Share: 

STEMporium reopens with new activities, summer camps

June 30, 2020

As the largest science activity center in the Delaware beach area, the Great STEMporium was a start-up, less than a year old, when it was forced to close for three months due to COVID-19 emergency orders.

History shows that the first year of any business is challenging, and many new businesses simply do not survive under normal conditions. “As a local, women-owned small business, I knew I’d have my work cut out for me in the first couple of years, but I didn’t expect a pandemic on top of all of it,” said Cari Miller, STEMporium co-founder. She reiterates how many comments she receives on a regular basis from locals and visitors expressing their gratitude for bringing much-needed science education to the region.

In that regard, the STEMporium represents a solid example of entrepreneurial determination to address an important social cause – bringing science opportunities to kids and adults of all diversities. In the face of uncertainty and financial stressors, the STEMporium has managed to not only survive, but to find new ways to prosper.

This highly unique activity center has reopened with a host of new elements sure to engage locals and visitors year-round. The owners took advantage of the quietness of the shutdown to install a new attraction that is quickly becoming a must-see item for every science-curious kid and adult. The installation of the World’s Largest Neuron Model was completed just before the doors reopened June 17. Standing over 8 feet tall in the reception area, this larger-than-life neuron cell model boasts over a thousand points of light, which simulate synapses running through a typical neuron cell. Just beneath the towering portrait wall of historic and current inventors and explorers sits a display of educational facts about neurons, the central nervous system, and the brain. “We love asking people which animals have more neurons. The look of surprise on the faces of the kids and the parents when we give them the answers is priceless,” said Ciera Barnett, a STEMporium lab assistant.

In addition to adding over 30 new activities to the menu for walk-in patrons, it has also added an entire carryout menu and nine weeks of morning summer camps.

New activities for walk-ins now allow kids and families to sit at a table and make a terrarium, build a weather station, assemble a model car that runs on kinetic energy, and engage in a variety of head-to-head engineering challenges, to name a few. During camps, kids ages 8 to 11 will engage in hands-on learning activities every day from 9 a.m. to noon, Monday to Friday. Each week, campers will learn basic science concepts such as how test for a sour taste in candy under a microscope, how friction affects a zipline carrier basket, what causes static electricity, how the laws of motion and gravity work on a marble run, and more.

“Kids get bored so easily these days. We are really excited about the variety of activities we’ve come up with. We know at this point, they’re probably a little tired of sitting in front of a computer screen to do all their learning. Our programs are designed to re-energize them,” said Daphne Leighty, STEM programming manager at the STEMporium.

A series of smaller summer programs is coming too. Related to the Fourth of July, the first program offering will take a look at the inner workings of fireworks and color chemistry. While supplies last, participating kids can put together a see-through model firework to take home for $5 per model. [Note: No gunpowder is used in the making of model fireworks.]

STEMporium is partnered with the Lewes Public Library to offer a series of children’s science seminars. Families must register for the seminar though the Lewes library first, and then they can pick up a hands-on kit containing secret materials. Kits are to remain tightly closed until the Zoom instructor reveals the contents and the challenge objectives.

Not surprisingly, The STEMporium founder is often asked if it is a franchise and where other STEMporium locations are. The thoughtful design, provided in large part by highly talented local designer Rebecca Fluharty, is striking in its creativity and level of finish.

Even the bathrooms are appointed with fun elements of science education.

Rather than franchising, team members are actively working on a licensing package for the STEMporium to grow into its next phase. Miller said licensing will maintain the integrity of the activities while allowing for a range of freedom by the future owners to make each STEMporium uniquely intriguing and different. She’s looking forward to releasing their first wave of licenses next year. The plan is to offer 12 or more opportunities to fellow science-minded entrepreneurs who would like to bring this important mission and magic of a STEMporium to other cities in the mid-Atlantic region.

The company submitted its 10-page safety plan to the State of Delaware and received formal approval for operating safety. Not only has the team established a 100-checkpoint procedure for hourly sanitization requirements, but it also added a nightly electrostatic deep-cleaning process that will likely be here to stay.

For more information, go to www.GreatSTEM.com or email info@greatstem.com.

Subscribe to the CapeGazette.com Daily Newsletter