Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Science, technology, engineering and mathematics aren't just subjects taught in school. At STEM•X, they're opportunities for children to experiment, create and discover — all while having fun with their families.
That's the idea behind STEM•X, a free annual science festival organized by Hempstead-based nonprofit Morrison Mentors Inc., which returns to the Cradle of Aviation Museum this weekend.
Now in its second year, the festival invites families to explore the world of STEM through an estimated 60 to 70 activity stations spread across two days. From robotics and drones to virtual reality, live science demonstrations and engineering challenges.
And with Halloween falling on opening day, visitors can expect some spooky science fun, too. Besides the inside activities, the plan is to hold a small outdoor trunk-or-treat event.
The festival was created to introduce children to science and technology in ways that go beyond traditional classroom instruction, according to Leonardo Lynch, Morrison Mentors’ marketing and programs coordinator
“We try to take a different spin with how kids can explore these topics in a fun, engaging way,” Lynch says. “We want it to be an annual thing where we introduce parents to different ways where their kids are able to learn different concepts outside of school.”
Last year's inaugural session offered families a little bit of everything. Slime-making and a station where children customized t-shirts using heat-pressed designs were among the most popular attractions. Animals, including a donkey, also made an appearance, giving kids an opportunity to learn about biology, agriculture, food chains, and the relationships between predators and prey.
The festivities will begin a day early for a special school trip — a school only session scheduled for Oct. 30. Seven school districts had expressed interest in attending, including Baldwin, Freeport and Roosevelt, with additional inquiries continuing to come in, Lynch adds.
“This year it's back, it's going to be for three days — last year we did two, the Friday is only for schools. We invite the schools to come on out, I would call it a way for schools to see the services we provide.”
But STEM•X is about more than a weekend of experiments and entertainment.
For Morrison Mentors, the festival is also an opportunity to introduce families to educational experiences that can continue long after the activity stations are packed away.
The nonprofit provides educational programming for elementary and middle school students and other young learners, with an emphasis on making STEM subjects accessible and engaging. Through the festival, organizers hope to connect families with learning opportunities they might not otherwise encounter.
And if last year's response is any indication, the approach is working.
The inaugural STEM•X festival drew more than 3,000 participants from approximately 1,300 families, according to Lynch. Visitors traveled from communities across Long Island, as well as Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx.
For some families, the experience didn't end when the festival did.
“After the festival concluded last year, we have a few parents who reached out to us,” Lynch says. “They were like, ‘my child really liked a certain station that they explored. Do you guys offer programs after school?’”
Those conversations helped inspire Morrison Mentors to expand its offerings beyond partnerships with schools and districts. The organization introduced STEM•X Saturday classes for children ages 6 to 14 and STEM•X Summer Camp, this year enrolling 45 students in a four-week pilot program.
“For them, it's more like they're playing a game, but they're also learning how to code,” Lynch says. “Essentially, it’s how we try to do it at that younger age … [Parents] say they'd never seen their kid wanted to go back to another day of learning.”
Morrison Mentors, which celebrates its 15th anniversary in January, aims to expand the festival to other locations.
“Other people can get the opportunity to see what their kid can do once they receive access to STEM learning,” Lynch says.
For now, the upcoming festival event offers local families another chance to experiment, explore and discover what science, technology, engineering and mathematics have to offer — and perhaps find a new interest that lasts well beyond the weekend.
“We're excited to go back into year two, with high hopes and to reach to all regions of Long Island, not just Nassau County,” Lynch adds.
