STEM Fridays are an opportunity for teachers in Northern Colorado and SW Wyoming to bring a class (up to 30 students) on a visit to the Colorado State University Fort Collins campus to complete one of the Natural Sciences Education & Outreach Center STEM kits in a state-of-the-art learning studio. STEM Fridays are facilitated by CSU undergraduate students studying to become science teachers and mentored by NSEOC staff. The STEM kit content has been developed at CSU in collaboration with various faculty to give students a real scientific research experience. All content is tied to Colorado Science Education Standards and is compatible with the Next Generation Science Standards.
Logistics of STEM Friday Visits
Teachers interested in applying to participate in a STEM Friday, should keep these items in mind:
- Schools are limited to one group of up to 30 students in grades 4th through 12th per school year.
- Teachers can choose from a range of Topic Options.
- Field trips are scheduled to take place on Friday mornings beginning between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. and lasting for two hours.
- Check the school calendar BEFORE applying in order to avoid conflicts – the NSEOC cannot reschedule a school once the semester schedule has been set.
- A completed Application (see below) and a signed Principal Agreement Form is required before a school can be scheduled.
- Using funds provided by the various donors, the NSEOC will cover up to $100 of the cost of a school bus that the teacher arranges.
- In order to be reimbursement for up to $100 of the cost of the bus, schools must submit an invoice on school letterhead, W-9 Form and a Vendor Size Self-Certification Form (http://busfin.colostate.edu/Forms/AP/fmw9.pdf) to the NSEOC after the field trip has been completed and no later than 12/31/25.
- Cancellations (other than weather closures) must be received two weeks prior to a scheduled field trip, as CSU undergraduate students are counting on your visit for their education class requirements.
- Students should bring their Science Notebooks (non-electronic) and a writing utensil with them.
- Teachers may consider adding a tour of campus (see the Admissions website) and/or lunch in a CSU dining center (contact Housing & Dining Services at rds@colostate.edu) to make it a full college experience.
- Teachers and other adult chaperones accompanying the group must be engaged in the activity as well – either working through the kit themselves or observing their students as they work.
The open application period for Fall 2025 is from Friday, August 29th – Thursday, September 4th at 5 pm.
Please complete and submit the form below (NOTE: this form is not sent to the NSEOC until you verify it via the email that is sent to you once you click the submit button – so CHECK YOUR EMAIL!):
