Gopher STEAM
(Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math)
Discovering and Inspiring though hands-on Learning
About us:
We are a small education and entertainment company located in Woodbury, Minnesota that specializes in STEAM activities and presentations. (STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math)
I have been involved in science education for nearly 30 years. I started by startling unsuspecting high school students with hydrogen balloons with the chemistry outreach program run by Alpha Chi Sigma at Kansas State University and at the University of Minnesota. After graduate school I decided to continue with science education and accepted a position as Operations Director and senior instructor at Mad Science of MN, a first class provider of STEM education and entertainment. For the next 15 years I had a blast developing and presenting shows, workshops, activity booths, summer camps and even birthday parties. In 2011 I finished my licensures in science and started teaching chemistry, physics and mentoring FIRST robotics at Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis. Currently I am having a blast teaching physics at Tartan High School in Oakdale and running Gopher STEAM so I can go out and have some science fun with your family or organization.
What we do:
Simply put, we bring STEAM education and entertainment to you! We provide a variety of interactive science presentations and events where kids can experience the wonder of discovery first hand.
Science shows:
Our interactive shows are perfect for all ages and for groups of 20 to several hundred. They are perfect for schools wanting to get their students excited for their STEM fair. As a scout leader, Cub Scout Pack meetings are my favorite and we do provide a discount to ANY scouting organization. An interactive show is ideal for library summer programs. We currently offer two shows, Science is Magic and Crazy Colin's Air Show. We have two more shows based on chemistry and physics in the works. We also can customize shows to be flame free for libraries and other venues that require it. If you want to extend the learning, add on one of our hands-on activity tables below.
Activity tables:
Activity tables provide a short and fun hands-on STEAM experience. Many of our tables involve kids making something that they take home to continue exploring and learning. Add an activity table at the end of one of our interactive shows or schedule several for your STEM fair. Activity tables include, slime, putty, catapults, parachutes, wind tube, robots, ultraviolet beads and more.
Science Nights & STEAM Saturdays:
A science night or a STEAM Saturday is a comprehensive solution for when you need to STEAM up a crowd. A combination of one or more interactive shows and four or more activity tables will allow you energize your school or organization at a discounted price.
Birthday Parties:
With a couple tweaks our Science is Magic becomes a fantastic birthday party. Birthday parties include a 30 to 40 minute presentation and every party person will get to take home a make-&-take activity.
STEAM Classes:
I have several hands on STEAM classes at the moment including, Build-a-Bot (LEGO robotics), Rocket Launch, Big Bubbles, Dino Dig and Bug Me. Many of our classes work at the preschool and elementary school age level. The rocket and robot workshops are fun for middle school as well. I have two classes designed to earn BSA merit badges, Robotics and Space Exploration. I will soon be adding Astronomy, Signals and Codes, Chemistry and others. I am always working on my next class so ask about what is new.
Summer Camps:
This summer we are running a limited number of camps in Woodbury and Cottage Grove.
Space Exploration!
In the Space Exploration camp we will focus on building a different model rocket each day. We will use Estes kits, my own 3D printed rocket, as well as designing, building and testing a scratch built rocket. We will learn how to safely launch our rockets following the National Association of Rocketry safety code. Each student will have multiple opportunities to prepare and launch during the camp. When we are not designing and building our rockets we will learn about the history of spaceflight, our solar system, stars, robotic exploration, telescopes and other interesting astronomical objects. The instructor for the camp is Colin Kilbane who has taught chemistry, physics, and robotics for nearly 20 years. He is a member of the Minnesota Astronomical Society, a scout leader / merit badge counselor, FIRST robotics mentor and a level 2 certified member of the Tripoli high power rocketry association.
The curricula of this camp will meet the requirements for the Space Exploration BSA merit badge as well as the recently retired Adventures in Science Webelos adventure. Many requirements for the Space Science badges, Think Like an Engineer Journey and the Mechanical Engineering badges for Girl Scouts may be met as well.
July 8-11 Lake Middle School 9 am to 12 pm
July 22-25 Cottage Grove Middle School 9 am to 12 pm
Build-a-Bot!
In the Build-a-Bot camp you will explore the world of robotics by building your own teleoperated robotic arm. The best part is that you get to take home your robotic arm at the end of the camp. When you are not building your arm you will be exploring various robotic systems like sensors, mobility and manipulation by building and programming a LEGO Mindstorms robot. Your Mindstorms robot will face a series of challenges of increasing difficulty that mimic real world situations. We will explore robotic systems, careers, and how robots are used in industry and space exploration. You will need to use what you learned to invent, innovate and program your robot to meet these challenges. As a nine year veteran mentor for the FIRST FRC robotics competition your instructor will give you information on the FIRST programs available at your schools so you can continue your robotic explorations.
