Digi-Bridge’s experiential learning model sparks curiosity, builds confidence, and introduces students to real-world STEAM skills and careers. Through hands-on, project-based learning, students build foundational technical skills along with core learning competencies: curiosity, communication, collaboration, conviction, and critical comprehension. Programs are delivered in partnership with schools and community partners, with curriculum, materials, and ongoing support from Digi-Bridge.
STEAMLab is Digi-Bridge’s flagship school-based out-of-school-time program. It offers hands-on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) exploration through engaging design challenges and collaborative projects. Programs are organized into themed series so students can explore a range of STEAM topics throughout the year. Each series builds technical skills while reinforcing teamwork, communication, and perseverance.
STEAMLab serves students in three grade bands:
Sessions meet weekly for 90 minutes, after school or on Saturdays, depending on the partner’s preference. Programs run throughout the school year, aligned with the school calendar. Students can join individual series or multiple series. Programs are facilitated by trained school staff, and Digi-Bridge provides the full curriculum, training, materials, equipment, and a dedicated program manager, so schools can deliver programming with minimal added burden.
STEAMLab Enrich offers deeper, career-connected learning designed specifically for middle school students. Courses let students explore emerging technologies and innovation pathways through hands-on projects and real-world applications, such as 3D design and printing and wearable technology. Students build technical skills, practice the design thinking process, and engage with professionals working in related industries. Each course is taught by a trained teacher with a small cohort of students, alongside local subject matter experts and near-peer mentors. Industry exposure and workplace field trips are also included within this program.
Interested in working alongside middle school students as a subject matter expert or near peer mentor or hosting a workplace field trip? Find more information here.
Digi-Bridge’s Robotics programs introduce students to coding, engineering, and teamwork through hands-on robot design and competition, with a pathway that grows with students from elementary school through high school.
FIRST LEGO League (2nd-8th Grade, School Based)
Using FIRST LEGO League materials as an access point, students meet weekly after school under the direction of a trained facilitator. They work together to design, build, and program robots while developing problem-solving and iteration skills. The season ends with a friendly local competition where students showcase their robots, test their designs, and celebrate their learning with peers from other schools.
FIRST Tech Challenge (7th-12th Grade, Community-Based)
For older students ready for more advanced engineering and programming, Digi-Bridge offers community-based FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) robotics programming for students in 7th-12th grade. Participants join a team outside of their school, often building on the skills they developed in school-based teams, taking on more complex robot design, coding, and teamwork challenges.
Digi-Bridge provides free STEAMKits to community partners across Charlotte-Mecklenburg. STEAMKits are hands-on individual material kits that center on a different STEAM theme. We have generously provided more than 25,000 STEAMKits in the community since 2020.
Please complete the form below if you are interested in any of the opportunities listed above. A team member will be in contact with you shortly.
“STEAMLab teaches me how to work well with others and to engineer in clever ways with my team.”
-STEAMLab student
