Full STEAM Ahead: Powered by Community, Built for Kids

Full STEAM Ahead closed Friday after another remarkable season, marking five years as one of the Grand Forks region’s most beloved traditions. What began as a pop-up children’s museum has become a staple for families across Grand Forks, East Grand Forks, and the surrounding communities. Each year, 5,000–6,000 children and families attend, and are drawn to the event by hands‑on exploration in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) and by the unmistakable kid-powered energy that fills the Curling Club every October.

This year’s theme, Play It Forward, captured the heart of the program:

• learning that spreads,

• creativity that multiplies, and

• experiences that ripple outward long after the day ends.

That spirit was everywhere...in the stations, the performances, the experiments, and the shared moments of discovery between children, families, and volunteers.

Full STEAM Ahead has always been powered by people. Volunteers who show up early, stay late, and bring contagious enthusiasm to every corner. Donors who believe in accessible STEAM learning and make it possible for the program to remain free to the public. Industry experts who share their knowledge in ways that sparked curiosity and confidence in children. Their generosity and commitment have helped shape every season, every activity, and every moment of wonder.

This year’s lineup of presentations and hands- on experiences was one of the most diverse yet. Upon entering, visitors were warmly greeted by our friends at DHI. The Greater Grand Forks Orchestra filled the space with live music, showing children how rhythm, sound, and science intertwine. UND’s Behavioral Health Initiative brought interactive learning that helped kids explore how the brain works. Art for Vets invited families to help create a community art piece that will be displayed in the museum’s park. NDSU Extension returned with its crowd favorite ethanol experiments, giving kids a chance to explore chemistry in action. And Grand Forks' North Star Quilters shared their many creative talents with kids.

Across the Curling Club, stations invited children to explore medicine, veterinary science, aerospace, engineering, agriculture, quilting, sewing, music and so much more. Chatty Learners energized the Science Discovery Zone with hands on experiments. Younger visitors dove into a sprawling train area, building tracks across a giant replica of the Grand Forks region. Aviation took center stage with a build your own paper plane station, where kids tested designs and learned how small changes affect flight.

A special shout out belongs to Adam and Hanna Saagge Kemp, whose creativity has anchored Full STEAM Ahead from the beginning. Their creation of the Welcome Wall has become a signature experience and a place where every visitor leaves a mark, adds color, and contributes to a collective piece of art that reflects the spirit of the program. Year after year, their work has welcomed families into a space built for imagination.

As Full STEAM Ahead wraps up its fifth season, it leaves behind more than memories. It leaves a legacy of curiosity, community, and joyful learning and a generation of children who have grown up discovering that STEAM isn’t just something you learn. It’s something you do. When you play it forward, it becomes something the whole community shares.

Katie Mayer, Executive Director, Grand Forks Children's Museum