The curriculum in the camp meets the requirements for the BSA Robotics Merit Badge, the now retired Cub Scout Bears Robotics adventure and many requirements for the series of robotics badges for Girl Scouts.
My Build-a-Bot camp is taking place from June 17th through June 20th from 9am to 12 pm at Lake Middle School.
To register click here for South Washington County's Community Education registration website.
Up and coming free Gopher STEAM events!
June 9th (1pm to 4pm) Robotics Engineering workshop. We will be building and programing LEGO robots with the goal of completing requirements for the BSA merit badge and the GSA series of robotics badges. Building the robot is a challenge so potential junior engineers will need to have completed second grade. We will be at World War Brick 2024, an amazing custom military LEGO event at Brickmania Toyworks in Minneapolis. Time to be determined. You will need tickets to the event but once in the workshop is free. Click here for tickets. We will be accepting donations for charity at this event.
June 20th (4pm to 8 pm) Cottage Grove Strawberry Festival Family Night. Kingston Park, 9195 75th St S, Cottage Grove, MN 55016. We will have a variety of fun STEM activities for all ages including special Strawberry Slime!
June 27th (11am for preschool & 1pm for school age) Ramsey county library Shoreview Branch. Digging Dinosaurs! Become a junior paleontologist as you get hands on with some amazing fossils, go on an dinosaur dig and take home your own cast of a T-Rex tooth.
July 3rd (10:30 am preschool) Ramsey County library North St. Paul Branch. Digging Dinosaurs! Become a junior paleontologist as you get hands on with some amazing fossils, go on an dinosaur dig and take home your own cast of a T-Rex tooth.
July 11th (2pm to 4pm) STEM drop in activities. Washington County Library Stafford Branch. We are ready to take off and learn about flight! Design your own flying contraption and test it in our wind tube. Experiment with a variety of cool paper airplanes and make an air rocket to take home.
July 12th (11am). Ramsey County Library Maplewood Branch. Science is Magic Show. Come experience the science that makes magic possible and explore how scientists use the scientific method to solve mysteries. This is a family friendly event great for all ages.
July 12 (2pm) Ramsey County Library Lake Elmo Branch. Crazy Colin's Air Show. Come explore the power of air. Volunteers will use Bernoulli's principal to make thing float and fly. Some volunteers will get to fly, but not very high on our DYI hovercraft. This is a family friendly event great for all ages.
July 17 (10:30am) Ramsey County Library Mounds View Branch. Science is Magic Show. Come experience the science that makes magic possible and explore how scientists use the scientific method to solve mysteries. This is a family friendly event great for all ages.
July 18 (2pm) Ramsey County Library Mounds View Branch. Blowing Bubbles. Explore the wonderful world of bubbles and the science that makes them possible. Learn about how bubbles form and how they make amazing shapes and colors. You might just end up in a bubble by the end of class.
July 19th (1pm to 4pm) Ramsey County Library Maplewood Branch. Robotics Engineering workshop. We will be building and programing LEGO robots with the goal of completing requirements for the BSA merit badge and the GSA series of robotics badges. Building the robot is a challenge so potential junior engineers will need to have completed second grade.
July 26th (1pm to 4 pm) Washington County Library Stafford Branch. Robotics Engineering workshop. We will be building and programing LEGO robots with the goal of completing requirements for the BSA merit badge and the GSA series of robotics badges. Building the robot is a challenge so potential junior engineers will need to have completed second grade.
July 27th (1pm to 4 pm) Ramsey County Library Maplewood Branch. Robotics Engineering workshop. We will be building and programing LEGO robots with the goal of completing requirements for the BSA merit badge and the GSA series of robotics badges. Building the robot is a challenge so potential junior engineers will need to have completed second grade.
You can fill out our contact form below and we will get back to you.
You can also choose to be added to our mailing list for updates on new programs, information about free events from Gopher STEAM and links to other STEM events in the area.
To bring some STEAM to your home, library or school please email me at colinkilbane@gophersteam.com.
You can also call me at (651) 300-9592.
I am often out teaching STEAM stuff so if you don't get through please leave me a message and I'll call you back ASAP.