It’s National Engineers Week. It’s a week to celebrate how engineers make a difference in our world and increase awareness for the growing need for engineers. Engineers Week (February 22-28, 2026) is more than a celebration of a profession—it’s a movement to show young people that engineering is creative, collaborative, and most importantly, open to everyone.
This year’s theme, “Transform Your Future,” reminds us that engineering is more than formulas and blueprints—it’s creativity, curiosity, and the joy of building something new. One of the best ways to spark that curiosity is through hands-on STEM activities.
Today, we’re transforming futures with fun by sharing STEM projects our team has done. We do an annual STEM activity during our Art Anderson Days celebration in late July. These activities are fun for kids and adults.
STEM Projects to Try
Catapult Competition
What You’ll Need:
- 7 craft sticks
- 3 rubber bands
- A milk cap or small cup
- Cotton balls/building bricks {or other small objects to launch}
The Mission:
Build the best catapult that launches the object the farthest.
Cup Tower Challenge
What You’ll Need:
- Plastic cups (15-20 per person or team)
- Large popsicle sticks (about 20 per person or team)
The Mission:
Build the tallest (or longest, or most creative) tower you can in 10 minutes.
These small projects are reminders that anyone can be an engineer, and often, the spark begins with something fun. When young people are encouraged to explore, build, test, and imagine, they discover that the future truly can be transformed—one experiment at a time.