Boys & Girls Club of Northern Indiana Corridor: Building a STEM Hub Through Community Partnership
How the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Indiana Corridor Built a Community STEM Program with STEM Education Works
When a successful summer robotics camp sparked a bigger vision, the Boys & Girls Club of White County partnered with local businesses to create an IN-MaC Design and Innovation Studio where students explore robotics, coding, engineering, and emerging technologies year-round.
Some of their technology includes:
CoDrones
Ozobot Evo
KaiLab AR/VR
Sphero Bolt
Sphero littleBits
Dobot Magician
Overview
The Boys & Girls Club of White County wanted to give local students the same access to high-quality STEM experiences found in larger communities. With support from Greater Lafayette Commerce, Purdue IN-MaC, NIPSCO, and the Community Foundation of White County, that vision became a reality.
This story demonstrates how community partnerships create lasting opportunities for students while making advanced STEM education accessible in rural communities.
The Challenge
After hosting a successful summer robotics camp, club leaders realized students were eager for more opportunities to explore STEM. The challenge was creating a permanent space that could serve students throughout the year while overcoming funding, facility, and resource limitations
Even after securing equipment, an unexpected facility move forced the organization to rebuild its vision in a new location.
- Limited year-round access to advanced STEM technology
- Funding both equipment and a functional learning space
- Relocating and rebuilding after losing the original facility
Our Partnership & Approach
No single organization built the studio alone.
Greater Lafayette Commerce introduced robotics programming that inspired the project. Purdue IN-MaC helped establish the Design and Innovation Studio. NIPSCO funded furniture and workspace improvements. The Community Foundation of White County helped renovate the club's new facility.
STEM Education Works supported the project from start to finish by supplying technology, training, and ongoing guidance.
The Solution in Action
Today, students use the Design and Innovation Studio to explore STEM through hands-on activities that encourage creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving. Robotics, coding, engineering, and design projects have become a regular part of both afterschool and summer programming.
The flexible space allows educators to adapt activities for different age groups while introducing students to technologies they might not otherwise experience.
Impact & Outcomes
What began as a summer robotics camp has grown into a permanent community STEM resource.
The Design and Innovation Studio provides students across White County and neighboring communities with year-round access to engaging STEM experiences. Through strong community partnerships, the club continues expanding opportunities while helping students build confidence, curiosity, and career awareness.
“They've been super easy to work with. They're just fun to work with. And they teach you how to use this stuff. And they don't treat you like a dummy. It's like, 'Hey, you can do this.' So we've been able to use the training that they give us. And then we just turn it into the activities with the kids.”
Industry Solutions
Education Solutions
Explore some of the technologies used in this lab.
We want you to succeed with our technology and curriculum. That’s why we go above and beyond to become your STEM partner. We will help you every step of the way. Our one-on-one consultations and professional development resources make getting started a breeze.
- Would you rather chat with us? We're available 8:00 am - 5:00 pm EST.
- We're happy to talk with you! Give us a call 866-783-6109 — toll-free!
- 2880 Old US Highway 231 S
Lafayette, IN 47909