STEM NEXT
New Hampshire Afterschool is proud to be partnering with STEM Next to make out-of-school STEM opportunities a reality for New Hampshire’s young people, to help them thrive in STEM and beyond. Through afterschool and summer programs, we believe every child should have STEM opportunities that inspire curiosity, innovation, and the critical thinking skills for whatever comes next.
STEM Next Monthly Resources
We encourage you to check back each month for new and exciting STEM Next resources to inspire STEM learning. If you are using these resources please fill out this quick survey so New Hampshire Afterschool can see how these resources are being distributed. Thank you!
Funding
Opportunity
Stay Tuned for More Soon!
Career Connected Learning Framework
Afterschool and summer programs provide something school often can’t: the freedom to explore, experiment, and connect learning to real life without the added pressures of grades or tests. For many youth, these programs are where early sparks of interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) begin to take shape. But interest alone isn’t enough. Without clear guidance or opportunities to see what’s possible, many young people lose momentum before they can fully imagine a future in STEM.
That’s why STEM Next is excited to share a powerful new tool for programs nationwide: the Career-Connected Learning Framework. Designed specifically for out-of-school-time providers, this framework helps programs embed career awareness, exploration, and preparation into their activities in ways that are practical, age-appropriate, and grounded in both research and real-world relevance. Listen to recordings that dive into the strategies for career-connected learning below:
Learning Undefeated’s 2026 Emerging Leaders in STEM Biotechnology Course
Emerging Leaders in Biotechnology is a fast-paced, hands-on accelerated 30-hour biotechnology course that introduces high school and college students to high-demand STEM careers. The 2026 program includes five virtual events during the spring and a one-week in-person laboratory session over the summer. The virtual sessions will take place Saturday mornings starting April 25th. Below are the dates and locations for the in-person laboratory sessions:
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Upper Marlboro, MD: Week of June 22 and July 6
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Dayton, OH: Week of July 6
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Philadelphia, PA: Week of July 6
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San Antonio, TX: Week of July 6 and 13
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Rockville, MD: Weeks of July 13, 20, and 27
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New York, NY: Week of July 27
Thank you to our 2026 Emerging Leaders in STEM partners! AstraZeneca, REGENXBIO, DoD STEM, Montgomery County Maryland, AFCEA Bethesda and the Neilom Foundation are helping empower the next generation of innovators and leaders.
Professional Development Opportunities
Activities for Youth
Deepen DNA Learning with Genomics Learning Journeys
Through STEM Next’s Genomics Learning Journeys, educators can inspire youth with interactive lessons that reveal the incredible world of DNA. These ready-to-use lesson bundles help young people explore how genomics is driving breakthroughs in medicine, agriculture, and beyond as they connect classroom learning to real-world careers. With engaging videos, hands-on activities, and step-by-step guides tailored for out-of-school settings, these journeys make complex science fun, relatable, and full of opportunity for youth of all backgrounds and experience levels.
Sustainable Aviation STEM Toolkit
The Sustainable Aviation STEM Toolkit provides educators and students with cross-curricular content related to NASA’s goal to create sustainable aviation for students pre-K through 12. A Spanish-language section is also included. This toolkit includes virtual and classroom resources related to aviation.
Summer STEM Activities
Summer educators: Looking for high-quality STEM activities? Youth Engineering Solutions has flexible STEM activities for PreK–8, designed for informal settings. Perfect for enrichment programs including summer school, afterschool, libraries, makerspaces, and STEM camps. Find bundles of activities by age group here and below.
Explore activities by age:
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Wee Engineer - Four unique design challenges that can be taught in any order to build children’s confidence in engineering.
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Engineering Sun Hats - Youth explore the cooling effects of shade as they engineer sun hats that block sunlight and meet users’ needs.
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Engineering Trash Collectors - Youth consider how materials behave in water and can be shaped as they engineer a collector to remove trash from a model pond.
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Engineering Bandages - Youth engineer bandages that can cover and protect a model cut.
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Engineering Bubble Wands - Youth engineer bubble wants to make a variety of bubbles
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Engineering Sails - Youth engineer a sal that catches wind energy to move a vehicle across a distance.
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Engineering an Avalanche Protection System - Youth design a system to hold or divert massive amounts of snow away from a town.
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Engineering Earthquake-Resistant Buildings G3-5 - Youth engineer model buildings that can better withstand the force of an earthquake.
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Engineering Upcycled Toy Vehicles - Youth engineer a toy vehicle using upcycled materials
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Engineering Antivirals - Youth engineer a model of antivirals to stop a virus from attaching to a cell.
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Engineering Prosthetic Tails - You design prosthetic devices for animals that have lost a body part.
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Engineering Verticals Farms - Youth design a vertical farm to increase the amount of food that can be grown in a small space.
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Research-Based Practices & Career Awareness and Exploration
STEM Next aims to raise awareness of research-based practices proven to increase the quality of STEM learning experiences for youth, and is committed to strengthening career awareness and exploration in out-of-school time so youth are prepared for whatever comes NEXT.
Why Youth Career Readiness Needs To Begin in Middle School
CareerXplorer from LabXchange at Harvard University unites education and industry in an interactive career exploration tool built for learners. CareerXplorer unites K–12 education, higher education, and STEMM industries in one streamlined career exploration tool that emphasizes career-connected learning through interactive content.
Fun and Interactive Ways to Teach Kids About Jobs and Career Exploration
Afterschool and summer programs are excellent spaces to prepare youth for their future careers. Early exposure to opportunities, understanding the world of work, and skill development enable children to discover their passions in life. But it doesn’t have to be boring or stressful, especially for younger youths. With some activities in place, early career exploration can become interactive and engaging for students. So let’s explore some innovative ways to make learning and job exploration an exciting adventure for kids.
Research-Based Practices & Career Awareness and Exploration
STEM Next aims to raise awareness of research-based practices proven to increase the quality of STEM learning experiences for youth, and is committed to strengthening career awareness and exploration in out-of-school time so youth are prepared for whatever comes NEXT.
Earth Day Event Toolkit
Knowledge is key to making an impact. Check out the volunteer toolkits below to learn how anyone can help solve some of the world’s most pressing issues.v“We need to build a global citizenry fluent in the concept of climate change and inspired by environmental education to act in defense of the planet.”v— EARTHDAY.ORG President Kathleen Rogers. Download toolkits here.
NASA Earth Day Toolkit
NASA’s fleet of satellites see the whole Earth, every day.
This year, you can celebrate Earth Day with NASA wherever you are! Host your own Earth Day event—supported by NASA science—with activities, demonstrations, handouts, posters, videos, and more. Whether you’re planning a formal presentation or are hosting a stand-alone exhibit, we have you covered. Take a look at the toolkit here.
NASA Earth Day Posters
This is a collection of illustrated posters from NASA's annual Earth Day celebration. High-resolution, printable PDF files are available for download by clicking on each image. Download the posters here.