When the STEM Shuttle arrived at the Lodi Elementary School in spring 2026, the visit marked more than a day of hands-on science learning. It also brought together two generations of the unique education program.
Read the feature article found below under Mission Briefs for more information about the special Lodi mission.
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 9 for up to five sessions a day. Each session lasts 50 minutes. Exceptions can be made if local grants require all students in a school to be involved.
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, Oct. 1 – Fennimore
Tuesday, Oct. 20 – Marshfield
Monroe and Washington-Caldwell School District (Waterford) missions pending
If you would like your school or event to be on the STEM Shuttle schedule for fall 2026 or spring 2027, 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!
Students Learn Beyond STEM: Combining STEM with Space Exploration has been the staple of the STEM Shuttle curriculum. However, students learn much more while being challenged by the hands-on workstations on board the mobile classroom. This was not lost on the teachers in the Mellen School District.
Following our visit to Mellen in spring 2026, a few teachers shared their insightful observations of what their students were learning on the shuttle, and it wasn’t just STEM.
In their words:
“Through trial and error, students learned that making mistakes is a stepping stone to discovery, rather than a failure.”
“”Multiple student perspectives lead to creative and innovative solutions that a single student might miss.”
“”The students enjoyed learning about the challenges an astronaut might encounter in training and in space. They also succeeded in the various challenges they encountered.”
We also appreciate the kind words about our onboard crew:
“The instructors were very friendly and treated our students with respect.”
Sue Bushman and Sharon Ryan were the teachers on the shuttle mission and the pilot/driver was Tom Rath.
IN THE NEWS:
WPR Airs STEM Shuttle Progress
A recent program on Wisconsin Public Radio, Wisconsin Today, hosted by Shereen Siewert, highlighted the STEM Shuttle and its creator, Sharon Ryan.
The interview with Sharon can be heard — and the transcript read — by following this link.
Shuttles Spanning Generations
When the STEM Shuttle arrived at the Lodi Elementary School in spring 2026, the visit marked more than a day of hands-on science learning. It also brought together two generations of the unique education program.
Dream Flight Wausau began in 1990, when Sharon Ryan, then an elementary teacher in the Wausau School District, helped turn a discarded yellow school bus into a space shuttle and developed a curriculum centered on experiential STEM learning.
For 10 years, the shuttle traveled to elementary schools across the district and occasionally to other Wisconsin districts. In the program’s first year, parents, grandparents, and volunteers made blue flight suits for the students who served as astronauts.
Other students filled mission support roles, working as television and print reporters, medical staff, security guards, and radio operators in mission control.
After the district program ended, Ryan continued the concept by creating the Dream Flight USA Foundation and its STEM Shuttle, a full-size motor coach converted for hands-on learning opportunities.For the past 20 years, the shuttle has visited schools across the state, typically docking for one to three days at a time.
The connection came full circle in May of this year at the Lodi Elementary School, where the father of two students was among the original Dream Flight Wausau crew members in 1990.
During the STEM Shuttle visit, his wife, Andrea Rubino, the school psychiatrist, wore the same uniform her husband wore decades earlier.
The students’ grandparents, Frank and Kathy Rubino, made the 2-day visit to Lodi possible with their donation to the Dream Flight USA Foundation.
Mission to Four Corners Elementary
in Superior Concludes 2025-2026
School Year for STEM Shuttle, Crew
A beautiful sunny morning greeted the STEM Shuttle and crew at the Four Corners Elementary School in Superior on Thursday, May 21. Among those welcoming the shuttle was Kim O’Donnell, the principal of the school.
The students did very well at the hands-on workstations, and the day was a perfect lead-in to the school’s Science Night.
The docking at Four Corners was the final mission of the 2025-2026 school year for the STEM Shuttle and its crew.
For more pictures from the Four Corners Elementary School mission, please click here.
Mellen Elementary Students Able to
Navigate STEM Shuttle Workstations
Navigate STEM Shuttle Workstations
STEM Shuttle operations went without a hitch at the Mellen Elementary School on Wednesday, May 20. The students at Mellen were really engaged in the hands-on workstations.
Sue Bushman and Sharon Ryan were the teachers, and the shuttle pilot/photographer was Tom Rath.
Up next for the shuttle and crew, the Four Corners Elementary School in Superior on Thursday, May 21 to close out the spring mission season.
For more pictures from the Mellen mission, please click here.
STEM Shuttle Raises the Grade
at Port Edwards Middle School Mission
The added grade level (grade 9) was put to the test on Friday, May 15 when the STEM Shuttle docked at the Port Edwards Middle School.
Raising the grade level to 9th grade passed the test, with the students fully engaged at the hands-on workstations. Even our host, teacher Kerry Doran, participated in the action. The pictures tell the story.
The shuttle teachers were Sandy Smith and Sue Bushman, and the pilot/driver was Terry Whitmore. Terry also took the pictures that capture the students at the workstations.
For more pictures from the Port Edwards mission, please click here.
SAY CHEESE!
Workstations on Shuttle Keep
Colby Elementary Students Buzzing
Workstations on Shuttle Keep
Colby Elementary Students Buzzing
The STEM Shuttle docked at the Colby Elementary School on Wednesday, May 13. Teachers Sue Bushman and Sandy Smith, along with shuttle pilot/driver Terry Whitmore, guided the students through the hands-on workstations.
Many thanks to our host, Principal Matt Cihlar, for the great hospitality.
For more pictures from the Colby mission, please click here.
STEM Shuttle Wraps Up
Trip to
Northern Wisconsin at Butternut
Shuttle operations at the Butternut School on Friday, May 8, were successful, to say the least. The shuttle crew — teachers Sharon Ryan and Sandy Smith, with pilot/driver Terry Whitmore — had a great day with the students. The pictures of the day tell the story.
For more pictures from the Butternut mission, please click here.
WAY UP NORTH
STEM Shuttle Visits Mercer
STEM Shuttle Visits Mercer
Even the principal of the Mercer School, Renae McMurray, took part in the hands-on activities on board the STEM Shuttle on Thursday, May 7. The students were spot on mastering the workstations.
The shuttle crew: Teachers Sandy Smith and Sharon Ryan, and the pilot/driver Terry Whitmore.
For more pictures from the Mercer mission, please click here.
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
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
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.
For a list of previous missions and photos, please visit our Schedule/Missions page.