About Us

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At the Northwest STEM Hub, we recognize the importance of inquiry, investigation and innovation to power our economy, advance our society, and engage our students. We support educators in providing the hands-on, real-world experiences that will help students develop the skills required to drive and thrive in a strong, information-age economy.

We are part of a network of 13 STEM Hubs around the state that work to build connections and opportunities so learners can connect to STEM experiences early and often. STEM hubs play an important role in Oregon by:

Identifying needs and assets in communities
Bringing together families, PK-12 educators, career technical education partners, higher education, community-based organizations and industry to promote in-school and out-of-school STEM experiences.
Strategizing to fill STEM learning gaps.
Building shared social and economic prosperity through STEM access, interest and attainment of skills, especially for students furthest from opportunity.

We believe that every student deserves access to the learning experiences that will inspire them to be innovators and prepare them to help solve the challenges of tomorrow.

Community Enrichment

Career Fairs: We support Career Fairs in Clatsop, Columbia and Tillamook counties to provide exposure to local careers, institutions and organizations. These events empower the community by elevating the awareness of numerous local career pathways.
Community Innovation Mini-Grants: We provide funding for existing community programs that implement cross-sectional initiatives that prioritize STEM learning for educators and youth.
Industry Partnerships: We connect with multiple regional industries to create educational programs for students and educators through various avenues, including but not limited to: internship opportunities, educator professional development, community programming and more. See all of our partners here.
Makerspace Mini-Grants: We provide funding to create, sustain or boost school and community collaborative working spaces. Each Makerspace is a place to design, learn, explore and share concepts brought to life using high-tech or no-tech tools.
Regional Libraries: We partner with regional library systems to promote STEM learning at home and in the community. We look to deepen connections with library partners by sharing best practices and creating new approaches to STEM learning.
Tillamook STEM Partnership: We connect with nonprofits in Tillamook County (Bay City Arts Center, Food Roots, Friends of Netarts Bay, Oregon State University Extension, Tillamook Estuaries Partnership, Tillamook 4-H Association, and Tillamook School District) to create regional STEM programs for students and community members.

Early Learning

Child Care Resource and Referral: In collaboration with NWRESD's CCR&R team, we teach regional child care providers early learning STEM concepts and strategies they can integrate into everyday routines and lessons.
Migrant Education: We collaborate with NWRESD's Migrant Education program to support early learners and their families with Spanish STEM activities and materials during summer months. We are currently cultivating the launch of the “Escuelita Móvil,” a traveling preschool classroom that will visit communities throughout the school year with its very own STEM Learning Center.
Northwest Early Learning Hub: We partner with NWRESD's Early Learning Hub to cultivate pilot programs that introduce early learning curriculum and materials to various community partners and educators.
Northwest Parenting Hub: We share STEM learning opportunities and materials with families who take courses with NWRESD's Northwest Parenting Hub in order to embed and broaden STEM learning opportunities for children.

Education Innovation

Career Connected Learning Field Trips: We provide out-of-school field trip visits to local industry facilities to increase exposure of regional opportunities and career pathways.
Clatsop County Think Tank: We are piloting an after-school enrichment program that provides activities to K-8 students that covers topics within each letter of the STEAM acronym: science, technology, engineering, arts and math.
Computer Science Drive: This statewide collaboration of STEM Hubs focuses on building capacity and equity for regional implementation of computer science and digital literacy teaching and learning.
Educator Professional Development: We support various professional development opportunities provided by industry partners, statewide initiatives and NWRESD program collaborations.
Manufacturing Month: We host a yearly event at OMIC R&D for National Manufacturing Day that showcases regional industries and pathways in the field of manufacturing.
Oregon Science Project: This equity-focused statewide professional learning network is designed to build regional science education leadership through professional development programs around the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). The project serves educators in historically underserved rural and semi-rural areas of Oregon. The learning facilitator pathway prepares K-12 educators with the experiences, curriculum, community and facilitation tools needed to lead NGSS implementation.
Rural Learning Collaborative: The Rural STEAM Leadership Network is an opportunity for K-8 educators and administrators to join together in creating new educational opportunities for Oregon’s rural and remote communities.
STEM Beyond School: With support from the STEM School Transformations statewide initiative, which elevates STEM programming within school curriculum and culture, we are currently working with the Rainier School District to revitalize their place-based STEM learning offerings.

Student Opportunities

Chief Science Officers: This youth voice program supports a cohort of student leaders who experience leadership training, impact STEM opportunities at their schools and in their local communities, and work as a collective cabinet to give input and ideas to adult STEM leaders in their region.
Internship Programs: Internship programs in Clatsop, Columbia and Tillamook counties provide local students, ages 16 and up, with professional, paid internships with the goals of community building, economic development, promoting local career opportunities and retaining local talent.

STEM Tutoring: In partnership with NWRESD's Migrant Education program, we aid in providing one-on-one bilingual tutoring offerings in math and science to support the reduction in opportunity and learning gaps exacerbated by comprehensive distance learning and beyond.