In 2017, Career Partners launched STEM Days at the Culpeper Regional Airport, creating an opportunity for Culpeper County fifth grade students to explore science, technology, engineering, and math through hands-on experiences.
Each year, students participate in interactive learning stations and demonstrations featuring areas such as drones, 3D printing, robotics, engineering, and other STEM-related fields. Along the way, they meet local professionals who use STEM skills in their careers and gain a better understanding of how the concepts they learn in the classroom are applied in the workforce.
By reaching students in fifth grade, STEM Days introduces career possibilities at an age when students are beginning to recognize their interests and imagine what their futures might look like. Hands-on activities encourage students to ask questions, experiment, solve problems, and see themselves in careers they may not have previously considered.
The Culpeper Regional Airport and participating STEM professionals have played an important role in making the experience possible, sharing their time and expertise to inspire curiosity and introduce students to the many ways STEM connects to careers and the world around them.
