We’re already looking ahead to another week of curiosity, discovery, and joyful STEM learning. Keep an eye out for more information about EC STEM Week 2027, coming your way soon.
Head Start WEST is launching its inaugural Early Childhood STEM Advisory Committee, and we are looking for passionate educators, leaders, STEM professionals, community partners, and others who believe in the power of curiosity, exploration, and discovery in the lives of young children.
Advisory Committee members will help shape our growing Early Childhood STEM efforts, including STEM Week and the Early Childhood STEM Institute. Together, we will elevate promising practices, identify innovative resources and local activities, build partnerships, and create meaningful opportunities that bring STEM to life for young children, families, and educators.
You don’t have to be a scientist or engineer to contribute. We are looking for curious thinkers, creative partners, experienced practitioners, and enthusiastic builders who want to help us imagine what’s possible.
Bring your ideas. Share your experience. Help us inspire the next generation of curious minds.
Early Childhood STEM Advisory Committee Nominations Form
Have questions? Check out our FAQ Page Here
Discovery, curiosity, and play sit at the heart of early childhood development. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) are not separate subjects for young children. They are the natural ways children explore, question, and make sense of their world.
In March 2026, Head Start WEST launched its first Early Childhood STEM Week, building on more than a decade of our commitment to early childhood STEM learning.
Since 2010, the Region 9 Head Start Association, now Head Start WEST, has welcomed more than 4,000 early childhood educators to our annual Early Childhood STEM Institute. Through keynote presentations, hands-on workshops, curriculum fairs, and meaningful learning experiences, the Institute has continued to inspire curiosity and creativity across our region.
EC STEM Week gave us another opportunity to bring that spirit of discovery beyond the Institute and into classrooms, homes, gardens, communities, and everyday moments.
Throughout the week, we explored five themes:
All Around You | In the Garden | In the Classroom | In the Family | In the Future
Each theme invited children, families, and educators to look a little closer and discover the STEM already happening all around them.
“STEM begins the moment a child asks ‘why?’ and grows every time we pause long enough to wonder with them.”
Thank you to everyone who participated in EC STEM Week 2026 and shared the ways STEM came to life in your programs and communities. Below, you’ll find some of the ideas and examples from this year’s celebration to inspire your own STEM learning experiences.
And don’t forget to mark your calendar: EC STEM Week 2027 is coming March 1–5!
STEM is all Around You. On this day, we encouraged teachers and home visitors to help children and families identify how STEM learning is all around us.
We hosted the amazing Anna Reyner from Creative PlayLA for a lunch and learn experience. – Watch Here
STEM in the Garden. On this day, we encouraged Head Start and Early Head Start staff in classrooms, and family childcare homes to explore how the garden is a source adventure.
We hosted Stephanie Robinson from the Garden of Eatin’ for lunch and learn experience. – Watch Here
STEM in the Classroom. On this day we looked all around our classrooms for STEM learning opportunities.
We hosted The Discovery Source’s Dave Scahill for lunch and learn experience. – Watch Here
STEM in the Family. Head Start and Early Head Start value parents in a unique manner. As partners in learning, it is essential we support in this space.
On this day, we hosted Joshua Alverez, from the Kaplan Early Learning Company for a fun lunch and learn experience. – Watch Here
STEM in the Future – How will we shape the future through STEM learning? In the early years, we set the stage, creating curious minds and playful learners. Learning continues, the future is coming soon. How will you shape the future?
On this day, we hosted Judy Cashell, from Pacific Clinics for a fun lunch and learn experience. – Watch Here
I have been to management workshops, not leadership training. This has totally changed my perspective and encouraged me to propel forward in developing my skills.
I am honored and humbled to be a recipient of the Head Start WEST’s Legacy Scholarship. The scholarship helped me get one step closer to achieving my goal of becoming a Head Start Director.
I took part in The disproportionate impact of COVID 19, and how to provide “real” support for black/brown children and families and I just want to say this was an amazing webinar. I hope we can look forward to further conversation on this topic.
Thank you so much for making events like this! I really enjoyed and learned so much teaching strategies to implement STEM in the classroom.
The HR Network was an excellent opportunity to network and learn the best practices from other HR professionals within Head Start programs. You will be amazed by the level of talent and experience of the participants.
The Summer Camp training was powerful and inspiring! Each presenter was very engaging, it’s hard to even pick a favorite session!
The Leadership Challenge training was very relevant to my work as a Head Start leader! Great facilitation; stayed with the program yet allowed time for individual and small group reflections.
Regular price $12.00
Regular price $39.00
Questions? Contact us at headstartr9@headstartwest.org.
