. Children explore engineering basics, develop fine motor skills, and begin to understand teamwork and communication.
- First Lego League (FLL) Explore: In this program children grades 2-4 learn basic design and coding skills while they construct a motorized model using LEGOs. Students explore real-world themes and present their findings in a poster, illustrating their journey of discovery.
- First Lego League (FLL) Challenge: Students in grades 4-8 improve team building and critical thinking skills as they research a real world problem and present their project to a panel of judges. They also design, build and program a LEGO robot to complete missions on a playing field, ultimately competing in tournaments with students from around the region.
- FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC): Designed for students in grades 9-12, FTC teams tackle more complex engineering challenges by designing, building, and programming robots to complete missions. This program emphasizes strategy development, engineering skills, and teamwork through a competitive tournament format.
Other Innovation Station programs include building hydrogen-fueled model vehicles, learning about electrical circuits, computer-aided design (CAD), and more. A few spots are still open for the Spring 2025 Programs!
In addition to its programs for kids, Innovation Station also offers:
- STEM Saturdays: A monthly, free event open to the entire community. These gatherings feature a variety of STEM-focused activities, from crafting to engineering challenges, and are designed to encourage creativity and hands-on learning for participants of all ages.
- Expert Encounters: In partnership with the RCS Community Library, this bimonthly program invites professionals working in STEM fields to share their experiences with students and adults alike. These sessions offer a valuable opportunity for students to learn about STEM careers and how these fields are applied in the real world.
- Puzzled Pints: A fun, casual puzzle-solving event held in partnership with Rail to River Brewery in Ravena, Puzzled Pints takes place every second Tuesday of the month. This unique social event brings people together to solve puzzles, fostering a sense of community while encouraging creative thinking.
Get Involved!
Innovation Station offers the tools, resources, and mentorship needed to inspire and cultivate the next generation of innovators. Whether you’re interested in enrolling your child in one of their exciting programs or supporting the organization’s mission to create opportunities for local youth, your involvement makes a difference.
To learn more about how you can get involved, please contact Innovation Station at ravenainnovationstation@
By fostering curiosity and creativity, Innovation Station is building the future of STEM, one student at a time.
Author: Rebecca Flach
I'm passionate about Ravena Coeymans Selkirk and believe these communities are poised for great things. I'm a founding member of the RCS Community Business Association. I also manage Hope Full Life Center Inc., a local charity. I'm a mom, avid gardener and audiobook fanatic.
