STEM Discovery Day — Saturday, February 14, 2026
Register now for a morning of hands-on science, technology, engineering and math activities designed for middle and high school students at UMD. New this year- we are partnering with UMD Admissions to offer afternoon College Prep Programming for high school students. This is a free event and includes lunch for registered students!
Youth choose from different sets of STEM fields to explore (see our Activity List for program details):
- Earth, Space, & Ecology Track: Earth Space Vignettes- Rivers & Crystals (Earth Science); Planetarium Show- Messengers of Time & Space (Astronomy); Connecting the Dots- Exploring the Lake Superior Food Web (Biology)
- Engineering Track: Water World (Civil Engineering); Car Jeopardy (Mechanical Engineering); Earthquake Challenge- Engineering Structures That Survive (Structural Engineering)
- Math/ Physics/ Astronomy Track: How Does L<3VE pack? (Mathematics); Project Float & the Great Lakes Buoyancy Adventure (Engineering/ Math/ Physics); Planetarium Show: Messengers of Time & Space (Astronomy)
- Neuroscience/ Developmental Biology Track: Playful Prolific Planaria (Biology); Electrical Activity in the Cockroach Leg (Neuroscience); Your Eyes Cannot Trick Your Brain (Neuroscience)
- Hands-on Medicine Track: Blood Typing (Medicine); Stop the Bleed & Applying Splints (Medicine); Save a Life- CPR & the AED (Medicine)
FAQ
- Who: 6th-12th grade students interested in having fun and learning about STEM fields
- What: STEM activities, free lunch
- College Prep activities for high school students include a campus tour, student panel, financial aid and admissions info
- When: Saturday February 14, 2026
- 9 am-12 pm (STEM Activities) — 6-12th grade
- 11:30 am-3 pm (College Prep Program) — 9-12th grade
- 9am-3 pm (STEM Activities & College Prep) — 9-12th grade
- Where: All across the UMD campus
- How: Registration is now open!
Free busing will be available at local schools to those who register and request first: Denfeld High School, Lincoln Park Middle School, Ordean Middle School, Superior Middle School
Contact [email protected] to inquire about an additional pickup location