STEMinistas embrace all things STEM

Teacher assists student with operation of 3-D pen

On Wednesday, they built hurricane-resistant bridges, programmed robots to play music, constructed solar ovens, created sculpture with 3-D pens … and made lunch!

These STEM smarties are two dozen girls – two from each district elementary school – taking part in STEMinistas 2025. This annual summer program engages incoming fourth-grade girls in a range of hands-on science, technology, engineering and math activities.  

Visit our Facebook page for a sample of photos from the day.

Of course the program is based at Thomas O’Brien Academy of Science and Technology (TOAST), the only STEM-focused elementary school in the City School District of Albany.

Students rotated among four classrooms with a different STEM activity happening involving robotics, engineering and problem-solving. They also worked together to prepare lunch – lots of math and chemistry there – and ate their creations alongside their four guiding teachers.

Besides classroom activities, the week-long program includes field trips to explore Howe Caverns, Five Rivers Environmental Center and the state museum.