STEM Shuttle – Science | Technology | Engineering

The STEM Shuttle concluded two days at Lodi Elementary/OSC Charter School with a mission on Friday, May 1.

The shuttle and crew head to Mercer Elementary School on Thursday, May 7, followed by Butternut Elementary School on Friday, May 8.

Additional missions this spring include Colby on Wednesday, May 13; Port Edwards on Friday, May 15; Mellen on May 20; and Superior (Four Corners) on Thursday, May 21.

To schedule a STEM Shuttle visit to your school or event, please contact stemshuttle@gmail.com

Shuttle Mission Guide: Up to 60 students per day will enjoy the challenging hands-on workstations on board the shuttle. The number of students on board during each of five sessions will be limited to 12.

When the STEM Shuttle docks at a school, the crew is prepared to work with students in grades 4 to 8 for up to five sessions a day. Each session lasts 50 minutes.

As has been our practice for the past 20 years, hand sanitizer will be administered to all entering the shuttle. Our crews will take time between sessions to clean the the hands-on work stations.

Upcoming STEM Shuttle Missions:

Thursday, May 7 – Mercer Elementary School

Friday, May 8 – Butternut Elementary School

If you would like your school or event to be on the STEM Shuttle schedule for spring or fall 2026, please contact us: stemshuttle@gmail.com, or text/call 715-845-6392.

Building Bridges
to the Future

Since 2005, 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.

The Dream Flight USA Foundation is organized and operated exclusively for educational purposes as specified in Section 501(C)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Tax-deductible donations may be made to the Dream Flight USA Foundation, PO Box 1931, Wausau, WI 54402-1931. Business partnerships are available.

Schools Give Shuttle Crew Great Grades!

“What a wonderful two days the Ithaca students had on the STEM Shuttle!! Each group had so much fun with the hands-on learning the shuttle brought.

A heartfelt thank you to the “crew” of Terry, Sue, and Sharon. They were WONDERFUL! The layout of the shuttle, the instructions for each station, the attention to each and every student was incredible.”

— From Kathleen, an elementary school principal, regarding a shuttle mission last year.

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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

STEM Shuttle Wraps Up 2 Days at
Lodi Elementary/OSC Charter School

Teachers Sharon Ryan and Sue Bushman, along with shuttle pilot Terry Whitmore, welcomed students aboard the STEM Shuttle during the two-day visit to the Lodi Elementary/OCS Charter School.

The second day of the shuttle mission on Friday, May 1 was just as exciting as the first, with students totally engaged in the hands-on workstations.

For more pictures from the second Lodi mission, please click here.

STEM Shuttle Begins
2-Day Mission to Lodi

Thursday, April 30, was the first of a two-day STEM Shuttle mission to the Lodi Elementary/Charter School. The shuttle and crew docked at the school just after the lunch hour and conducted sessions for the remainder of the day. Day two of the shuttle mission will take place all day Friday, May 1.

For more pictures from day one of the Lodi mission, please click here.

New Shuttle Medical Workstation
Debuts at Neillsville Mission

A first for the STEM Shuttle was recorded when it docked at the Neillsville Middle School on Tuesday, April 28. The new medical hands-on workstation was given its first test and proved to be a hit with the seventh grade students.

The workstation is designed to demonstrate to students why some medicines can only be developed in space. Yes, the lack of gravity plays an important role in the process of making certain medicines in space.

As the pictures point out, the rest of the hands-on workstations also captured the attention of the students.

For more pictures from the Neillsville Middle School mission, please click here.

STEM Shuttle Part of
Adams-Friendship Kids Day

The STEM Shuttle continues to accept invitations to community events. On Saturday, April 25, the shuttle was open for tours at the Adams-Friendship High School for Kids Day. As the pictures show, shuttle pilot Dennis Cihlar had a busy day.

For more pictures from the Adams-Friendship Kids DAy mission, please click here.

New Medical Workstation on the Shuttle

Science, Technology, Engineering, Math and Medicine

A new medical workstation has been added to the STEM Shuttle. Developed with guidance from Dr. Kelly Badger, the workstation helps students explore why certain medicines are developed in space rather than on earth.

The workstation debuted at the January 2026 Wisconsin Education Convention in Milwaukee, where it received strong interest and positive feedback.

Teachers Get Passing Grade on Shuttle

On Wednesday, Dec. 17, teachers became students and were challenged by the hands-on workstations on board the STEM Shuttle. The event was held at the Learn Build Fly location at the Downtown Wausau Airport, and was coordinated by Tera Fiera, associate director of Continuous School Improvement Services for CESA 9.

Taking part in the day were teachers from Lac du Flambeau, Arbor Vitae Woodruff, Mosinee, and Merrill. Sharon Ryan, the creator of the STEM Shuttle, guided the educators though the workstations.

The pictures show the teachers enjoying being students. By the way, they did very well, too. All passed.

For more pictures from the CESA 9 mission, please click here.

A great day was had by all when
STEM Shuttle visited Rhinelander

Staff, students, and the STEM Shuttle crew had a great day at Central Elementary School in Rhinelander on Tuesday, Oct. 28. The 4th and 5th graders did a great job at the hands-on workstations.

Pictured at right with the principal, Amanda Olson, are shuttle teachers Sandy Smith (left) and Sharon Ryan.

Sharon is also pictured with Cooper Wild from WAOW Channel 9 News.

The STEM Shuttle pilot/photographer was Tom Rath.

For more pictures from the Central Elementary School mission, please click here.

Trustworthy STEM Shuttle
Visits Loyal Elementary School

On Thursday, Oct. 9, the STEM Shuttle docked at the Loyal Elementary School.

As the pictures will attest, both students and teachers enjoyed their time on the mobile classroom.

For more pictures from the Loyal Elementary School mission, please click here.

STEM Shuttle Begins Year 20
With Fennimore Elementary Mission

The first STEM Shuttle mission of the school year to kick off our 20th year of visiting schools throughout Wisconsin took place at the Fennimore Elementary School on Thursday, Oct. 2.

The teachers on the mission were Sharon Ryan, the creator of the STEM Shuttle program, and Sue Bushman who are pictured at right with the school principal, Hillary Day.

Dennis Cihlar was the shuttle pilot, and did double duty at the Constellations workstation.

For more pictures from the Fennimore Elementary School mission, please click here.

STEM Shuttle Has International Interest

Recently, the STEM Shuttle was highlighted in the classroom of Trevor Benjamin, senior instructor at the University of Trinidad and Tobago Aviation Campus.

Trevor is involved in promoting aviation education through STEM with young people throughout Trinidad and Tobago.

We had the honor of meeting Mr. Benjamin several years at the EAA in Oshkosh when he toured the STEM Shuttle.

STEM Shuttle Wraps Up Mission
at Wings Over Wausau Airshow

The weather for the second day of the Wings over Wausau airshow at the Wausau Downtown Airport was hot and humid on Saturday, June 28. Real humid. But it didn’t stop visitors from touring the STEM Shuttle.

For more pictures from the second day of the Wings Over Wausau mission, please click here.