Lots going on at STEAMwhiz! Check out the TOC below to navigate this edition of our Newsletter.
Robotics Team Needs Your Help!
Looking towards 2025-2026 STEAMwhiz programs
Tawasentha Park Registration Open
SW Robotics Team Needs Your Help!
We need Sponsors for our Robotics Team to go to the World Championship!
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-steamwhiz-robotics-teams-go-to-vex-world-championship
We had a fantastic VeX IQ robotics season! All 4 teams qualified for the State Tournament, where we brought home several awards. Our team, Magnificent Mangos, has earned a spot in the World Championship in Dallas, TX. This is a life-changing opportunity for these students to compete at the largest Robotics Competition in the world.
If you know of a company or philanthropist who would be interested in sponsorship opportunities, please contact us. Check out our GoFundMe page to make a tax-deductible donation and make a positive difference in our community today!
Looking towards 2025-2026
Last year was an incredible year of growth, and although we expanded our offerings during the 2024-2025 Academic Year and STEM Camps, they quickly filled up! We expect 2025-2026 to be even more significant. 🥳 To better support our community, we have been on the lookout for fantastic educators who believe in our mission to address gaps in the education system and prepare students for their future EARLY. We are thrilled to introduce our new STEAMwhiz Educators to the “STEAM TEAM,” who like us, are dedicated to positively impacting our young students’ educational journey.
Vera Kraev
Vera is our resident math enthusiast! She is a Mathematics major pursuing her master’s in Data Science and plans to join the PhD program at UAlbany soon. She began to develop her teaching acumen as a Mathnasium tutor and has gained even more profound experience as a STEM educator under the guidance of Program Director Allie.
In addition to her math abilities, she excels as a Minecraft Modder and pro skier. What sets her apart in our eyes is her incredible dedication to making a meaningful impact on our students’ lives!
Daysia Davis
Please join us in welcoming a fantastic new member to the ‘STEAM TEAM’! Daysia is passionate about the environment and how human intervention can help conserve our ecosystem for future generations. Whether paddleboarding with her pups on the water or aiding sustainability efforts at SPAC, the environment is always on her mind.
She is currently shadowing Program Director Allie, exploring all the wonderful ways we do things at STEAMwhiz! It’s thrilling to see her start interacting with our students. We look forward to her sharing valuable insights from her Environmental Studies degree at SUNY, which will significantly enhance the curriculum and enrich our students’ learning experience at the lab.
Academic Year 2025-2026
Registration will open early this year for our SEP and REP labs, targeting June for our returning students. We plan to extend our time offerings starting at 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For our families traveling from afar, we will continue to offer the SEP on the second Saturday of the month. Check out more details below.
STEM Enrichment Program (SEP)
The SEP progression will continue as students advance from beginner (pre-readers), to Intermediate, to Advanced, and we focus on one of the most essential resources on the planet. Stay tuned for more details where we will dive deep into physics, chemistry, the environment, and much more🤩
Robotic Enrichment Program (REP)
Current students, get ready! REP 2 is on the horizon, where we will dive deeper into advanced topics such as gear ratios, drive trains, sensors, and build even more incredible and complex robots. New students will join us in the REP 1 labs, where they will get to sink their teeth into Lego Robotics, coding, and much more.
VeX IQ Robotics Competition
We have many returning faces and some new. For returning students, expect to step it up a notch as we investigate sharing motors using power take-off (PTO) and advanced control systems such as PID. New students, get ready to dive into the exciting world of robotics! Emails for registration will go out in April. Spring Prep classes will start the first Saturday in May. If you have any questions, send us a message at info@steamwhiz.com
Tawasentha Park Registration Open
Are you signed up for STEAMwhiz’s Afternoon Summer Camp Session (1:00 – 4:00 PM)? It’s time to register for the Town of Guilderland’s Tawasentha Park ½ Day Summer Camp!!
Full-Day campers will participate in the morning ½ Day camp session at Guilderland’s beautiful Tawasentha Park. Afterward, they will be transported by Guilderland School District busing to the STEAMwhiz Lab HQ for lunch and a much-needed break before transitioning to their afternoon program from 1:00 – 4:00 PM.
By partnering with the Town of Guilderland (TOG), we have created an incredible opportunity for our students who require full-day care. Now, they can also participate in the enriching, brain-building STEAMwhiz camps that foster creativity, learning, and exploration throughout the day!
Steps to Register for Tawasentha Park ½ Day Camp:
1 – Register for Tawasentha Camp:
Go here to register for their camp https://guilderlandny.myrec.com/info/activities/default.aspx
- Make sure to register for the week(s) that coincide with your STEAMwhiz weeks (1-6)
- $100 per week
2 – Register for Bus Transportation:
Bus Name: Flounder
In the allergy section, state that the student will be taking bus to STEAMwhiz
$20 per week, for transportation from your home to the park and then from the park to STEAMwhiz. If you plan on utilizing the bus only from the park to STEAMwhiz, please call the TOG Parks & Rec Dept. for cost adjustment
518-456-3150
**Make sure you register for both your week(s) and transportation needs. The Guilderland website separates them. *See the highlighted green circle in the image above.
