JLCC STEM EDUCATION

What is it?

The Junior League of Corpus Christi’s STEM initiative introduces young people to the possibilities of science, technology, engineering, and math through hands-on learning and real-world exposure. Our programs are designed to spark curiosity, build confidence, and help students see themselves in fields that shape the future.

JLCC’s STEM work includes our STEM day event, R.O.C.K.E.T.S., and our Touch-A-Truck, a free Career Exploration event, as well as mobile outreach that brings STEM learning directly into schools and community spaces throughout the year.

R.O.C.K.E.T.S. invites families to experience a high-energy day of experiments, demonstrations, and interactive stations led by STEM professionals and community partners. Children can launch mini rockets, explore circuits, experiment with engineering challenges, and discover how science works in the real world.

Throughout the year, JLCC extends this impact through mobile STEM programming, bringing classroom kits, hands-on stations, and volunteer-led activities to local schools, after-school programs, and community organizations.

Our Touch-A-Truck community event expands STEM learning by introducing children to the equipment, technology, and skilled professionals that keep our community running. From fire engines and ambulances to cranes, tractors, and construction equipment, children get to explore vehicles up close while learning how engineering, mechanics, and technology are used in real careers.

In October 2025, more than 300 children attended R.O.C.K.E.T.S., and in March 2025, 5,436 community members participated in Touch-A-Truck, making it one of the largest family learning events in the Coastal Bend.

Why it Matters…

Representation and access matter, especially in STEM fields. Many students in our community have limited exposure to science and technical careers, and even fewer have opportunities to see women leading in those spaces.

JLCC’s STEM programs help bridge that gap by creating engaging experiences that make learning approachable and exciting. Through hands-on exploration, students build problem-solving skills, curiosity, and confidence while discovering career paths they may never have considered before.

Programs like R.O.C.K.E.T.S. Day and Touch-A-Truck also introduce students to career and technical education (CTE) pathways. By meeting engineers, technicians, public safety professionals, and skilled trades workers, children begin to understand the wide range of careers that power our communities.

For many children, these events provide their first opportunity to meet professionals, operate real tools, explore robotics, or use scientific equipment. Those first experiences can open doors to future interests, educational opportunities, and lifelong careers.

Ultimately, JLCC’s STEM initiative is about planting seeds—for curiosity, confidence, and a future where every child can imagine themselves solving problems, building solutions, and shaping the world around them.

Explore Our STEM Events

R.O.C.K.E.T.S. – STEM Day
A fall community event featuring hands-on science experiments, engineering challenges, and interactive STEM demonstrations.

Touch-A-Truck – Career Exploration Day
A large-scale community event where children explore real vehicles and meet the professionals who operate them, connecting STEM learning with career pathways.