Students in the Minocqua J1 School District spent Thursday, April 18 on board the STEM Shuttle being challenged by a series of hands-on workstations.
The shuttle teachers were Sharon Ryan and Sandy Smith, and the pilot/photographer was Terry Whitmore.
The mobile classroom, owned and operated by the Dream Flight USA Foundation in Wausau, is in its 19th year of traveling throughout Wisconsin motivating students in the upper elementary grades to learn.
The next STEM Shuttle mission is to Peshtigo on Monday, May 6.
Shuttle Mission Guide: The number of students on board during each session of a STEM Shuttle mission will be limited to 10. There will be up to five sessions during the school day.As has been our practice since inception, hand sanitizer will be administered to all entering the shuttle.
Our crews will take 10 minutes between sessions to clean the hands-on work stations.
Upcoming STEM Shuttle Missions:
Monday, May 6 – Peshtigo
Tuesday, May 7 – Pembine
Monday, May 13 – Erin School District, Hartford
If you would like your school or event to be on the STEM Shuttle schedule for spring 2024, please contact us: stemshuttle@gmail.com, or text/call 715-845-6392.
Building Bridges
to the Future
Since 2006, the STEM Shuttle has traveled throughout Wisconsin, and at times neighboring states, to excite students in middle school and upper elementary grades to learn.
Hands-on learning and dedicated veteran teachers allow us to accomplish our mission.
Enjoy exploring this site, and we hope to visit your community soon.
If you are interested in bringing the STEM Shuttle to your school or event, please call or text 715-845-6392, or email stemshuttle@gmail.com.
Schools Give Shuttle Crew Great Grades!
Bringing this experience to the school is a game changer that had a huge impact on a large number of our students.
The activities were very engaging and could be completed with little direction. This allowed students the opportunity to apply scientific thinking by testing, observing, collaborating and retesting. The STEM shuttle crew members were helpful and informative. Their conversations with students supported deeper, contextual learning.
— Dr. Jo-Ellen Fairbanks Ph.D.
Superintendent, Cochrane-Fountain City School District
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This experience landed home with our students to help them better understand the “why” behind the core knowledge they are obtaining each day in class.
Our students left their shuttle mission with a great understanding of the science and daily principles guiding our daily actions (locally and globally).
In the end, understanding the why behind their curricular studies connects the classroom to their lives. It provides physical examples of how material presented in class does have application and importance to the world around them.
— Principal Corey Peterson, Melrose (WI) Elementary School
Minocqua Students Work Together
On STEM Shuttle Workstations
On STEM Shuttle Workstations
Students in the Minocqua J1 School District spent Thursday, April 18 on board the STEM Shuttle being challenged by a series of hands-on workstations.
The shuttle teachers were Sharon Ryan and Sandy Smith, and the pilot/photographer was Terry Whitmore.
The mobile classroom, owned and operated by the Dream Flight USA Foundation in Wausau, is in its 19th year of traveling throughout Wisconsin motivating students in the upper elementary grades to learn.
For more pictures from the Minocqua J1 School District mission, please click here.
Pennies For Student’s Thoughts
One of the hands-on work stations on board the STEM Shuttle has students working with magnetic pennies.
In this activity, students work with motion and stability as they construct and design models. They are learning and understanding what engineers do as they have the opportunity to engineer designs.
While constructing the models, students experience the power of gravity. If the pennies aren’t put in place the correct way, the models collapse.
This student, pictured with the pennies, designed and created a successful model.
Where the Rubber Meets the Road
The Dream Flight USA Foundation is pleased to welcome a new business partner, Bauer Built Tire & Service. We thank the folks at Bauer Built for helping to provide a safe ride for our crews.
No Foolin’ – STEM Shuttle Makes Return Visit
to Holy Rosary Elementary School in Medford
to Holy Rosary Elementary School in Medford
The STEM Shuttle returned to Holy Rosary Elementary School in Medford for a mission on Monday, April 1. While grades 4 through 6 participated in the hands-on STEM workstations, the younger students toured the shuttle. The last visit by the shuttle and crew to Holy Rosary was in the fall of 2021.
The crew on the shuttle mission: Teachers Sandy Smith and Sharon Ryan, and the “Pilot” was Dennis Cihlar.
For more pictures from the Holy Rosary Elementary School mission, please click here.
STEM Shuttle Begins Spring Schedule
With Mission to Benton Elementary
With Mission to Benton Elementary
The STEM Shuttle began the spring portion of its 2023-24 mission schedule by completing operations at the Benton, WI Elementary School on Tuesday, March 26. The shuttle crew was comprised of “pilot” Terry Whitmore, and Teachers Sharon Ryan and Sue Bushman.
Pictures from Monday’s mission to Benton Elementary School can viewed by clicking here.
Ripon Middle School Students
Gobble Up Shuttle’s Workstations
Gobble Up Shuttle’s Workstations
The STEM Shuttle is on its way home following the second day of a two-day visit to Ripon Middle School, on Tuesday, Nov. 21. The 6th graders were guided through the challenging hands-on workstations by on board teachers Sharon Ryan and Sue Bushman, and the pilot/driver Dennis Cihlar.
This STEM Shuttle mission to Ripon was funded by a grant from the Generac Company to the Dream Flight USA Foundation in Wausau.
The shuttle will undergo its annual series of maintenance checks over the next few weeks. Schedule and weather permitting, the shuttle may dock at one or two local middle schools yet this year.
For more pictures from the second day of the Ripon mission, please click here.
STEM Shuttle Mission to Ripon
Good for Middle School Students
Good for Middle School Students
Monday, Nov. 20, was the first day of a two-day STEM Shuttle mission to Ripon Middle School. Sharon Ryan and Sue Bushman were the teachers, and Dennis Cihlar was the shuttle pilot/driver.
This STEM Shuttle mission is being funded by a grant from the Generac Company to the Dream Flight USA Foundation in Wausau.
Pictures from Monday’s mission to Ripon Middle School can viewed by clicking here.
St. John Lutheran School Students
Explore STEM Shuttle Workstations
Explore STEM Shuttle Workstations
Students and staff at St. John Lutheran School in Berlin, WI welcomed the STEM Shuttle on Tuesday, Nov. 14. Sandy Smith and Sue Bushman were the teachers, and Terry Whitmore was the shuttle pilot/driver, and photographer.
It was the second mission to Berlin in as many days, as the shuttle and crew spent Monday at All Saints Catholic School.
The STEM Shuttle visits to both Berlin schools were funded by a grant from the Generac Company to the Dream Flight USA Foundation in Wausau.
For more pictures from the St. John Lutheran School mission, please click here.
For a list of other previous missions and photos, please visit our Schedule/Missions page.