North Iowa STEM Festival to Offer Hands-On Learning for Young Students

MASON CITY, Iowa — Families across North Iowa are invited to explore science, technology, engineering, and math at the upcoming North Iowa STEM Festival.

The free event will be held Thursday, April 9 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Mason City High School Fieldhouse and is geared toward students in kindergarten through sixth grade.

Organizers say the goal of the festival is to promote, inspire, and engage youth in STEM activities while introducing both children and parents to potential STEM careers.

The event will feature a wide variety of hands-on activities provided by local businesses and organizations. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn how the internet works using light and radio waves, interact with live animals while learning about environmental education, and experiment with sound, hearing, and vibrations.

Other activities include exploring how sunlight can generate motion, racing mini solar cars, creating spinners from recycled CDs, and trying out a welding simulator. Participants can also see real crash reconstruction technology used in investigations, learn how rockets launch into space while designing their own spacecraft, and build a “Simple Grabber” device to test engineering skills.

Organizers say the festival is designed to be both fun and educational, encouraging curiosity and creativity through interactive learning experiences.

The event is free and open to the public, and attendees can also enjoy free hotdogs during the evening.

Officials encourage families to take advantage of the opportunity for a night of engaging, hands-on learning for young students.