Science Technology Engineering Math
The STEM Shuttle
Mission News

The STEM Shuttle closed out a two-day mission to Ripon Middle School on Tuesday, Nov. 21.

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.

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 for the past 18 years, 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:

To Be Determined

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

Mission Briefs

Ripon Middle School Students
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

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

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.

All Saints Catholic School Students Wholly Immersed in STEM Workstations

The STEM Shuttle docked at All Saints Catholic School in Berlin, WI on Monday, Nov. 13. The pictures, taken by STEM Shuttle pilot Terry Whitmore, captured the spirit of the day. The teachers were Sue Bushman and Sandy Smith.

The shuttle and crew will remain in Berlin for another day, spending Tuesday at St. John Lutheran School.

The visits to both schools are funded by a grant from the Generac Company to the Dream Flight USA Foundation in Wausau.

Pictures from the All Saints Catholic School mission can viewed by clicking here.

No Tricks, Just STEM Learning Treats
for Students at Washington Elementary

In preparation for Halloween, many students at Washington Elementary School in Stevens Point broke out their Halloween costumes when the STEM Shuttle docked for a mission on Wednesday, Oct. 25.

The STEM crew of teachers Sharon Ryan and Sue Bushman, and pilot/driver Tom Rath didn’t have any tricks for the students, but instead treated them to some healthy, educational work stations.

For more pictures from the second day of the Washington Elementary School mission, please click here.

By George! Washington School
Students Learn Aboard STEM Shuttle

On a rainy day, the STEM Shuttle docked at Washington Elementary School in Stevens Point on Tuesday, Oct. 24 for the first of a two-day mission.

The shuttle crew consisted of teachers Sue Bushman and Sandy Smith, and pilot/driver Tom Rath. Both days of the Washington Elementary School mission are being funded through a grant from the Connexus Credit Union to the Dream Flight USA Foundation in Wausau.

Pictures from the first day of the Washington Elementary School mission can viewed by clicking here.

Woodside Elementary School Students
Get a Close Look at the STEM Shuttle

The STEM Shuttle docked at Woodside Elementary School in Wisconsin Rapids on Monday, Oct. 23. The visit was made possible through a grant from the Connexus Credit Union to the Dream Flight USA Foundation in Wausau. Sue Bushman, Sandy Smith, and Tom Rath were the on-board crew.

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

DOCKING WITH THE OREDOCKERS:
Shuttle Stops at School in Ashland

On Tuesday, Oct. 17, the STEM Shuttle concluded a two-day trip to northern Wisconsin (which began at the Drummond Elementary School on Monday) by docking at a school in Ashland, whose athletic teams in the school district are known as the Oredockers.

Students at the Lake Superior Elementary School in Ashland spent the day on board the shuttle. Teachers Sharon Ryan and Sandy Smith, along with shuttle pilot/driver Dennis Cihlar, guided the students through the challenging hands-on workstations.

Thanks to teachers from the school for helping the shuttle crew with pictures from the mission, which can viewed by clicking here.

STEM Shuttle Can’t Be Beat,
the Drummond Elementary Students Learn

On Monday, Oct. 16, the 5th and 6th graders at the Drummond Elementary School were challenged by the hands-on workstations on board the STEM Shuttle. The crew for this mission was comprised of teachers Sharon Ryan and Sandy Smith, along with pilot/driver Dennis Cihlar.

Next, the shuttle will dock at the Lake Superior Elementary School in Ashland on Tuesday, Oct. 17.

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

Things are Looking Up For STEM
at Ithaca Elementary School

On Wednesday, Oct. 11, day No. 2 of the STEM Shuttle mission to the Ithaca Elementary School was as good as the first. The crew for the two days consisted of teachers Sharon Ryan and Sue Bushman, and pilot/photographer Terry Whitmore.

Some of the mission photos show students looking up while holding the controller for the mechanical arm. It’s a more challenging way for the older students to accomplish the work station.

We invite you to view Terry’s photos to see students at work stations in the shuttle by clicking here.

SUCCESS!
Ithaca Elementary Students, Staff
Learn on Day 1 of STEM Shuttle Mission

On Tuesday, Oct. 10, the STEM Shuttle docked at the Ithaca Elementary School in Richland Center for the first day of a two-day visit. Crew members for the day were Teachers Sue Bushman and Sharon Ryan. Terry Whitmore was the shuttle pilot/photographer.

Principal Kathleen Schoen joined in with the students, achieving the goal at the arch hands-on station.

For more pictures from the first day of the Ithaca Elementary School mission, please click here.

Work Stations Amaze Students
as STEM Shuttle Docks at Fennimore

Tuesday, Oct. 3, kicked off a very busy October for the STEM Shuttle and its crews. The shuttle made a return visit to Fennimore, with teachers Sue Bushman and Sharon Ryan, and pilot/photographer Tom Rath.

We invite you to view Tom’s photos to see students at work stations in the shuttle by clicking here

STEM Shuttle Crew Relishes
McDill Elementary School Mission

Wednesday, Sept. 20 was the second day of a two-day stop for the STEM Shuttle at McDill Elementary School in Stevens Point. The crew for day No. 2 was comprised of Teachers Sandy Smith and Sue Bushman, along with Shuttle Pilot/Photographer Tom Rath.

The shuttle and crew docked at the school for two days taking students through a series of challenging hands-on activities.

Funding for the shuttle missions was provided by Connexus Credit Union through a grant to the Dream Flight USA Foundation in Wausau.

For more pictures from the second day of the McDill Elementary School mission, please click here.

STEM Shuttle Docks at McDill School
for First Day of a Two-Day Mission

Following a visit to Hadfield School in Waukesha, the STEM Shuttle docked at McDill Elementary School in Stevens Point on Tuesday, Sept. 19. The shuttle will return to McDill tomorrow where more students will have the opportunity to test their skills in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.

The mission’s on-board teachers were Sandy Smith and Sharon Ryan. The shuttle pilot/photographer was Tom Rath.

For more pictures from the first day of the McDill Elementary School mission, please click here.

STEM Shuttle Begins 18th Year With
Mission to Hadfield Elementary School

Hadfield Elementary School in Waukesha was the location of the STEM Shuttle mission on Sept. 18, the first of 2023-24 school year, kicking off the 18th year of shuttle missions.

For more pictures from the first mission of the 2023-2024 school year, please click here.

For a list of other previous missions and photos, please visit our Schedule/Missions page.