STEM Pipeline Blog / May 3, 2022

Great Lakes Bay Region STEM Ecosystem Launches STEM Passport Scavenger Hunt

A STEM-based scavenger hunt is kicking off soon in the region, aimed at getting families and kids engaged in local out-of-school-time learning activities. Organized by the Great Lakes Bay Region STEM Pipeline, the Great Lakes Bay Region STEM Passport app is a dynamic resource for parents, teachers and caregivers to access information about STEM-based activities and events in the region. 

“Family engagement in a child’s education is critical to building the foundation for lifelong learning. The Great Lakes Bay Region STEM Passport app is intended to support families with mobile and community-based resources by connecting to organizations that offer science, technology, engineering, arts, and math learning activities for children,” said Rich Van Tol, the Out-of-School Time Network lead for the Great Lakes Bay Region STEM Ecosystem. “We hope that families will enjoy the STEM Passport Scavenger Hunt, install the app and explore the incredible array of STEM-learning experiences available across our region.” 

The Great Lakes Bay Region STEM Passport Scavenger Hunt starts next week on Tuesday, May 10 and runs until Saturday, June 18. There will be prizes available for the top number of check-ins on the app, as well as several prize drawings for all participants. 

Scavenger Hunt Prizes

Prizes include a $100, $75 and $50 gift card to Meijer for the top three participants and a general drawing for all participants for family passes to the Delta College Planetarium, Midland Center for the Arts and the Saginaw Children’s Zoo.  

How to Participate

To participate and be eligible for prizes, users must download the STEM Passport App, visit a desired location listed below and check in to be counted.   

The STEM Passport app now includes activities at the following locations:

  • Arenac Community Center, Standish
  • Bay City State Recreation Area, Bay City
  • Bay County Library System:
    • Alice and Jack Wirt Public Library, Bay City
    • Auburn Area Branch Library, Auburn
    • Pinconning Branch Library, Pinconning
    • Historical Sage Library, Bay City
    • Bookmobile & Outreach Services
  • The Historical Museum of Bay County, Bay City
  • Beaverton Activity Center, Gladwin
  • Castle Museum of Saginaw County, Saginaw
  • Chippewa Nature Center, Midland
  • CMU Center for Excellence in STEM Education, Mt. Pleasant
  • Delta College Planetarium, Bay City
  • Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational STEM Center, Midland
  • Forest Hills Nature Center, Alma
  • Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum, Saginaw
  • Midland Center for the Arts, Midland
  • Mid-Michigan Children’s Museum, Saginaw
  • MSU St. Andrews STEAM – STEAM Education & Research Center, Midland
  • Mt. Pleasant Discovery Museum, Mt. Pleasant
  • Saginaw Children’s Zoo, Saginaw
  • Saginaw ISD – Hartley Outdoor Education Center, St. Charles
  • Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge / Green Point Nature Center, Saginaw
  • STEM@SVSU, Saginaw
  • T.A. Cutler Memorial Library, St. Louis
  • YMCA Camp Timbers, Saginaw/West Branch

The STEM Passport

“Last year, we visited about five of the different STEM Passport locations as a family and found it to be a great resource for learning about upcoming events or new activities taking place in the region,” said Megan Birdwell, STEM Explorer Coordinator at Delta College and Great Lakes Bay Region parent. “We are looking forward to visiting some additional locations again this year.” 

Launched in 2018, the Great Lakes Bay Region STEM Passport is a learning resource for 26 different hands-on, dynamic STEM activities in the community. To date, the STEM Passport has reached over 77,000 students, fueling the next generation’s curiosity and involvement in STEM activities. Now in its fourth iteration, the app brings details on STEM activities directly to users’ phones in an easy-to-use format that supports further STEM exploration and learning amongst youth during out-of-school time. The app connects to the calendar of events on www.stempipeline.com so users can readily find event information while exploring the region. The STEM Passport App is free and available for parents and caregivers to access via smartphone.  

Information about how to participate in the STEM Passport Scavenger Hunt, as well as download and use the app can be found online on the STEM Pipeline website here, including step-by-step instructions for adding the app to your mobile device, logging in and finding resources in the Great Lakes Bay Region. 

About the Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance

The mission of the Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance is to encourage, support and celebrate regional collaboration and initiatives that will improve the economic vitality and quality of life in the Great Lakes Bay Region. The Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance is comprised of 40+ board members who represent various organizations across Bay, Isabella, Midland and Saginaw Counties.

More information is available at www.greatlakesbay.com.


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