It’s not too late for students in grades K-8 to register for a free online learning program through Project Exploration that includes home-delivered science exploration kits, daily Zoom classes, and hands-on STEM activities.

The program, based in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood, usually holds in-person summer classes but switched to a virtual format because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The program stresses the STEAM areas of science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. It also includes computer coding, chemistry, music, and more.

The six-week program started in early July but continues through Aug. 14. The activities run from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday. Project Exploration also has embarked on a STEMBus Tour, in which their team travels to neighbors across Chicago’s South and West sides, running pop-up activities while socially distancing.

As Project Exploration stresses on its website about its summer STEAM program:

High-quality STEM programs are hard to find! They can be very expensive, require certain grades, or be far from home. We want to make sure all kids – particularly students of color and girls who tend to be overlooked by STEM programs and careers – have the opportunity to see how fun and filled with opportunity that STEM can be! Such jobs opportunities are growing fast and building the interests and skills in science, technology, engineering and math happens best when kids are young.

Parents can find out more and register students at the summer of steam website.