SCI hosts Innovators Challenge in partnership with the CarMax Foundation and KaBOOM!
Event held on National STEM Day is a part of the Future Innovators Program designed to cultivate 21st century skills and encourage interest in future STEM-focused careers
- Friday November 8, 2019
November 8, 2019, is National STEM Day, and the Science Center of Iowa (SCI) is hosting an “Innovators Challenge,” in partnership with The CarMax Foundation and KaBOOM!, to provide a fun, play-based learning experience focused on building 21st century skills in youth.
SCI is one of the first STEM-focused, youth-serving organizations in communities across the country to be awarded a Rigamajig® set through the Future Innovators Program.
Rigamajig® is an innovative play and learning solution created by Cas Holman, founder and principal designer at an independent toy company. Rigamajig® stimulates inquisitive minds through creative thinking and problem-solving skills that are developed during experiential play and hands-on active learning. The collection of wooden planks, wheels, pulleys, nuts, bolts and rope allows children to follow their curiosity through play.
During the Innovators Challenge event, CarMax associates will serve as coaches and leverage a Future Innovators lesson plan to inspire children and families to build unique designs and work together to flex their creative problem-solving skills through the use of a Rigamajig®. The challenge event will encourage engaging, interactive experiences that may bolster interest in future STEM-related careers.
The CarMax Foundation and KaBOOM! are invested in creating opportunities for youth to develop 21st century skills through active play, reaching more than 170,000 children by the end of 2021. By encouraging and practicing these skills at a young age, youth can be better prepared for the careers of tomorrow.
WHEN: November, 8, 2019 (National STEM Day)
5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Partners announce the Future Innovators Program
6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Innovators Challenge
(Times approximate)
WHERE: Science Center of Iowa
401 W Martin Luther King Jr. Pkwy
Des Moines, IA 50309
515-274-6868
About The CarMax Foundation
The CarMax Foundation enriches the communities where our associates live and work. Together with CarMax, Inc., the Foundation has donated more than $60 million since 2003. Funding programs are made available through a portion of CarMax, Inc.’s pre-tax profits. CarMax, the nation’s largest retailer of used cars, revolutionized the automotive retail industry by driving integrity, honesty and transparency in every interaction. CarMax continues to innovate and is currently rolling out an omni-channel experience, providing customers the option to complete transactions entirely from home, in store, or in a seamless combination of both. CarMax has more than 200 stores nationwide, and during the latest fiscal year sold nearly 750,000 used cars and 450,000 wholesale vehicles at its in-store auctions. With more than 25,000 associates, CarMax is proud to have been recognized for 15 consecutive years as one of the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For®. For more information, visit www.carmax.com.
About KaBOOM!
KaBOOM! is the national non-profit dedicated to giving all kids – especially those living in poverty – the childhood they deserve through great, safe places to play. KaBOOM! inspires communities to make play the easy choice and works to drive the national discussion about the importance of PLAYces. KaBOOM! has collaborated with partners to build or improve more than 17,000 playspaces, engage over 1.5 million volunteers and serve nearly 10 million kids. To learn why play matters for all kids, visit kaboom.org and join the conversation at twitter.com/kaboom, facebook.com/kaboom and instagram.com/kaboom. #playmatters #PLAYceforKids
About the Science Center of Iowa
The Science Center of Iowa engages and inspires Iowans along their journey of lifelong science learning. The 110,000-sq. ft. facility located in Downtown Des Moines features dynamic experience platforms, large format theaters and daily interactive science demonstrations, including the NAEYC-accredited SCI Preschool. The Science Center of Iowa also provides educational outreach programs across the state of Iowa. For more information, visit www.sciowa.org.