Take a look and see how our region's districts are using their CTE grant funds!
2025-2026
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This summer, 44 middle school students from across Maine Township had the unique opportunity to participate in the annual Summer STEM Camp. Providing a unique hands-on experience, students built three engaging modules: designing and racing COâ‚‚-powered cars, engineering ziplines to safely transport fragile cargo, and programming robots with new controllers to perform complex tasks.
Working in small groups, campers gained confidence in problem-solving, teamwork, and technical skills while exploring potential STEM career paths. The camp not only fostered a love for STEM but also built confidence, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. The camp, a testament to the power of collaboration, was a joint effort between the Science and CTE departments of Maine East, Maine West, and Maine South, giving students a unique chance to experience high school learning environments and connect with future peers.
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New Trier hosted over 100 fifth-eighth graders at their 11th Annual Applied Arts STEM Camp. Students spent five full days immersed in hands-on STEM exploration across the engineering and architecture studios, with special excitement during the always-popular circuitry sessions. The Applied Arts neighborhood buzzed with creativity and problem-solving as campers engaged in both individual and team-based challenges.
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Guided by 25 outstanding New Trier student counselors, participants gained exposure to a wide range of STEM pathways while developing critical thinking, collaboration, and resilience through “failing forward.” The camp helped students build confidence in tackling complex problems, sparked inspiration to see themselves as future engineers, architects, and scientists, and fostered a strong sense of community through peer mentorship and role modeling.
