“I believe that all children are natural engineers. They are curious, creative and kinetic. Engineering For Kids wants to help nurture and develop those minds, to help children better understand the world they live in, so that they can one day make it better.” – Dori Roberts

In 2009 while teaching engineering courses at Colonial Forge High School in Stafford, Virginia, Dori Roberts realized a growing need for more S.T.E.M.-focused enrichment for her students. “I knew the world economy would increasingly require the skills and expertise of S.T.E.M. jobs. To help fill this skills gap, I was the advisor for a Technology Student Association chapter at Colonial Forge High School.”

S.T.E.M., an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, allows students access to advanced science and technology with the aim of making them more competitive in those fields the future.

As Roberts’ Technology Student Association grew to 180 students, they saw success in multiple state championships. During a trip to the national TSA conference in Orlando, Florida, Roberts brought her young children, 6 and 8 years old.

“A funny thing happened on the way to Epcot...my children were becoming as interested in what the student engineers were doing as they were The Magic Kingdom. They were drawn more to the roller coasters being made than the ones being ridden. And then the idea came to me: Engineering For Kids.”

Operations for Engineering For Kids began out of a single classroom and has since grown into a successful franchise, reaching over 300,000 students worldwide.

In Fredericksburg, Engineering for Kids provides a suite of programs and events for kids aged 4-14. “Subjects range from Electronic Game Design to Aerospace Engineering, Robotics to earth-friendly Environmental and Marine Engineering. Engineering For Kids is devoted to one sole purpose: to inspire the next generation of engineers.”

If you are interested in getting your kids involved, Engineering For Kids is offering the Fredericksburg area workshops and Spring and Summer Camps.